CHALK RIVER, Ont., Nov. 25, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) – Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL), Canada’s premier nuclear science and technology organization, is pleased to announce that it has launched a call for proposals for a new “Health Stream.” “has published. as part of its Canadian Nuclear Research Initiative (CNRI). The new program aims to accelerate the development of targeted radiopharmaceuticals in Canada through joint research projects in the fields of health sciences, radiobiology and medical isotope development by providing access to the world-class laboratories and research capabilities on the Chalk River Laboratories campus.
The CNRI program, launched in 2019, was originally launched by CNL to promote the use of small modular reactors (SMRs) and advanced reactor designs. Continued interest in the program has led CNL to expand the CNRI to include health sciences, another important subject area that allows participants to access the company’s unique facilities and staff to conduct research in partnership with CNL.
“With over a billion medical treatments performed with isotopes manufactured at Chalk River Laboratories, CNL’s work has touched the lives of people around the world,” commented Joe McBrearty, President and CEO of CNL. “Today we are pursuing this mission as a full-service nuclear laboratory with the ability to carry out state-of-the-art pharmaceutical developments along with a wide range of radiochemical analyzes. Through the expanded CNRI program, we hope to make better use of our resources to help people suffering from a variety of medical problems, with an emphasis on cancer treatment. “
Upon initial enrollment in the program, research proposals must focus on topics that include targeted delivery systems, toxicology, and preclinical evaluation. Once a technical review of each proposal is completed, CNL will work with the applicant to develop a plan defining the scope, budget and deliverables for the project. CNL carries out a final assessment of the proposed project plans before making the final selection and approval of successful applicants. The deadline for submissions is January 15, 2022, projects will be selected in spring 2022.
As the world’s leading provider of medical isotopes and related research for more than 70 years, CNL has pioneered the use of Cobalt-60 radiation therapy to treat cancer and has been a major producer of the world’s supply of molybdenum-99, which is used in diagnostic procedures used. CNL now has a diverse range of health and dosimetry capabilities including preclinical animal studies, isotope production and processing, in vitro drug evaluation, targeted radionuclide therapies, ISO accredited chemical analytical services and waste management solutions.
“The CNRI program has been incredibly successful in developing SMRs and other advanced reactor technologies and has encouraged us to apply this collaborative model to other areas of our research,” commented Dr. Jeff Griffin, CNL vice president of science and technology. “We believe there is an unmet need for organizations engaged in radiopharmaceutical discovery, toxicology and preclinical efficacy research, and this program can serve as a vehicle to drive innovative solutions in these areas.”
Outside of CNRI, CNL is working to establish itself as an international hub for the research, development and supply of next-generation medical isotopes and radiopharmaceuticals, including Actinium-225, a rare isotope that is on the verge of becoming the basis for new, breakthrough cancer therapies. As part of this effort, CNL recently signed a letter of intent with ITM Isotope Technologies Munich SE to investigate the development and production of Actinium-225 on an industrial scale.
To learn more about CNL and its work in health sciences, please visit www.cnl.ca/health. For more information on the CNRI Health Stream, including guidelines and application submission details, please visit www.cnl.ca/cnri-health.
About CNL
Canadian Nuclear Laboratories is a global leader in nuclear science and technology, providing unique capabilities and solutions to a wide variety of industries. We are actively involved in industry-driven research and development in the fields of nuclear, transportation, clean technologies, energy, defense, security and life sciences and offer solutions to keep these sectors internationally competitive.
With ongoing investments in new facilities and a focused mandate, Canadian Nuclear Laboratories are well positioned for the future. A new standard of performance, reinforced with a strong safety culture, underlines every activity.
For more information on the full range of services offered by Canadian Nuclear Laboratories, please visit www.cnl.ca or contact [email protected].
CNL contact:
Patrick Quinn
Director, corporate communications
Phone: 1-866-886-2325
Email: [email protected]
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/869ef61d-4a19-4c86-93d9-47ca287adbd3
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