New Role for Nuclear Medicine Scholarship Winner Has Research Record
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U.S. Department of Energy Number 99, May 2008 New role for nuclear medicine Rhenium-188 generator provides options for cancer patients in developing countries nuclear medicine radioisotope delivery “These liver cancers are more prevalent in leagues at ORNL in 1986, more than 500 A device developed at ORNL is poised to developing countries because they are often generators have been provided throughout the improve the lives of cancer patients in devel- brought on by infl ammatory responses such world through the ORNL Isotope Business oping countries, where certain types of malig- as hepatitis-C. These conditions aren’t as Offi ce, operated under the auspices of the nancies are more common than in developed prevalent in the West because of vaccinations DOE Isotope Program. nations. and generally better health care,” says Russ Rhenium-188 from the ORNL generators is Knapp, manager of the used for pre-clinical radiochemistry research Nuclear Science & Tech- and for clinical trials through physician-spon- nology Division’s Nuclear sored trials in association with ORNL. The Medicine Program. rhenium-188 from the ORNL generators is “In Vietnam and Mon- being used for the treatment of bone pain golia, in particular, primary from cancer metastases, ablation of bone liver cancers are major dis- marrow prior to stem cell rescue, inhibition of eases,” he says. arterial restenosis after coronary angioplasty, The tungsten-to-rhenium and for the treatment of arthritis. generator transforms the A promising new application is the treat- bulk radioisotope material ment of refractory liver cancer, which cannot tungsten-188, produced in be treated by other therapeutic strategies. ORNL’s High Flux Isotope “Other radioisotopes have shorter shelf Reactor, into the radioiso- lives or are much more expensive to keep tope rhenium-188. Rhe- supplied to these sometimes remote areas,” nium-188 is seen as ideal Russ says. for treatment of primary The International Atomic Energy Agency Rhenium-188 obtained from an ORNL tungsten-188/rhenium-188 and metastatic liver cancer invited Russ in 1999 to participate in the generator is used to treat a patient with inoperable liver cancer at a in these nations because the initial meeting in Singapore to discuss the hospital in Perth, Australia. generator, which is loaded adaptation of the ORNL generator system for Because of its portability, long shelf life with tungsten-188 with a half-life of 69 days, an international effort toward a liver cancer and relative ease of use, ORNL’s rhenium has a relatively long useful shelf life from therapy in developing countries. Use of the generator is being touted as an option for four to eight months. ORNL generator would require set-up and patients with liver cancer. Since development by Russ and his col- (See RHENIUM, page 4) Scholarship winner has research record atharine Michelle Sloop, an Oak Ridge High One of Katie’s earlier studies, called “Tune in to KSchool student who already sports an impres- This Station: A Solar Study at 20.1 MHz,” compared sive portfolio of scientifi c research, is this year’s data she took at the Tamke-Allan Observatory with UT-Battelle Scholarship winner. published data acquired by satellites and telescopes. The scholarship, which is worth up to $20,000, is She presented a poster on the work at the ORNL awarded annually to a top graduating senior who has Women in Science event in 2006. a parent working at ORNL. More recently, she also helped organize and lead Katie, an honor student with a 4.111 grade-point a CRESO team that studied the eastern box turtle’s average, has participated in research projects at response to habitat disturbance. Roane State Community College’s Tamke-Allan Katie is the daughter of Frederick V., Jr., and Observatory and with the Clinch River Environ- Betty Ann Sloop of Oak Ridge. Fred works in mental Studies Organization. She was most recently ORNL’s Chemical Sciences Division. named reserve champion of the Southern Appala- The UT-Battelle scholarship is awarded com- chian Science and Engineering Fair, where she gath- petitively to an outstanding graduating high school ered a number of special awards. student who plans to study science, mathematics “Her research efforts are original, meticulous and or engineering at the University of Tennessee. The Curtis Boles signifi cant,” wrote her advanced placement biology scholarship comes in $5,000 annual increments over Scholarship winner Katie Sloop teacher. Another advisor called her “one of the most a four-year period.