Recently, the Department of Energy (DOE) issued a request for proposals in order to address the nation’s shortage of medical isotopes. Here at Washington State University we have made progress in medical isotopes research, which affords us the potential to make a significant and lasting impact on the world around us.
Every year in America, over 25 million medical diagnostic procedures and treatment strategies that rely on the medical isotope molybdenum-99 (Mo-99) are performed. But the supply of this isotope is in jeopardy and our nation faces catastrophic failure of the supply chain. The resulting shortage will put a halt to these invaluable procedures, which involve many cardiac and cancer patients.
Congress has recognized the gravity of this situation, and has charged the Department of Energy with developing a safe, reliable, and domestic supply of Mo-99 by December 2013. In addition, however, to help mitigate nuclear threats, the nation needs this demand to be met using low enriched uranium (LEU) fuel sources that cannot be cycled into nuclear weapons.
In response to Congress, and the consequent DOE invitation for proposals to develop a safe, reliable, and domestic commercial supply of Mo-99 by 2013, WSU has stepped up to the plate. We have even received enthusiastic support from Washington state legislators: Gov. Christine Gregoire, Sen. Patty Murray, Rep. Jay Inslee, and Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, along with nods from Sen. Maria Cantwell and Representatives Brian Baird, Norm Dicks, Rick Larsen, Jim McDermott, David Reichert, and Adam Smith.
To achieve congressional and NNSA milestones in a timely manner, WSU has assembled a team of exceptionally qualified individuals from the WSU Dodgen Research Facility and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) to lead this innovative effort to supply Mo-99 for the nation. This team, along with Merrick & Company, and Goodwin Proctor, will undertake a parallel Commercial Scale Demonstration.
Simultaneously, we will complete the necessary Infrastructure Development Plan, which includes the construction of a new medical isotope processing facility and the development of the capacity to extract radionuclides (i.e., Mo-99). Co-location of target irradiation and the Mo-99 extraction process will alleviate the complex security implications and costs associated with shipping irradiated targets.
The Commercial Scale Demonstration involves a conversion phase to include (1) target design, (2) target irradiation, and (3) post-irradiation target processing at a pilot scale followed by the demonstration phase to ensure that the entire process satisfies the necessary standards of quality, purity and reliability required for full scale production.
Highly qualified professional service organizations will play a pivotal role in preparing the necessary facility designs and construction, licensing, permitting and regulatory approvals to ensure a successful path to market through commercial vendors.
This proposal has several key attributes that are unique, and position WSU to expeditiously meet the congressional mandate. Quite simply, we have an incredibly safe reactor design with a spotless record. And since we have already converted to LEU fuel, we are well-positioned to meet Congress’s mandate, perhaps faster than any other site in the US. Our ability to partner with a national laboratory to refine the separation chemistry also makes us able to meet the nation’s demand for Mo-99 quickly.
Another positive consequence of this project involves the revenue generated from Mo-99 production, which will further the core research mission by generating funds to invest in innovative WSU research and graduate student training.
WSU already has a vigorous radiochemistry program with over 20 students seeking their PhDs. As a matter of fact, we graduate more PhDs in nuclear chemistry than any other university. I would like to repeat that–WSU graduates more PhDs in nuclear chemistry than any other university; thus, we are a major contributor to our nation’s security.
This is a big project. But, if it proves successful, WSU will become a model for how intensive and extensive partnerships may be utilized to drive basic research and graduate education while simultaneously making an enormous and positive impact on our state, nation, and world. It will transform and strengthen much of our approach to technology transfer.
In short, WSU and its partners have the expertise, facilities, funding, and management plan to facilitate rapid progress toward a robust commercial supply of this important medical isotope. In the medium- and long-term, this approach represents an enormous opportunity to advance our research and graduate education missions.
This opportunity positions the research university to drive economic development in our region while expanding our technology transfer operation in creative and innovative directions.
Check with Michelle / Kristi that this list OKof the most satisfying experiences of working at a research institution such as Washington State University is helping to fulfill our mission to serve the best interests of the public. Recent developments in medical isotopes research have once again afforded us the opportunity to make a significant and lasting impact on the world around us.
Every year in America, over 25 million medical diagnostic procedures and treatment strategies that rely on the medical isotope molybdenum-99 (Mo-99) are performed. But the supply of this isotope is in jeopardy and our nation faces catastrophic failure of the supply chain, which would result in a serious decline in effective medical procedures.
