Programs
The ORNL Nuclear Medicine Research Program follows a long tradition in developing useful diagnostic and therapeutic applications of radioisotopes. Our research focuses on the development of medical radioisotope processing techniques, radionuclide generator research and the development of new tissue-specific radiopharmaceuticals for diagnostic and therapeutic applications in nuclear medicine, oncology and interventional cardiology. Key strengths are in the areas of radiopharmaceutical chemistry, radiochemistry, radioisotope process research and biomedical applications. The ORNL High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR) represents an important resource which provides primarily neutron-rich radioisotopes. We are developing new processing procedures and also making important contributions in the development of new radionuclide generator systems which provide radioisotopes for various therapeutic applications in the areas of tumor therapy and diagnosis. We are actively collaborating with a variety of programs within ORNL and at universities, medical schools and other research institutions throughout the world. These Medical Cooperative Programs provide an important opportunity for further preclinical research and clinical evaluation of new agents developed in our ORNL program. The clinical evaluation and commercialization of new agents developed at ORNL illustrates the important transition of our new technologies from the laboratory to availability for routine clinical use.
