A new radiopharmaceutical facility is being built in Calgary, and will be the southern Alberta area’s first cyclotron..The province announced Thursday, the radiopharmaceutical facility will give Calgary the ability to produce its own supply of radiopharmaceuticals and will encourage research innovation for a number of diseases, including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s..Radiopharmaceuticals are a unique class of drug that helps diagnose and treat a variety of types of cancers, bone diseases, strokes, epilepsy, and dementia. A cyclotron is a machine that produces radioisotopes, which are radioactive atoms. Cyclotron technology is used for medical imaging, therapy, and research and is described as “vital” to cancer care and treatment..The facility is being touted as one of the most modern of its kind, and positive investment in the southern Alberta and Calgary region..The project was initially allotted $18.6 million but the total cost is expected to be approximately $50 million. It will also replace the current Calgary Radiopharmaceutical Centre — which does not meet existing standards..Alberta’s current and only cyclotron is located in the Cross Cancer Institute in Edmonton. Presently, it must send the specialized products to Calgary. The drugs being sent have very short half-lives and degrade along the journey — only 25% of the drugs transported are able to be used. This new location is set to improve this percentage and make more of the products usable..As for the old Edmonton Radiopharmaceutical Centre currently functioning out of the Cross Cancer Institute, it will be moving to the new Medical Isotope and Cyclotron Facility located south of the Cancer institute. The new facility is predicted to gain Health Canada approval by summer 2022..The exact location of the facility has yet to be finalized, but initial planning steps have been completed. The project is set to be completed between 2024 and 2025, and will open to serve the public after commissioning and certification..Having local cyclotron technology will ensure Albertans have access to these products year-round, especially during regular maintenance shutdowns each year..Jackie Conroy is a Reporter for the Western Standard.jconroy@westernstandardonline.com
A new radiopharmaceutical facility is being built in Calgary, and will be the southern Alberta area’s first cyclotron..The province announced Thursday, the radiopharmaceutical facility will give Calgary the ability to produce its own supply of radiopharmaceuticals and will encourage research innovation for a number of diseases, including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s..Radiopharmaceuticals are a unique class of drug that helps diagnose and treat a variety of types of cancers, bone diseases, strokes, epilepsy, and dementia. A cyclotron is a machine that produces radioisotopes, which are radioactive atoms. Cyclotron technology is used for medical imaging, therapy, and research and is described as “vital” to cancer care and treatment..The facility is being touted as one of the most modern of its kind, and positive investment in the southern Alberta and Calgary region..The project was initially allotted $18.6 million but the total cost is expected to be approximately $50 million. It will also replace the current Calgary Radiopharmaceutical Centre — which does not meet existing standards..Alberta’s current and only cyclotron is located in the Cross Cancer Institute in Edmonton. Presently, it must send the specialized products to Calgary. The drugs being sent have very short half-lives and degrade along the journey — only 25% of the drugs transported are able to be used. This new location is set to improve this percentage and make more of the products usable..As for the old Edmonton Radiopharmaceutical Centre currently functioning out of the Cross Cancer Institute, it will be moving to the new Medical Isotope and Cyclotron Facility located south of the Cancer institute. The new facility is predicted to gain Health Canada approval by summer 2022..The exact location of the facility has yet to be finalized, but initial planning steps have been completed. The project is set to be completed between 2024 and 2025, and will open to serve the public after commissioning and certification..Having local cyclotron technology will ensure Albertans have access to these products year-round, especially during regular maintenance shutdowns each year..Jackie Conroy is a Reporter for the Western Standard.jconroy@westernstandardonline.com