Congress has recognized the gravity of this situation and charged the Department of Energy with developing a safe, reliable, and domestic supply of Mo-99 by December 2013. In addition, as a direct outcome of reducing nuclear threats, the nation needs this demand to be met using low enriched uranium (LEU) fuel sources that cannot be cycled into nuclear weapons.
So, in response to Congress, and the consequent DOE invitation for solution-based proposals, Washington State University has stepped up to the plate. In fact, with enthusiastic support from Washington state legislators, including Governor Christine Gregoire, Senator Patty Murray, and Rep. Inslee, WSU is uniquely positioned to respond to the nation’s need for a safe and reliable supply of Mo-99.
We have assembled a team of exceptionally qualified individuals from the WSU Dodgen Research Facility and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), as well as having established ties with several companies in the private sector to commercialize this technology. Research and training activities will take place at the WSU Dodgen Research Facility, making a direct and positive impact on the DOE and US Nuclear establishment.
To achieve congressional and NNSA milestones in a timely manner, the experienced team from WSU, along with Merrick & Company, Goodwin Proctor, and PNNL will undertake a parallel Commercial Scale Demonstration. Simultaneously, we will complete the necessary Infrastructure Development Plan, which includes the construction of a new medical isotope processing facility and the development of the capacity to extract radionuclides (i.e., Mo-99). Co-location of target irradiation and the Mo-99 extraction process will alleviate the complex security implications and costs associated with shipping irradiated targets.
The Commercial Scale Demonstration involves a conversion phase to include (1) target design, (2) target irradiation, and (3) post-irradiation target processing at a pilot scale followed by the demonstration phase to ensure that the entire process satisfies the necessary standards of quality, purity and reliability required for full scale production. Highly qualified professional service organizations will play a pivotal role in preparing the necessary facility designs and construction, licensing, permitting and regulatory approvals to ensure a successful path to market through commercial vendors.
Another positive consequence of this project is that the revenue generated from Mo-99 production will further the core research mission by generating funds to invest in innovative WSU research and graduate student training. WSU already has a vigorous radiochemistry program with five tenured or tenure-track faculty and 20 students seeking their PhDs. As a matter of fact, we graduate more PhDs in nuclear chemistry than any other university. I would like to repeat that–WSU graduates more PhDs in nuclear chemistry than any other university.
This is a big project. But, if it proves successful, WSU will become a model for how intensive and extensive partnerships may be advanced to drive basic research and graduate education while simultaneously making an enormous and positive impact on our state, nation, and world.
This proposal has several key attributes that are unique and position WSU to meet the congressional mandate in an expedited manner.
• We have already converted our nuclear reactor to LEU fuel and have removed all of the HEU.
• WSU is cognizant of the need to provide assurances that the air effluent limits, particularly radioactive isotopes of krypton (Kr) and xenon (Xe), are kept at the ranges at very low levels.
• It is WSU’s intent to capture at least 99.99996% of the volatile fission products thus exceeding this expectation.
• WSU is located within two hours of the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory that allows us immediate access, and we will collaborate closely.
• WSU will provide the cost share required.
• This is an extraordinarily secure funding mechanism that translates into our being able to deliver a safe, reliable, and domestic supply of Mo-99 perhaps more quickly than any other group.
In short, WSU and its partners have the expertise, facilities, funding, and management plan to facilitate rapid progress toward a robust commercial supply of this important medical isotope. In the medium- and long-term this approach represents an enormous opportunity to advance our research and graduate education missions. But it also positions the research university to drive economic development in our region while expanding our technology transfer operation in creative and innovative directionsOne of the most satisfying experiences of working at a research institution such as Washington State University is helping to fulfill our mission to serve the best interests of the public. Recent developments in medical isotopes research have once again afforded us the opportunity to make a significant and lasting impact on the world around us.
Every year in America, over 25 million medical diagnostic procedures and treatment strategies that rely on the medical isotope molybdenum-99 (Mo-99) are performed. But the supply of this isotope is in jeopardy and our nation faces catastrophic failure of the supply chain, which would result in a serious decline in effective medical procedures.
Congress has recognized the gravity of this situation and charged the Department of Energy with developing a safe, reliable, and domestic supply of Mo-99 by December 2013. In addition, as a direct outcome of reducing nuclear threats, the nation needs this demand to be met using low enriched uranium (LEU) fuel sources that cannot be cycled into nuclear weapons.
