Isotope Program Isotope Program Office of Nuclear PhysicsOffice of Nuclear Physics

Jehanne GilloJehanne GilloDivision Director, Facilities and Project Management Division Director, Facilities and Project Management

Office of Science, U.S. Department of EnergyOffice of Science, U.S. Department of Energy

Nuclear and Radiation Studies BoardNuclear and Radiation Studies BoardDecember 10, 2009December 10, 2009

OFFICE OF

SCIENCE

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Nuclear Physics Program MissionNuclear Physics Program Mission

Mission: To discover, explore and understand all forms of nuclear matter; to understand how the fundamental particles, quarks and gluons, fit together and interact to create different types of matter in the universe, including those no longer found naturally

Priorities: To understand how quarks and gluons assemble into the various forms of matter and to search

for yet undiscovered forms of matter To understand how protons and neutrons combine to form atomic nuclei and how these nuclei

have emerged during the 13.7 billion years since the origin of the cosmos To understand the fundamental properties of the neutron and develop a better understanding of

the neutrino To conceive, plan, design, construct, and operate national scientific user facilities; to develop

new detector and accelerator technologies To provide stewardship of isotope production and related technologies to advance

important applications, research and tools for the nation To foster integration of the research with the work of other organizations in DOE

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Isotope Program MissionIsotope Program Mission

The mission of the DOE Isotope Program is threefold:

Produce and/or distribute radioactive and stable isotopes that are in short supply, associated byproducts, surplus materials and related isotope services.

Maintain the infrastructure required to produce and supply isotope products and related services.

Conduct R&D on new and improved isotope production and processing techniques which can make available new isotopes for research and applications.

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Isotope Program

John Pantaleo, Program Director

Luisa Romero, Program Analyst

Isotope Program Organization

Tim Hallman, Director

Office of Nuclear PhysicsOffice of Nuclear Physics

Facilities & Project Management Division

Jehanne Gillo, Director

Isotope Facilities

Physical Scientist (being advertised)

Isotope Research

Physical Scientist (being filled)

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Isotope ProgramIsotope Program

QuickTime™ and aTIFF (LZW) decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

• Transferred from the Office of Nuclear Energy to NP with the 2009 Appropriation.

• Continues to produce, process, package and deliver isotopes for those isotopes not produced commercially.

• Re-established research and development of isotope production techniques and the production of research isotopes

• Pricing policy has been modified for research isotopes. Prices will be based on unit cost (e.g., per millicurie) and not batch cost. Overall production cost was reduced.

• Serves a broad community of Federal agencies in addition to DOE—NIH, NIST, EPA, NNSA, DHS…

• Funding is from a combination of appropriations and sales—funds are deposited into the revolving fund which is externally audited annually.

Produce and sell radioactive and stable isotopes, associated byproducts, surplus materials, and related isotope services.

Maintain the infrastructure required to supply isotope products and related services.

– 4 new contracts are being established for additional production capabilities.

Support R&D for development and production of isotopes.

– 14 new grants are being awarded for alternative isotope production techniques.

Over 180 customers in FY 2009 Over 570 shipments in FY 2009 Ten customers provided over 85% of sales FY09 Appropriations: $24.9M + 15.2M ARRA;

$19.6M in Sales.

Isotope ProgramIsotope Program

60%Medical

Research

20%Other

Research

20%Commercial

DOE Isotopes

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Re-organizing the Isotope ProgramRe-organizing the Isotope Program

Workshop held August 5-7, 2008: The Nation's Needs for Isotopes: Present and Future- Assembled representative stakeholders- federal, research and industrial to identify needs and

challenges.

Establishing links of communications with federal agencies to understand needs and priorities- Federal Working Group to discuss medical isotopes etc. - (DOE BER, DOE NP and NIH); establishing NIH prioritization

mechanism- EOP Interagency Working Group to discuss He-3:

NP/NNSA/DOD/DHS/CIA/FBI/Navy/Commerce/others- Bi-national Working Group and OSTP Working Group on Mo-99

Worked with industrial representatives to establish consortium and path forward for continuing Cf-252 production. Exploring other industrial opportunities.

