ORNL Nuclear Medicine Programs Highlighted in DOE International Collaboration Effort (October 1998)

In an address the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna, Austria, Secretary of Energy Bill Richardson announced DOE participation in an international collaboration on research and development into the diagnosis and treatment of life-threatening illnesses using radioisotopes. In particular, the United States will provide surplus radioisotopes for nuclear medicine applications to heart disease, cancer, and bone pain diagnosis and therapies. The Nuclear Medicine Program at ORNL, which is led by Dr. F. F. "Russ" Knapp, was highlighted in Richardson's presentation as being the key supplier of reactor-produced radioisotopes and rhenium-188 produced using a clinical generator developed at ORNL. Particular projects being conducted by the Nuclear Medicine Group were also highlighted including labeling of antibodies for cancer therapy, experimental procedures that prevent or retard restenosis following coronary angioplasty, and cancer bone pain relief. Drs. Dan McPherson and Saed Mirzadeh are senior staff members conducting research in these areas for the Nuclear Medicine Group, which is housed in the Assessment Technology Section of the ORNL Life Sciences Division. (Contact: Russ Knapp, jkp@ornl.gov, 423-574-6225; Funding Source, DOE)