A world - iThemba LABS

iThemba
LABS:
A world of hope through acceleratorbased science and technologies.
Our aim is to be the leading
African organisation for
research, training and
expertise in acceleratorbased sciences and
technologies.
iThemba means HOPE,
while LABS is the acronym
for Laboratory for
Accelerator-Based Sciences.
iThemba LABS is proud
of its local and international
status as a leading facility for
accelerator-based sciences.
iThemba
LABS:
Key facts
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The only producer in South Africa of acceleratorbased radionuclides, radiopharmaceuticals for
nuclear medicine and mainstream
radiopharmaceuticals for positron emission
tomography (PET) studies,
houses the only PEPT-facility in the Southern
hemisphere,
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is home to a high-resolution magnetic spectrometer
(K600) to measure proton energies in the 66 – 200
MeV range. A 0o-mode was recently added to
expand capabilities,
is the only facility globally to offer both protons and
neutrons for particle therapy,
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is the world’s only producer of current Good
Manufacture Practise (cGMP) 68Ge/68Ga generators
and 22Na-positron sources for annihilation studies,
and
supplies 25% of the world’s demand for 82Sr.
iThemba LABS has
commissioned a beamsplitter facility – making it
the 2nd facility in the world
where particle beams are
split and the ONLY facility
where the beam rotator is
utilised.
This will enable enhanced
production – being able to
irradiate two different
target stations
simultaneously.
iThemba
LABS:
Welcome to our world
iThemba LABS has
facilities in two of South
Africa’s provinces: the
Western Cape and
Gauteng.
The Western Cape
centre houses:
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a 200-MeV Separated
Sector Cyclotron
(SSC),
two injector cyclotrons
(SPC1, SPC2) and
a 6-MV Van de Graaff
Accelerator.
Three user groups apply the particle beams
delivered by the accelerators in:
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basic and applied
research,
particle radiotherapy for
the treatment of cancer
and
production of
radioactive isotopes for
application in nuclear
medicine and research.
The Gauteng centre
houses a 6-MV Tandem
Accelerator.
Particle beams delivered
by the accelerator are used
for low energy nuclear
physics, as well as for
analysis techniques linked
to the nuclear microprobe.
A range of environmental
samples is analysed using
stable isotopes at the
centre’s Environmental
Isotope Laboratory. The
analysis capabilities are
enhanced through the
availability of a 370 GBq
Am-Be source for neutron
activation studies.
iThemba LABS is a
global player in the
production of acceleratorbased radionuclides.
Much of its research and
development is based on
the availability of particle
beams.
Production of the
PARTICLE BEAM
It all starts at the ion source
– the nuclei of hydrogen
atoms.
The nuclei are accelerated
by an injector cyclotron
before finally entering the
Separated Sector
Cyclotron (SSC) where
they are accelerated to 66
MeV.
The SSC at iThemba
LABS can accelerate
protons to a maximum
energy of 200 MeV. At this
speed, a proton could travel
four times around the earth
in 1 second.
The 66-MeV proton beam
has two end-stations (user
communities) within
iThemba LABS
multidisciplinary facility.
It is either used to generate
neutrons through a collision
with a Be-target or it is used
to produce radionuclides
through nuclear reactions
with various solid targets.
Particle therapy
PROGRAMME
iThemba LABS is the
only facility in the
Southern hemisphere
offering both proton and
neutron therapy as a
treatment modality.
The neutrons generated
are used for neutron
therapy with the aid of a
Gantry which allows the
tumour to be irradiated
from different directions.
The floor in the treatment
vault opens to allow the
Gantry to rotate a full
360o.
The 200-MeV protons
are used for fixed-beam
proton therapy
specialising in tumours
located in the head and
neck regions.
Radionuclide
PRODUCTION
iThemba LABS is the
leading African producer
of:
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accelerator-based
radiopharmaceuticals
such as 123I, 67Ga and
81Rb/81mKr generators
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18F-FDG
•
22Na-positron
and current
Good Manufacture
Practise (cGMP)
68Ge/68Ga generators for
PET-studies
sources for
annihilation studies, 82Sr
and 88Y.
iThemba
LABS:
Shaping the future
iThemba Labs is
committed to:
• developing a
beamsplitter capable
of delivering two
beams of different
intensities, thereby
increasing the
production of
radionuclides,
• establishing an
accelerator mass
spectrometry (AMS)
facility at iThemba
LABS - Gauteng, the
second in Africa,
• establishing a
radioactive ion beam
(RIB) facility to extend
research capability and
ensure competitive
advantage.
iThemba
LABS:
A world of hope through accelerator-bas
science and technology.
For more
INFO:
Email: director@tlabs.ac.za
or visit www.tlabs.ac.za