Restructured the federal organization of the program – Federal vs contractor based.

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Re-organization continuedRe-organization continued

Restructuring the Isotope Business Office to National Isotope Data Center- Increased scope: coordinates and integrates multi-laboratory and university isotope production schedules;

maintains isotope inventory balances and transportation container inventory and certifications; and conducts various outreach and societal activities.

Initiated R&D program on alternative isotope production techniques

Pricing policy has been modified for research isotopes. Prices will be based on unit cost and not batch cost. Overall production cost was reduced.

Established peer review mechanisms for facilities and initiatives

Establishing new production capabilities outside suite of NP/Isotope Program facilities – including other agency facilities and university facilities

Charged NSAC to set priorities for research opportunities and to develop a long-term strategic plan for isotope production and development.

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Current Isotope Production Sites Current Isotope Production Sites used by the DOE Isotope Programused by the DOE Isotope Program

Idaho – ATR:Co-60 – Sterilization of

surgical equipment and blood

Richland:Sr-90 – Y-90

gen for cancer therapy

Brookhaven – BLIP:Ge-68 – Calibration sources for PET equipment;

Antibody labeling

Sr-82 – Rb-82 gen used in cardiac imaging

Cu-67 – Antibody label for targeted cancer therapy

Los Alamos – LANSCE/IPF:

Ge-68 – Calibration sources for PET equipment; Antibody labeling

Sr-82 – Rb-82 gen used in cardiac imaging

As-73 – Biomedical tracer

Savannah River – Tritium Facility:He-3 – Neutron detection

– Fuel source for fusion reactors– Lung testing

Oak Ridge – HFIR:Se-75 - Industrial NDA; Protein

studies

Cf-252 - Industrial source

W-188 - Cancer therapy

Stable Isotopes Inventory:

Top 10 stable isotopes sold over the last 5 years:

Ca-48, Ga-69, Rb-87, Cl-37, Pt-195, Nd-146, Sm-149, Ru-99, Zr-96

Inventory:Ac-225 - Cancer therapy

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Additional Production Sites Additional Production Sites Integrated in the DOE Isotope ProgramIntegrated in the DOE Isotope Program

Richland:Sr-90 – Y-90

gen for cancer therapy

Columbia – MURR:Collaborative supplier for research isotopes

(e.g. As-72)

Savannah River – Tritium Facility:He-3 – Neutron detection

– Fuel source for fusion reactors– Lung testing

Oak Ridge – HFIR:Se-75 - Industrial NDA; Protein

studies

Cf-252 - Industrial source

W-188 - Cancer therapy

Stable Isotopes Inventory:

Top 10 stable isotopes sold over the last 5 years:

Ca-48, Ga-69, Rb-87, Cl-37, Pt-195, Nd-146, Sm-149, Ru-99, Zr-96

Inventory:Ac-225 - Cancer therapy

UC Davis/McClellan:Collaborative supplier for research isotopes (e.g. At-211)

Washington Univ:Collaborative supplier for research isotopes (e.g. Cu-64)

Idaho – ATR:Co-60 – Sterilization of

surgical equipment and blood

Brookhaven – BLIP:Ge-68 – Calibration sources for PET equipment;

Antibody labeling

Sr-82 – Rb-82 gen used in cardiac imaging

Cu-67 – Antibody label for targeted cancer therapy

NIH - Cyclotrons:Collaborative supplier for research isotopes (e.g. Br-76)

Los Alamos – LANSCE/IPF:

Ge-68 – Calibration sources for PET equipment; Antibody labeling

Sr-82 – Rb-82 gen used in cardiac imaging

As-73 – Biomedical tracer

FY 2010 Research Isotopes FY 2010 Research Isotopes CapabilitiesCapabilities

Actinium-225 Arsenic-72 Arsenic-73 Berkelium-247 Beryllium-7 Bromine-86 Californium-252 Copper-64 Copper-67 Holmium-166 Iron-52

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Lead-203 Lutetium-177 Magnesium-28 Samarium-153 Selenium-72 Silicon-32 Radium-223/Th-227 Rubidium-83 Tungsten-188/Rhenium-188 Yttrium-86 Zirconium-89

Develop a coordinated production plan based on facility availability and customer deliveries.

