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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

Aluminum can containing iodine-125.

Iodine-125

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

Radiopharmaceutical hot cell with mechanical arms.

Holmium-166

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

Isotope production technicians working at the McMaster Nuclear Reactor.

Lutetium-177

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

Learn More about Medical Isotopes

LATEST NEWS

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

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

Core of the McMaster Nuclear Reactor.

McMaster Nuclear Reactor

McMaster University Cyclotron Facility

High Level Laboratory Facility

Researchers operate an accelerator.

McMaster Accelerator Laboratory