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Nuclear @ McMaster

A gloved hand placing a vial of medicine inside a container.

Medical Isotopes

McMaster is the world’s leading supplier of two medical isotopes: iodine-125 and holmium-166.

Our staff produce and ship these isotopes around the world, providing treatment for more than 70,000 cancer patients every year. 

With a particular focus on the development of new medical isotope-based drugs, we aim to provide Canadians with the next generation of life-saving medical isotope products.

Information Box Group

Iodine-125

Iodine-125 is commonly used in brachytherapy to treat prostate cancer. 

Holmium-166

Holmium-166 is used in radio-embolization microspheres to treat liver cancer. 

Lutetium-177

Lutetium-177 is used to treat a variety of cancers. 

Learn More about Radioisotopes

LATEST NEWS

Nuclear reactor staff insert samples into the reactor pool.

McMaster and Astral Systems partner to explore Actinium-225 and Lead-212 medical isotope production

News

April 29, 2025

Workshop leaders and participants standing outside University Hall.

Next Generation in Nuclear Medicine workshop provides skills-building for young professionals

News

July 10, 2024

McMaster increasing production of zirconium-89 to support research in nuclear medicine

News

May 1, 2024

Next Generation in Nuclear Medicine Workshop

Event

April 17, 2024

McMaster and King’s College London partner to advance research and training in nuclear medicine

Health

April 8, 2024

A group of people stand in front of a banner that says, Strategic Innovation Fund.

McMaster celebrates federal investment in medical isotope ecosystem

News

November 16, 2023

Isotope production technicians working on a bridge over the reactor.

Innovating Canada  ➚

McMaster University is Saving Lives with Medical Isotopes

News

October 16, 2023

Operators work next to the McMaster Nuclear Reactor core.

United Nations Academic Impact  ➚

Advancing Nuclear Research: Countering Cancer and Climate Change

News

August 14, 2023

A group of people stand next to each other at Bruce Power.

Brighter World  ➚

McMaster and medical isotope partners awarded $35M from federal government

News

June 28, 2023

A lit sign that says Reactor On.

Brighter World  ➚

McMaster receives funding to ramp up medical isotope production

News

April 6, 2023

A technician wearing PPE dispenses a medical isotope inside a lab.

McMaster, Terumo and AtomVie Global Radiopharma Inc. partner to manufacture medical devices for cancer treatment

News

March 20, 2023

Neutrons Canada members pose for a photo in a room.

McMaster hosts first Neutrons Canada board meeting

News

December 2, 2022

Three people smile while signing paper contracts.

Brighter World  ➚

McMaster partners with nuclear industry leaders to advance research and education

News

November 29, 2022

A drone sits on a landing pad.

Brighter World  ➚

Delivery by drone: Revolutionizing the transportation of time-sensitive cancer treatments

News

November 23, 2022

A drone sits on a landing pad.

Brighter World  ➚

Drone delivery project will deliver medical isotopes

News

November 1, 2022

John Valliant, Fusion Pharmaceuticals CEO and McMaster professor; Karen Mossman, vice-president, research; Dave Tucker, assistant vice-president research, nuclear; David Farrar, president and vice-chancellor; and Maureen MacDonald, dean, Faculty of Science at the partnership launch event.

Brighter World  ➚

New partnership builds pipeline for highly trained students mastering radiopharmaceuticals research for cancer treatment

News

June 22, 2022

A group of people stand outside the McMaster Nuclear Reactor.

Technical University of Munich visits McMaster to kick-off nuclear research collaborations

Health

April 20, 2022

MPP Bill Walker standing in front of the reactor pool at McMaster Nuclear Reactor.

MPP Bill Walker visits McMaster Nuclear Reactor

Health

February 14, 2022

McMaster Nuclear Reactor core.

Nuclear research and education at the core of new international collaboration

Education, Health, Materials, News, Nuclear

November 5, 2021

McMaster Nuclear Reactor core.

New partnership advances medical isotope technology

Health, News

July 9, 2021

An isotope technician prepares a rig for irradiation inside the McMaster Nuclear Reactor.

President’s Award Win for NO&F!

Health, News

April 12, 2021

An airplane is being loaded with cargo on a runway.

In Canada, shippers race to move cancer treatments as COVID-19 grounds flights

Health, News

January 5, 2021

A gloved hand placing a vial of medicine inside a container.

McMaster to spearhead collaborative project on building a resilient Canadian medical isotope supply chain

Health, News

August 12, 2020

Text reads first clinical case using the McMaster Nuclear Reactor.

McMaster University and Quirem Medical announce the first clinical case using the McMaster Nuclear Reactor

Health, News

June 6, 2019

A technician holds a bottle containing medical isotope iodine-125.

McMaster joins the Canadian Nuclear Isotope Council

Health

May 4, 2018

More News

Related Facilities

McMaster Nuclear Reactor

McMaster University Cyclotron Facility

High Level Laboratory Facility

McMaster Accelerator Laboratory