Office of Nuclear Physics Isotope Production and Applications

Office of Nuclear Physics Isotope Production and Applications

NIDCNIDC

Isotope Research and Development

Isotope Research and Development

Production CoordinationProduction Coordination

Business OfficeBusiness Office

Transportation and Distribution

Transportation and Distribution

Community OutreachCommunity Outreach

Advisory Committee

- Assess, archive, and distribute R&D information such as:processing enhancements, target development/ design/ material, nuclear cross section data, irradiation reactions, and environmental/safety concerns

- Production coordination and schedules at DOE labs, universities, private producers

- Quotations- Contracts- Invoicing- Referrals

- Containers- Export- Licensing- Shipping schedules

- Website- Academic programs- Newsletters- Society meetings/conferences- Accomplishments- Liaison with user community

Isotope Production Site Managers at Labs and

UniversitiesNational

Isotope Data Center

Organization

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NSAC Research IsotopeNSAC Research IsotopeRecommendationsRecommendations

Compelling Research Opportunities using Isotopes

Invest in new production approaches of alpha-emitting radionuclides, e.g. Ac-225, At-211.

Invest in coordination of production capabilities and supporting research. Produce isotopes of the heavy elements, e.g. Cf, Ra, TRU. Focused study and R&D on new or increased production of He-3. Re-establish domestic production and supply of stable isotopes. Robust investment into education and training.

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NSAC Long Range Plan NSAC Long Range Plan RecommendationsRecommendations

Isotopes for the Nation's Future A Long Range Plan

Maintain a continuous dialogue with all interested federal agencies and commercial isotope customers to forecast and match realistic isotope demand and achievable production capabilities.

Coordinate production capabilities and supporting research to facilitate networking among existing DOE, commercial, and academic facilities.

Support a sustained research program in the base budget to enhance the capabilities of the isotope program in the production and supply of isotopes generated from reactors, accelerators, and separators.

Devise processes for the isotope program to better communicate with users, researchers, customers, students, and the public and to seek advice from experts:

Encourage the use of isotopes for research through reliable availability at affordable prices. Increase the robustness and agility of isotope transportation both nationally and internationally. Invest in workforce development in a multipronged approach, reaching out to students, post-

doctoral fellows, and faculty through professional training, curriculum development, and meeting/workshop participation.

Construct and operate an electromagnetic isotope separator facility for stable and long-lived radioactive isotopes.

Construct and operate a variable-energy, high-current, multi-particle accelerator and supporting facilities that have the primary mission of isotope production.

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Isotope Program Funding Isotope Program Funding OpportunitiesOpportunities

Request for proposals to domestically produce and separate stable and radioactive research isotopes that are needed for a wide variety of research topics, including medicine, physics, life sciences, material sciences, agriculture, and homeland security (June 2009)

Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) for R&D on alternative isotope production techniques (May 2009)

Continue awards in FY 2010 of peer-reviewed FOA applications of alternative isotope production techniques

Continue developing capability for research isotope production in FY 2010

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Isotope UpdateIsotope Update

Actinium-225– Continue to process the Th-229 for Ac-225; about 550 mCi per year.– ORNL is conducting R&D to assess alternative methods for the production of Th-229

and is exploring potential methods to overcome current barriers in separation and production. ORNL is also assessing the use of ionic liquids as solvents for improved production of radioisotopes.

– LANL is conducting R&D to assess feasibility of an accelerator-based production route. – R&D conducted by NorthStar is being supported for production of Ac-225 via high energy

proton induced spallation. Actinium-227

– R&D to separate and purify Ac-227 from surplus actinium-beryllium neutron sources at ORNL and other from legacy Ac-227 at PNNL. When completed, the Ac-227 can be used as a source (cow) for the decay production of very high purity Th-227 and Ra-223, important alpha-emitting isotopes for medicine.

Astatine-211– R&D effort to obtain methods and materials at the University of Washington to routinely

supply the alpha-particle emitting radionuclide to researchers.

