SCK CEN helped increasing COVID-19 testing capacity in Belgium On 30 March 2020, the Belgian Nuclear Research Centre (SCK CEN) handed over a qPCR equipment to the Belgian Task Force. In that way, SCK CEN contributed to the national effort to increase testing capacity in Belgium from 2,000 to 10,000 tests per day. At the…
MYRRHA Project Achieves an Important Development Milestone The MYRRHA project has achieved a development milestone after researchers at the Belgian Nuclear Research Centre (SCK•CEN) succeeded for the first time in accelerating a proton beam through the recently connected radio frequency quadrupole (RFQ). The RFQ is a component of the particle accelerator that will drive the…
BR2’s Radioisotopes Helped More Than 10 Millions Patients in 2021 In 2021, more than 10 million patients were helped thanks to the production of medical radioisotopes in the Belgian research reactor BR2, as reported the Belgian nuclear research centre SCK CEN (ENS Corporate Member). At each operating cycle, it provides the necessary raw materials used…
SCK CEN and IRE Ready To Start Lutetium-177 Large-Scale Production SCK CEN (ENS Corporate Member) and the National Institute for Radioelements (IRE) are going to start the large-scale production of lutetium-177. This decision opens up opportunities for cancer patients. Lutetium-177 is currently used in hospitals to treat neuroendocrine tumours. Neuroendocrine cells are found primarily in the…
Actinium-225, The Joint-Venture Pantera To Secure Its Production The Belgian Nuclear Research Centre SCK CEN (ENS Corporate Member) and IBA (Ion Beam Applications S.A., EURONEXT), the world leader in particle accelerator technology, announced last week the name of their joint-venture: Pantera SA/NV, resulting from strategic R&D partnership between SCK CEN and IBA to enable the production…
SCK CEN Launches The New Strategy “Exploring 2040” The Belgian research centre SCK CEN (ENS Corporate Member) yesterday unveiled its new strategic plan “Exploring 2040”. Presenting the new strategy, and disclosing heavy investments in new infrastructure, SCK CEN DG Peter Baeten said This infrastructure is a necessity to increase our social impact in three areas…
SCK CEN And IRE Starts The Construction Of RECUMO Facility SCK CEN (ENS Corporate Member) and IRE – Institut National des Radioéléments inaugurated the construction of the RECUMO facility. The joint project represents the structural solution for the management of all of the highly radioactive residues stored at the IRE’s site in Fleurus (Belgium) which…
SCK CEN Announced A New Partnership To Accelerate The Fight Against Cancer The Belgian Nuclear Research Centre SCK CEN (ENS Corporate Member) announced that the US-based SpectronRx will open its first European radiolabeling facility for sorely needed medical radioisotopes. The facility will be established on the premises of the research centre in Mol, Belgium. Both…
SCK CEN And TerThera Collaborate To Secure Terbium-161 Supply SCK CEN (ENS Corporate Member) and TerThera signed an agreement to handle together the production process of Terbium-161, a promising novel radionuclide for cancer treatment. Terbium-161 can meet the growing demand in cancer healthcare, exhibiting comparable (radio)chemical characteristics to known radiolanthanides. Targeted cancer therapies with Terbium-161 are expected…
SCK CEN Boosting Circular Economy In Nuclear Dismantling SCK CEN (ENS Corporate Member) and CRM (Centre for Metallurgical Research) received the green light from the European Commission to continue the development of a melting furnace for research purposes. The nuclear melting furnace for research purposes – known as SMELD – is a project being undertaken by the two…