CERN-MEDICIS: A Review Since Commissioning in 2017
Authors: Duchemin Charlotte , Ramos Joao P. , Stora Thierry , Ahmed Essraa , Aubert Elodie , Audouin Nadia , Barbero Ermanno , Barozier Vincent , Bernardes Ana-Paula , Bertreix Philippe , Boscher Aurore , Bruchertseifer Frank , Catherall Richard , Chevallay Eric , Christodoulou Pinelopi , Chrysalidis Katerina , Cocolios Thomas E. , Comte Jeremie , Crepieux Bernard , Deschamps Matthieu , Dockx Kristof , Dorsival Alexandre , Fedosseev Valentin N. , Fernier Pascal , Formento-Cavaier Robert , El Idrissi Safouane , Ivanov Peter , Gadelshin Vadim M. , Gilardoni Simone , Grenard Jean-Louis , Haddad Ferid , Heinke Reinhard , Juif Benjamin , Khalid Umair , Khan Moazam , Köster Ulli , Lambert Laura , Lilli G. , Lunghi Giacomo , Marsh Bruce A. , Palenzuela Yisel Martinez , Martins Renata , Marzari Stefano , Menaa Nabil , Michel Nathalie , Munos Maxime , Pozzi Fabio , Riccardi Francesco , Riegert Julien , Riggaz Nicolas , Rinchet Jean-Yves , Rothe Sebastian , Russell Ben , Saury Christelle , Schneider Thomas , Stegemann Simon , Talip Zeynep , Theis Christian , Thiboud Julien , van der Meulen Nicholas P. , van Stenis Miranda , Vincke Heinz , Vollaire Joachim , Vuong Nhat-Tan , Webster Benjamin , Wendt Klaus , Wilkins Shane G. ,   the CERN-MEDICIS collaboration
Published: July 2021

The CERN-MEDICIS (MEDical Isotopes Collected from ISolde) facility has delivered its first radioactive ion beam at CERN (Switzerland) in December 2017 to support the research and development in nuclear medicine using non-conventional radionuclides. Since then, fourteen institutes, including CERN, have joined the collaboration to drive the scientific program of this unique installation and evaluate the needs of the community to improve the research in imaging, diagnostics, radiation therapy and personalized medicine. The facility has been built as an extension of the ISOLDE (Isotope Separator On Line DEvice) facility at CERN. Handling of open radioisotope sources is made possible thanks to its Radiological Controlled Area and laboratory. Targets are being irradiated by the 1.4 GeV proton beam delivered by the CERN Proton Synchrotron Booster (PSB) on a station placed between the High Resolution Separator (HRS) ISOLDE target station and its beam dump. Irradiated target materials are also received from external institutes to undergo mass separation at CERN-MEDICIS. All targets are handled via a remote handling system and exploited on a dedicated isotope separator beamline. To allow for the release and collection of a specific radionuclide of medical interest, each target is heated to temperatures of up to 2,300°C. The created ions are extracted and accelerated to an energy up to 60 kV, and the beam steered through an off-line sector field magnet mass separator. This is followed by the extraction of the radionuclide of interest through mass separation and its subsequent implantation into a collection foil. In addition, the MELISSA (MEDICIS Laser Ion Source Setup At CERN) laser laboratory, in service since April 2019, helps to increase the separation efficiency and the selectivity. After collection, the implanted radionuclides are dispatched to the biomedical research centers, participating in the CERN-MEDICIS collaboration, for Research &amp; Development in imaging or treatment. Since its commissioning, the CERN-MEDICIS facility has provided its partner institutes with non-conventional medical radionuclides such as Tb-149, Tb-152, Tb-155, Sm-153, Tm-165, Tm-167, Er-169, Yb-175, and Ac-225 with a high specific activity. This article provides a review of the achievements and milestones of CERN-MEDICIS since it has produced its first radioactive isotope in December 2017, with a special focus on its most recent operation in 2020.