By Trelle Kolojay

Science breakthrough producing isotopes in Saskatoon

Nov 14, 2014 | 5:09 PM

Mark de Jong, Canadian Light Source director of accelerators, carefully holds up a small piece of equipment that looks like a roll of pennies.

“In a little cartridge like this, we eradiate those disks that you see in the center there to make the molybdenum-99. Basically twice a week, that would make enough (isotopes) for Manitoba and Saskatchewan,” de Jong said.

The Medical Isotope Project at the Canadian Light Source (CLS) is the first of its kind. It uses powerful X-rays to produce isotopes instead of nuclear reactors.

“The molybdenum-99 that we make is identical to what you get out of reactors,” de Jong said.

But there are some major differences. These Saskatoon-produced isotopes are generated in a much smaller facility than a nuclear reactor, they don’t create any nuclear waste and are more reliable.

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“The current production is just a few reactors, many of them are 40-50 years old,” de Jong said, adding problems at those reactors can cause them to be shut down for up to a year and create worldwide shortages.

“What we’re trying to do is try to make sure (hospitals) have a continuing supply of isotopes that they’re currently using,” he said.

De Jong said the medical isotopes produced in Saskatoon could eventually supply all of Saskatchewan, Manitoba and northern Ontario. If there were two or three facilities like the one in Saskatoon, all of Canada would have a steady supply.

This type of medical isotopes is currently used in about 5,000 medical scans daily in Canada. A patient receives an injection with isotopes in it that is tailored to a specific part of their body which can help diagnose cancer or heart disease.

The medical isotope project in Saskatoon is currently waiting for approval from Health Canada, which they expect to receive by 2016.

Right now, isotopes produced in the Saskatoon facility are being shipped to Winnipeg for testing and processing. However, de Jong hopes to eventually have that processing done closer to home.

“We’re already in discussions with the new radiopharmacy that will be next to the cyclotron lab. When that’s in operation, we’ll start shipping right next door. It’s only about 50 metres away.”

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