About us
The Radiopharmaceuticals Production and Research Centre (RPRC PET-UW)
which is currently under construction at the Heavy Ion Laboratory (HIL), (part of
the Warsaw University) will simultaneously serve as
a research centre and a producer of radiopharmaceuticals mainly used in the
technique of Positron Emission Tomography (PET). For the production of radioisotopes
used in Positron Emission Tomography the medical cyclotron (GE-PETtrace) will
be used, which accelerates protons up to the energy 16.5 MeV (it is also
possible to accelerate the deuterons of energy 8.4 MeV). This cyclotron was
installed in 2011 in
the RPRC-PET-UW laboratory as a second cyclotron located at HIL. Since 1994,
the heavy ion cyclotron of Kmax = 160 (with maximum particles energy up to 10
MeV / nucleon) works at HIL and it is the largest cyclotron in Poland. It is used
by Polish and foreign teams for research in nuclear physics, atomic physics,
materials research, solid state physics and biology. The experiments are also
conducted with the objective to form 211At (the isotope used in the targeted
alpha-therapy) in the reaction with 209Bi, using an internal beam of
alpha particles.
The centre has a complete facilities for the production of basic
radiopharmaceutical fluorodeoxyglucose 18F-FDG, which
includes: two 18F-FDG
synthesizers, dual hot cell for synthesizers, two target systems for 18F productions, two
dispensers and two hot cells for the dispensers. Target systems allow for the
production of 18F
with maximum activity of the isotope up to 3.5 Ci. It is also planned to
produce other radiopharmaceuticals based on fluorine isotope 18F (18F choline, 18F Dopa) and other
short-lived radioisotopes, such as 11C
(11C
-methionine),15O (H215O) or metallic
radioisotopes.
Currently, after the construction
period years the Radiopharmaceuticals Production and Research Centre (RPRC-PET-UW)
will become operational in March this year. The next stage of activity will be
the registration of the basic radiopharmaceutical 18F-FDG and its
commercialization, focusing on centers with PET scanners in Warsaw and not too
far centers outside of Warsaw. At the end of the year in the research part of
the center, in cooperation with other units of Warsaw Consortium for PET
Collaboration, long-term activity looking for new, innovative radiopharmaceuticals will
begin.