The United States is experiencing a renaissance in domestic radioisotope production and research. Thanks to a new program from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), grants from the Department of Energy (DOE), and investment from private industry, domestic research and production are expanding.

The IAEA has created a database that connects countries with disused radium-226 (Ra-226) to domestic partners that convert the material into actinium-225 (Ac-225), a critical isotope used in targeted nuclear medicine cancer treatments. According to the IAEA, “Once transferred to the United States, these sources will significantly add to the feedstock for actinium-225 production for the advancement of cancer care globally.” Recently, Tunisia safely transported more than 100 disused Ra-226 sources to a private company in the United States for storage.

In August, the DOE’s Office of Isotope Research & Development (IRP), housed within the Office of Science, announced a $20 million collaboration with the state of Missouri and the University of Missouri (Mizzou). The state of Missouri will provide a matching $20 million grant, and together these funds will launch the Radioisotope Science Center (RSC) at Discovery Ridge in Columbia, Missouri. The goal of the RSC is to “advance research, production, processing, and distribution of nationally strategic reactor produced radioisotopes in limited supply.”

In Tennessee, the DOE has broken ground on the new Stable Isotope Production and Research Center (SIPRC) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, a facility designed to expand domestic capacity for producing enriched stable isotopes. These isotopes play a critical role in supporting advanced cancer diagnostics and therapies. Currently, Oak Ridge manages the production and distribution of more than 300 isotopes, but SIPRC will allow for large-scale, simultaneous enrichment of multiple isotopes, helping to close a long-standing gap in U.S. supply capabilities.

The new SIPRC is made possible through a $75 million federal investment. Projects like these are part of a broader federal effort to reduce reliance on foreign sources of isotopes and strengthen America’s scientific and medical infrastructure. Once complete, the center will provide researchers, clinicians, and industry partners with a more reliable and diversified supply of critical isotopes, ensuring patients have access to cutting-edge diagnostics and treatments while also supporting innovation across sectors.

Additionally, a new 190,000-square-foot radioisotope production facility has opened in West Valley, Utah. At full capacity, the facility can produce up to 40 different radioisotopes simultaneously. Among its plans, the facility intends to supply Lu-177 to a company developing a novel radiopharmaceutical that combines Lu-177 with an antibody targeting glypican-1, a protein found in many aggressive cancers. A Phase I clinical trial for this therapy is expected to launch in the near future.

Looking ahead, SNMMI is excited to partner with both government and industry to create a resilient and diverse domestic supply of radioisotopes. One such isotope—used in roughly 80% of diagnostic nuclear medicine procedures—is technetium-99m (Tc-99m), produced through the radioactive decay of molybdenum-99 (Mo-99). The DOE’s National Nuclear Security Administration recently awarded $32 million to support completion of a domestic Mo-99 production facility in Wisconsin. The facility is nearing completion, and this funding will help finish the construction required for initial Mo-99 production. This advancement brings the community one step closer to securing a stable, U.S.-based supply of Mo-99 to meet patient needs.