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Isotope Processing and Manufacturing Division

Isotope Processing and Manufacturing Division

The Isotope Processing and Manufacturing Division standardizes quality-controlled manufacturing processes for in-demand isotopes, reducing the United States’ dependence on foreign suppliers.

ORNL produces, purifies, and ships more isotopes than any other place in the world — hundreds of isotopes used in medicine, research, industry and space exploration. Over the past decade, ORNL has developed the largest portfolio of radioisotope research, development and production for the Department of Energy’s Isotope Program.

 

 

The Isotope Processing and Manufacturing Division was formed in June 2022 to streamline the routine manufacturing of isotopes into efficient, quality-controlled processes. Decades of world-class research and development have made routine manufacturing possible, and ORNL’s unmatched experts and facilities ensure it’s able to meet the nation’s needs for isotopes now and in the future.

IPMD will work closely with research and development to continually improve manufacturing with new advances, once they’ve been tested and approved. This joint effort leverages ORNL’s expertise in both production and R&D.

IPMD Groups

Jim Placke, director of the Isotope Processing and Manufacturing Division

“We’re making medical isotopes that are having a tremendous impact on improving people’s health and well-being. When you receive letters from people whose lives were saved because of an isotope that we’ve made, that’s indicative of the power, impact, and importance of our work.”

Dr. Jim Placke
Director, Isotope Processing & Manufacturing