CERN-MEDICIS: A Review Since Commissioning in 2017

Charlotte Duchemin(European Organization for Nuclear Research), J.P. Ramos(European Organization for Nuclear Research), Thierry Storà(European Organization for Nuclear Research), Essraa Ahmed(KU Leuven), Elodie Aubert(European Organization for Nuclear Research), Nadia Audouin(Deleted Institution), Ermanno Barbero(European Organization for Nuclear Research), Vincent Barozier(European Organization for Nuclear Research), A. P. Bernardes(European Organization for Nuclear Research), Philippe Bertreix(European Organization for Nuclear Research), Aurore Boscher(European Organization for Nuclear Research), Frank Bruchertseifer(Joint Research Centre), R. Catherall(European Organization for Nuclear Research), E. Chevallay(European Organization for Nuclear Research), P. Christodoulou(European Organization for Nuclear Research), K. Chrysalidis(European Organization for Nuclear Research), T. E. Cocolios(KU Leuven), Jeremie Comte(European Organization for Nuclear Research), B. Crepieux(European Organization for Nuclear Research), Matthieu Deschamps(European Organization for Nuclear Research), K. Dockx(KU Leuven), A. Dorsival(European Organization for Nuclear Research), V. N. Fedosseev(European Organization for Nuclear Research), P. Fernier(European Organization for Nuclear Research), Robert Formento-Cavaier(Deleted Institution), Safouane El Idrissi(European Organization for Nuclear Research), P. Ivanov(National Physical Laboratory), Vadim Gadelshin(Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz), S. Gilardoni(European Organization for Nuclear Research), Jean-Louis Grenard(European Organization for Nuclear Research), Férid Haddad(Deleted Institution), Reinhard Heinke(European Organization for Nuclear Research), Benjamin Juif(European Organization for Nuclear Research), Umair Khalid(European Organization for Nuclear Research), Moazam Khan(European Organization for Nuclear Research), U. Köster(Institut Laue-Langevin), Laura Lambert(European Organization for Nuclear Research), G. Lilli(European Organization for Nuclear Research), Giacomo Lunghi(European Organization for Nuclear Research), B. A. Marsh(European Organization for Nuclear Research), Y. Martinez Palenzuela(KU Leuven), Renata Martins(European Organization for Nuclear Research), S. Marzari(European Organization for Nuclear Research), N. Menaa(European Organization for Nuclear Research), Nathalie Michel(Deleted Institution), Maxime Munos(European Organization for Nuclear Research), Fabio Pozzi(European Organization for Nuclear Research), F. Riccardi(European Organization for Nuclear Research), Julien Riegert(European Organization for Nuclear Research), Nicolas Riggaz(European Organization for Nuclear Research), Jean-Yves Rinchet(European Organization for Nuclear Research), S. Rothe(European Organization for Nuclear Research), Ben Russell(National Physical Laboratory), Christelle Saury(European Organization for Nuclear Research), Thomas Schneider(European Organization for Nuclear Research), S. Stegemann(European Organization for Nuclear Research), Zeynep Talip(Paul Scherrer Institute), Christian Theis(European Organization for Nuclear Research), J. Thiboud(European Organization for Nuclear Research), Nicholas P. van der Meulen(Paul Scherrer Institute), Miranda van Stenis(European Organization for Nuclear Research), Heinz Vincke(European Organization for Nuclear Research), J. Vollaire(European Organization for Nuclear Research), Nhat-Tan Vuong(European Organization for Nuclear Research), B. Webster(National Physical Laboratory), K. Wendt(Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz), S. G. Wilkins(European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Frontiers in Medicine
July 15, 2021
10.3389/fmed.2021.693682
Cited by 36Open Access
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Abstract

The CERN-MEDICIS (MEDical Isotopes Collected from ISolde) facility has delivered its first radioactive ion beam at CERN (Switzerland) in December 2017 to support the research and development in nuclear medicine using non-conventional radionuclides. Since then, fourteen institutes, including CERN, have joined the collaboration to drive the scientific program of this unique installation and evaluate the needs of the community to improve the research in imaging, diagnostics, radiation therapy and personalized medicine. The facility has been built as an extension of the ISOLDE (Isotope Separator On Line DEvice) facility at CERN. Handling of open radioisotope sources is made possible thanks to its Radiological Controlled Area and laboratory. Targets are being irradiated by the 1.4 GeV proton beam delivered by the CERN Proton Synchrotron Booster (PSB) on a station placed between the High Resolution Separator (HRS) ISOLDE target station and its beam dump. Irradiated target materials are also received from external institutes to undergo mass separation at CERN-MEDICIS. All targets are handled via a remote handling system and exploited on a dedicated isotope separator beamline. To allow for the release and collection of a specific radionuclide of medical interest, each target is heated to temperatures of up to 2,300°C. The created ions are extracted and accelerated to an energy up to 60 kV, and the beam steered through an off-line sector field magnet mass separator. This is followed by the extraction of the radionuclide of interest through mass separation and its subsequent implantation into a collection foil. In addition, the MELISSA (MEDICIS Laser Ion Source Setup At CERN) laser laboratory, in service since April 2019, helps to increase the separation efficiency and the selectivity. After collection, the implanted radionuclides are dispatched to the biomedical research centers, participating in the CERN-MEDICIS collaboration, for Research & Development in imaging or treatment. Since its commissioning, the CERN-MEDICIS facility has provided its partner institutes with non-conventional medical radionuclides such as Tb-149, Tb-152, Tb-155, Sm-153, Tm-165, Tm-167, Er-169, Yb-175, and Ac-225 with a high specific activity. This article provides a review of the achievements and milestones of CERN-MEDICIS since it has produced its first radioactive isotope in December 2017, with a special focus on its most recent operation in 2020.

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