So, in response to Congress, and the consequent DOE invitation for solution-based proposals, Washington State University has stepped up to the plate. In fact, with enthusiastic support from Washington state legislators, including Governor Christine Gregoire, Senator Patty Murray, and Rep. Inslee, WSU is uniquely positioned to respond to the nation’s need for a safe and reliable supply of Mo-99.
We have assembled a team of exceptionally qualified individuals from the WSU Dodgen Research Facility and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), as well as having established ties with several companies in the private sector to commercialize this technology. Research and training activities will take place at the WSU Dodgen Research Facility, making a direct and positive impact on the DOE and US Nuclear establishment.
To achieve congressional and NNSA milestones in a timely manner, the experienced team from WSU, along with Merrick & Company, Goodwin Proctor, and PNNL will undertake a parallel Commercial Scale Demonstration. Simultaneously, we will complete the necessary Infrastructure Development Plan, which includes the construction of a new medical isotope processing facility and the development of the capacity to extract radionuclides (i.e., Mo-99). Co-location of target irradiation and the Mo-99 extraction process will alleviate the complex security implications and costs associated with shipping irradiated targets.
The Commercial Scale Demonstration involves a conversion phase to include (1) target design, (2) target irradiation, and (3) post-irradiation target processing at a pilot scale followed by the demonstration phase to ensure that the entire process satisfies the necessary standards of quality, purity and reliability required for full scale production. Highly qualified professional service organizations will play a pivotal role in preparing the necessary facility designs and construction, licensing, permitting and regulatory approvals to ensure a successful path to market through commercial vendors.
Another positive consequence of this project is that the revenue generated from Mo-99 production will further the core research mission by generating funds to invest in innovative WSU research and graduate student training. WSU already has a vigorous radiochemistry program with five tenured or tenure-track faculty and 20 students seeking their PhDs. As a matter of fact, we graduate more PhDs in nuclear chemistry than any other university. I would like to repeat that–WSU graduates more PhDs in nuclear chemistry than any other university.
This is a big project. But, if it proves successful, WSU will become a model for how intensive and extensive partnerships may be advanced to drive basic research and graduate education while simultaneously making an enormous and positive impact on our state, nation, and world.
This proposal has several key attributes that are unique and position WSU to meet the congressional mandate in an expedited manner.
• We have already converted our nuclear reactor to LEU fuel and have removed all of the HEU.
• WSU is cognizant of the need to provide assurances that the air effluent limits, particularly radioactive isotopes of krypton (Kr) and xenon (Xe), are kept at the ranges at very low levels.
• It is WSU’s intent to capture at least 99.99996% of the volatile fission products thus exceeding this expectation.
• WSU is located within two hours of the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory that allows us immediate access, and we will collaborate closely.
• WSU will provide the cost share required.
• This is an extraordinarily secure funding mechanism that translates into our being able to deliver a safe, reliable, and domestic supply of Mo-99 perhaps more quickly than any other group.
In short, WSU and its partners have the expertise, facilities, funding, and management plan to facilitate rapid progress toward a robust commercial supply of this important medical isotope. In the medium- and long-term this approach represents an enormous opportunity to advance our research and graduate education missions. But it also positions the research university to drive economic development in our region while expanding our technology transfer operation in creative and innovative directions.
Tags: cancer, cardiac, cures, energy, howar, Howard Grimes, medical isotopes, Mo-99, research, researchuniversities, safety, univ, washington s
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November 14th, 2009 at 12:50 pm
Dear Dr. Grimes (Howard),
It is good to see your support for medical isotopes research at Washington State University. I hope that our meeting about five years ago with Dean William Fassett, Dr. Ray Quock and Deborah Schmuckly associated with WSU’s brief entry in the area of nuclear pharmacy training served to introduce you to the importance of medical isotope research, the connections to multiple areas of interdisciplinary study and their potential global impact.
Washington State University remains uniquely positioned to take advantage of expertise in the areas of pharmacy, veterinary medicine, nuclear chemistry, physics, and radiobiology through their connections to the Pacific Northwest National Labs and the reactor on campus.
Over the past five years awareness has risen and the shortage of Mo-99/Technetium 99m as some scientists predicted has brought home the need for research into alternative methods of production as well as alternative diagnostic tools. Along with that awareness has come the availability of funding for research.
My hope is that WSU has a formulated a research strategy to take advantage of the intellectual assets and facilities available.