—B.C. and Lab Director Thom Mason. powerful and creative thinkers I have known.” Green initiative draws award from White House RNL’s Green Transportation Initiative mented a B20 (20-percent biodiesel, 80- O has received a White House Closing the percent petroleum diesel) alternative fuel Circle Award, recognizing outstanding federal initiative. The Lab now has 45 diesel vehicles environmental Stewardship practices. and numerous pieces of equipment in its fl eet The Offi ce of the Federal Environmental using B20, plus an on-site 6,000-gallon B20 Executive cited in particular the Lab’s efforts fuel tank and an 80-gallon B20 tank truck. in reducing energy consumption and use of “ORNL’s green transportation initiative alternative fuels in its work fl eet. has increased the use of bio-based materials In fi scal year 2007, under ORNL’s alterna- and specifi cally alternative fuel, reduced reli- tive fuel initiative there were 118 fl ex-fuel ance on petroleum-based materials, reduced vehicles in the fl eet, representing 25 percent tailpipe emissions and provided personnel The familiar E85 trucks played a role in the of the fl eet, fueled by an on-site 8,000-gallon with safer, more cost-effective transportation Lab’s receiving a White House Closing the E85 fuel tank. Nearly two-thirds of purchased options,” Kathye says. Circle Award. vehicles were fl ex-fuel vehicles. The award nomination also cited the Lab’s P2 Star awards.” In fact, says ORNL fl eet manager Kathye efforts to encourage walking and bicycle use, Since 1996, more than 200 Closing the Settles, the only time a fl ex-fuel vehicle is not its taxi service and the carpooling initiative. Circle awards have been given for innova- purchased to replace an older vehicle is if a “ORNL was recognized by the Offi ce of tive, cost-effective contributions in increasing fl ex-fuel vehicle is not an option. Science as Best in Class in Pollution Preven- the purchase of recycled content, bio-based, ORNL increased its use of E85, which is tion in 2004, 2005 and 2006, and we got a and environmentally preferable products and 85-percent ethanol and 15-percent gasoline, Noteworthy Practice in 2007,” says the Pol- services; reducing the generation of wastes; from just over 27,000 gallons in 2006 to lution Prevention program’s Susan Michaud. incorporating energy and environmental con- nearly 30,000 gallons in 2007. “This year we were recognized by the Offi ce siderations into building design; establishing “That increase in E85 resulted in reduced of Science for two nominations. The Green highly effective environmental management tail pipe emissions compared with using Transportation Initiative won best in class systems at federal facilities; using alternative gasoline and reduced petroleum products con- and the Comprehensive Sustainability Initia- fuel vehicles and reducing the fl eet fuel con- sumption,” Kathye says. tive (Green Buildings) won a noteworthy sumption; and promoting federal electronics Additionally in FY 2007, ORNL imple- practice. Both projects went on to win DOE stewardship efforts. —B.C. Team UT-Battelle volunteers start Habitat house crew of volunteer workers of 2006. Habitat for Humanity of Anderson County A from Team UT-Battelle “Working with a family to builds homes in partnership with hard-work- gathered last month to begin con- build a home is a wonderful ing, low-income families and individuals. struction of a Habitat for Human- experience,” says Michelle Future homeowners must put in at least 400 ity house in Clinton’s Hickory Buchanan, ORNL’s associate hours of “sweat equity” labor by helping to Ridge Subdivision. Laboratory director for Physical build their own home and working on other Team-UT Battelle, ORNL’s Sciences and leader of the Team Habitat projects. volunteer service organization, UT-Battelle effort at the Habitat “One of the many great things about Habi- has more than 2,000 participants house. “Previous volunteers tat for Humanity is that volunteers who work actively involved in more than 30 from ORNL have pitched in to on the projects don’t have to be experienced service projects in the Oak Ridge nail subfl ooring, install siding in construction,” Michelle says. area. and paint while enjoying the “There are plenty of other jobs that volun- The Anderson County project camaraderie of co-workers and teers can help with that lead to the construc- is one of four Team UT-Battelle contributing to a very worthy tion of a family’s new home,” she says. Habitat house projects since cause.” —Fred Strohl 2000. The fi rst home in Anderson The Daugherty family of County was built in Oak Ridge Michelle Buchanan Clinton will live in the new during the spring and summer pounds a nail for Habitat home when construction is for Humanity. complete. Club ORNL is published for employees and retirees of Oak Ridge National Laboratory, which Get the latest Club ORNL news on-line on is managed by UT-Battelle for the U.S. Department of Energy. the ORNL home page and on ORNL Today. Retirees, to gain access to the ORNL home Bill Cabage, editor, 865/574-4399 or [email protected] page, fi rst register in XCAMS by going to http://www.ornl.gov/adm/clubornl_signup.