The University of McMaster plans to hire up to 16 people, since it expands the capacity of its installation of nuclear reactors to produce medical isotopes, a key technology in the treatment of certain types of cancer.
The installation is the largest nuclear nuclear research reactor and has been producing medical isotopes, mainly iodine-125, to treat cancer patients around the world since 1959.
This expansion will further cement installation as one of the main producers of medical isotopes in the world.
The new hiring will help expand the operating times of the reactor seven days a week, 24 hours a day, above five days a week. The transition at 24 hours a day, 7 days a week should reach the next 18 to 24 months, according to Karin Stephenson, director of nuclear research and support for McMaster’s education.
The money for new employees is part of the $ 18 million in provincial funds for the installation, announced in the last two and a half years.
John Preston, interim associated vice president of nuclear research in McMaster, said his team is working to rationalize the process of preparing new employees.
“We have been able to shorten the time between [reactor operators] Receive a license completely from a little more than two years to more than 14 months, “Preston said on Monday, while Ontario government officials visited the campus.
The province has double production for 2030
The interest in the McMaster University Research Resert comes from a great demand for medical isotopes, since Canada saw an increase in cancer diagnoses to almost 250,000 in 2024, as well as the objective of the provincial government to double the production of medical isotopes by 2030. Medical isotopes are sold both in Canada and internationally.
McMaster also aims to accelerate nuclear research and has taken a step in doing so by offering part -time contracts to some of its summer students who worked in the research reactor.
“This investment will expand the reactor research capacity by 300 percent and will produce isotopes for 84,000 treatments every year,” said the Minister of Colleges and Universities on Monday, Nolan Quinn, at a press conference at McMaster University.
McMaster says that its nuclear reactor produces enough medical isotopes to treat more than 70,000 cancer patients each year.
The expansion allows McMaster research students, doctoral graduates and the faculty staff studying isotopes that can help identify new drugs and medications that could cure other serious diseases.