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Isotope Update (continued)Isotope Update (continued)

Americium-241– In the past, DOE provided Am-241 from inventory stored at LANL. Inventory is depleted,

currently no domestic production of Am-241.– Jointly working with NNSA to define path forward.– Proposal will be peer reviewed by NP/NNSA.– Assumption is to develop purchase order contract with each customer or establish

consortium with buyers similar to the Cf-252 contract. Californium-252

– Capacity of production is maintained and within cost and schedule.– Capacity exists for additional future Cf-252 production as demand requires.

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Isotope Update (continued)Isotope Update (continued)

Copper-67– R&D to produce Cu-67 at BLIP in quantity and quality suitable for clinical research.

Current irradiation tests improved specific activity 3 fold to ~12mCi/μg but further increase desirable.

– Small quantities could be produced at universities. Gadolinium-153

– Establish production capability of High-Specific-Activity Gd-153 at the INL with processing at PNNL.

– The scope of work includes several staged tasks necessary to provide the ATR’s irradiation services, including capsule design and analysis, fabrication and assembly, irradiation, post-irradiation inspection, and handling and shipping.

– The anticipated target insertion date into the ATR is May 29, 2010 for a 49 day irradiation cycle. INL and PNNL are still working out the details of capsule design and delivery. INL and PNNL representatives are meeting on Dec. 14th to finalize the schedule.

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Isotope Update (continued)Isotope Update (continued)

Stable Isotopes– ORNL stable isotope purchase to replenish inventory of research isotopes such as Lu-176,

Mo-100, Ni-62, W-186, and others.– ORNL is conducting R&D on technology for integrating gas centrifugation and

electromagnetic isotope separation for preparation of stable isotopes. Yttrium-86

– Developing large scale production of radioisotope Y-86 at BLIP in quantity and quality suitable for shipment to customers. Y-86 is a 14.7h positron emitter of interest to perform PET imaging study to optimize dose prior to therapeutic use of Y-90.

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Isotope Update (continued)Isotope Update (continued)

Molybdenum-99

– Within the DOE, NNSA has the lead on developing domestic Mo-99 supply based on LEU technology.

– NP has been working closely with NNSA on this topic.– NP provides technical expertise as needed.– NP represented on Bi-national Working Group and OSTP Working Group.– SC considered capabilities at SC facilities for providing Mo-99 on short-term emergency

basis as part of Working Group exercises.– Focus was the High Flux Isotope Reactor stewarded by the Office of Basic Energy

Sciences.– The U.S. Government is exploring international cooperation to mitigate potential

shortages.– NNSA is investing in four LEU technologies for a domestic supply by 2013.

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Isotope Update (continued)Isotope Update (continued)

Helium-3 Shortage– Established Integrated Project Team in March 2009

• Working Groups: Demand, Supply, Alternative Technologies (neutron detection); and Policy.• Guided by the steering group chaired by the National Security Council.• Prioritized and allocated some He-3 in FY 2009; additional to be allocated in FY 2010.• In June 2009 a He-3 workshop to explore alternatives to He-3 for neutron detection technologies was

hosted by the Savannah River National Laboratory on behalf of the NNSA Network of Senior Scientists.

– Strategy to Reduce/Manage Demand• Pursue and employ alternative technologies for neutron detection. American Association for the

Advancement of Science (AAAS) workshop to be held February 11, 2010: http://cstsp.aaas.org/Helium3.html.

• Prioritize use of the existing supply of He-3.• Prioritize upcoming projects that would be big users of He-3.

– Increase Supply• Seek He-3 supply from foreign countries.• Encourage He-3 recycling and reuse.• Investigate techniques to increase He-3 extraction efficiency.• Possible New He-3 production.

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ConclusionsConclusions

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Isotope Program is synergistic with Nuclear Physics program

Isotope Program is undergoing significant change in terms of management, mission , scope and capabilities

There are continuous challenges that the program faces

Much progress has already been made in addressing NSAC goals

Communication with stakeholders – both in the community and at a federal level – has improved

A high priority goal is to develop a coordinated, national strategy to meet present and future demand for isotopes in short supply for research and applications