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Isotope Science and Engineering Directorate

Advancing isotope science for a healthy, secure and sustainable future

We are a global leader in isotope research, development, and production, meeting the nation's emerging needs for stable and radioactive isotopes.

Whether it's medical, industrial, national security, or basic research needs, the Isotope Science and Engineering Directorate (ISED) is at the forefront of isotope development for Oak Ridge National Lab (ORNL) and the world.

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1946
Year ORNL made the first official shipment of a medical radioisotope produced at a nuclear reactor
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2020
Year plutonium-238 produced at ORNL went to Mars on board NASA's Perseverance rover
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70
Percent of the world's californium-252 supply that is produced by ORNL
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9
Elements on the periodic table discovered with the help of ORNL-produced isotopes and materials

Our Science

Facilities

Jeremy Busby

ISED provides excellent stewardship of ORNL’s nuclear and radiological facilities — the Radiochemical Engineering Development Center and numerous other hot cell facilities — that are critical in guiding the lab’s efforts to broaden the application of isotopes for energy, environmental, medical and national security purposes. 

Jeremy Busby
Associate Laboratory Director, Isotope Science and Engineering Directorate, Oak Ridge National Laboratory

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