Most people today are familiar with nuclear energy but there is another side benefit of nuclear and that is, the production of medical isotopes.
For over 70 years, Canada has been a leader in isotope production for medical imaging, disease prevention, sterilization and cancer therapies.
Canada pioneered the production and use of several isotopes and the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) now licenses the use and production of over 250 isotopes, with many used to manufacture radiopharmaceuticals to diagnose and treat illnesses.
In 1951, the first patient was treated with Cobalt 60 (Co-60) isotope at the Victoria hospital in London (ON). Today, Canada is the world’s largest producer of Co-60 and provides over half the global demand through OPG and Bruce Power reactors. The Co-60 is shipped from Bruce Power and Pickering reactors to Nordion’s processing facility in Ottawa and is then distributed globally to sterilize medical devices, treat foods and consumer products in over 300 specialized facilities globally. Canada now is responsible for sterilizing 40 per cent of the world’s one-time use medical devices and products.
Another isotope, Actinium-225 (AC-225) is a ‘theranostic’ isotope that is used primarily to kill metastatic cancers. ‘Theranostics’ is the term used to describe the combination of using one radioactive drug to identify or diagnose and a second radioactive drug to deliver the therapy to treat the main tumour and any metastatic tumours. When combined with specific tumour-seeking targeting it can kill cancer cells while leaving healthy tissue unharmed. Research has also shown that it can destroy cancer cells’ ability to repair and multiply and may even kill off tumours. Unfortunately, however, there is not a secure global supply chain for adequate supply of AC-225.
According to the Canadian Nuclear Isotope Council (CNIC), Canadian experts at CNL (Canadian Nuclear Laboratories) and TRIUMF are partnering to begin developing a domestic supply of Ac-225.
There are now many isotopes being explored and considered for production with Bruce Power’s CANDU reactors.
In the most recent report issued by the Canadian Nuclear Isotope Council (CNIC), Chair James Scongack said that, “Through our world-class nuclear expertise and achievements, Canada is paving the way in medical imaging, cancer therapy, disease prevention and medical device sterilization through the use of medical isotopes.”
He added that “… patients who were previously considered palliative are now receiving radiopharmaceuticals using medical isotopes in a new range of treatments and diagnostic options and, most importantly, they now have hope.”

When it comes to the expansion of isotope production in Canada, the Nuclear Innovation Institute (NII) in Port Elgin (Saugeen Shores) recently hosted a new speaking concept, 6 by 6, where six speakers each had six minutes to present in their field of expertise. Bruce Wallace, President of NII kept the speakers to a strict six-minute timeline but all managed to get their messages across, proving that the new 6 by 6 concept worked.
James Scongack – Chair of the CNIC and Executive V-P, Operational Services & Chief Development Officer Bruce Power
Jennifer Edey – Sr. V-P Operational Services and Business Development Bruce Power
Rebecca Cummings – V-P Corporate Services, Grey Bruce Health Services
Michael Chegahno -Energy Manager, Saugeen Ojibway Nation (SON) and representative of Gamzook’aamin aakoziwin project
David Harris – President and CEO, Kinectrics
Karin Stephenson – Director of Nuclear Research and Education Support, McMaster University

According to Scongack, “At all stages of the production pipeline, Canada has the infrastructure and expertise necessary to be a global leader in medical isotopes. Canada is a leader in the fight against cancer and disease but it’s now time to make a renewed commitment to improving patient experiences and developing new treatments. This is an exciting time for patients, physicians, researchers and the wider isotope industry.”