The Life Sciences Division at TRIUMF pursues both fundamental and applied research and development under three core pillars: studies and applications with ions beams, nuclear chemistry, and the application of isotopes to understand life at the molecular level.
To achieve this goal, the division of Life Sciences relies on all accelerators at TRIUMF – from 13 to 500 MeV, including the emerging electron linac, all of which hold potential as key drivers for research in all core areas. Together with our radiochemistry and beta NMR laboratories, the division maintains cutting-edge facilities and expertise in research and development of radioisotopes and radiopharmaceuticals for use in nuclear medicine, radiotherapy and the broader life sciences.
Medical isotopes
With access to the world’s broadest range of cyclotron energies, from 13 to 500 MeV, TRIUMF Life Science produces a diverse mix of radioisotopes using gas, liquid and solid targets. The TR13 cyclotron uses any one of gas, liquid or solid targets to produce a variety of radioisotopes, including our staples - C-11 and F-18 – or a wide variety of emerging metallic radionuclides, including Zr-89, Ga-68, Cu-64 and Sc-44. New interests include Sb-119 and Hg-197. At higher energies, the main 500 MeV cyclotron is used with solid targets to produce a variety of experimental metal medical isotopes, including isotopes of titanium, actinium, bismuth and radium.
For radiochemistry research, TRIUMF Life Science operates radiochemistry labs with four state-of-the-art hot cells, or radiation-shielded, robotic-arm accessed chemistry stations. Scientists access a hot cell's interior using a sophisticated robotic arm that enables them to manipulate glassware and other tools for conducting detailed radiochemical experiments and manipulating the manufacturing systems. This includes developing the purification chemistry for potential new radioisotopes.
For the production of radiopharmaceuticals for clinical and pre-clinical research use in humans, TRIUMF Life Science operates Health Canada-approved certified Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) labs. These cGMP labs are akin to clean rooms and use specialized commercial radiochemistry synthesis systems that include software and hardware compliance and tracking features. This ensures the patient safety of all the TRIUMF-produced medical isotopes, including C-11 and F-18.
Learn more about how TRIUMF accelerates particles and creates rare isotope beams here.
beta-detected Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (betaNMR)
To support the Life Sciences Division's research in medicinal chemistry and biochemistry research, we operate the ultrasensitive Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) facility, where experiments are performed using radioactive ions which decay via emission of a beta particle. With a beta- decay NMR program (known as bio-betaNMR) embedded within TRIUMF’s larger CMMS initative, the Life Sciences Division has developed technology required for performing experiments in liquid samples, that allows measurements of structure and dynamics of biomolecules in solutions. Currently, routine experiments in liquids are performed using 31Mg and 8Li beams, however, in the near future several additional isotopes will be added to this list, including Ac, Cu and Zn.
Learn more about betaNMR at TRIUMF.
Targeted Alpha Therapy with Ac-225
An alpha-emitting isotope with a short half-life, actinium-225 can be combined with a protein or antibody that specifically targets and kills cancer cells; the cancer-specific molecules seek out and destroy preferably cancer cells while leaving the surrounding healthy tissue unharmed. With a short half-life of just ten days, the actinium then decays without significantly accumulating in a patient’s body. Known as targeted alpha therapy (TAT), this form of treatment has shown exciting potential in early studies with prostate cancer patients for whom conventional cancer therapies have not worked.
After having demonstrated the Ac-225 capabilities at TRIUMF in 2019, the Life Sciences division has assembled a team to work towards the production of Ac-225 in clinically relevant quantities.
In addition, we are exploring the isotope Ac-226, which can be used as an imaging radionuclide for the therapeutic Ac-225, forming a theranostic pair. The main challenge and limitation are that Ac-226 can only be produced in a limited number of ISOL facilities around the world, including the ISAC facility of TRIUMF.
In September 2020, our TRIUMF Life Sciences Division, and Accelerator Division team collaboratively performed the first-ever successful collection and isolation of 226Ac. The isotope was produced in a uranium carbide target at the ISAC rare ion beam facility. Mass 226 of the ion beam was separated and collected at the ISAC implantation station. At the end of the beam after 32 hours collection, around 25 MBq 226Ac was accumulated. New implantation strategy based on depositing the ion beam in a layer of salt (NH4Cl) sublimated on the surface of the implantation target. This enables simple recovery by adding water and minimizes the presence of stable impurities which may affect future radiopharmaceutical application. More than 95% of 226Ac was recovered.
Recent updates:
- TRIUMF and CNL to form strategic partnership to enable ground-breaking cancer treatment (2018)
- TRIUMF and CNL announce first joint production run of actinium-225 (2019)
- TRIUMF strikes landmark isotope deal to expand access to actinium-225 (2020)
- TRIUMF and Fusion Pharmaceuticals announce expanded R&D collaboration for Actinium Supply Production (2021)
For the public:
- For more information about TRIUMF's work on actinium-225, please contact communications@triumf.ca
- Watch the short documentary The Rarest Drug on Earth