iThemba

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iThemba
LABS

• A world of hope through accelerator-
• based science and technologies.

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Our aim is to be the leading African organisation
for research, training and expertise in
accelerator-based sciences and technologies. iThe
mba means HOPE, while LABS is the acronym for
Laboratory for Accelerator-Based Sciences.
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iThemba LABS is proud of its local and
international status as a leading facility for
accelerator-based sciences.
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iThemba
LABS
Key facts
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• The only producer in South Africa of
  accelerator-based 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 worlds only producer of current Good
  Manufacture Practise (cGMP) 68Ge/68Ga generators
  and 22Na-positron sources for annihilation
  studies, and
• supplies 25 of the worlds demand for 82Sr.

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iThemba LABS has commissioned a beam-splitter
facility making it the 2nd facility in the
world where particle beams are split and the ONLY
facility where the beam rotator is utilised.
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This will enable enhanced production being able
to irradiate two different target stations
simultaneously.
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iThemba
LABS
Welcome to our world
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iThemba LABS has facilities in two of South
Africas provinces the Western Cape and Gauteng.
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The Western Cape centre houses

• a 200-MeV Separated Sector Cyclotron (SSC),
• two injector cyclotrons (SPC1, SPC2) and
• a 6-MV Van de Graaff Accelerator.

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Three user groups apply the particle beams
delivered by the accelerators in

• basic and applied research,
• particle radiotherapy for the treatment of cancer
  and
• production of radioactive isotopes for
  application in nuclear medicine and research.

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A range of environmental samples is analysed
using stable isotopes at the centres
Environmental Isotope Laboratory. The analysis
capabilities are enhanced through the
availability of a 370 GBq Am-Be source for
neutron activation studies.
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iThemba LABS is a global player in the production
of accelerator-based radionuclides. Much of its
research and development is based on the
availability of particle beams.
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Production of the
PARTICLE BEAM
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Particle therapy
PROGRAMME
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iThemba LABS is the only facility in the Southern
hemisphere offering both proton and neutron
therapy as a treatment modality.
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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.

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The 200-MeV protons are used for fixed-beam
proton therapy specialising in tumours located in
the head and neck regions.
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Radionuclide
PRODUCTION
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• iThemba LABS is the leading African producer of
• accelerator-based radiopharmaceuticals such as
  123I, 67Ga and 81Rb/81mKr generators

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• 18F-FDG and current Good Manufacture Practise
  (cGMP) 68Ge/68Ga generators for PET-studies
• 22Na-positron sources for annihilation studies,
  82Sr and 88Y. 

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iThemba
LABS
Shaping the future
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iThemba Labs is committed to

• developing a beamsplitter capable of delivering
  two beams of different intensities, thereby
  increasing the production of radionuclides,

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• 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.

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iThemba
LABS
A world of hope through accelerator-based
science and technology.
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For more
INFO
Email director_at_tlabs.ac.za
or visit www.tlabs.ac.za