1. Producing Cu-67 using Gallium Target
Andrew Hutton

2. Isotopes for the Nation's Future
Continue support for R&D on the production of alpha- emitting radioisotopes
Support R&D into the production of high specific activity theranostic radioisotopes
Continue support for R&D on the use of electron accelerators for isotope production
Support R&D on the development of irradiation materials for targets that will be exposed to extreme environments to take full advantage of the current suite of accelerator and reactor irradiation facilities
(Meeting Isotope Needs and Capturing Opportunities for the Future:
The 2015 Long Range Plan for the DOE-NP Isotope Program NSAC Isotopes Subcommittee July 20, 2015)

3. Why Cu-67
67Cu is a theranostic radioisotope having both a gamma emission that is favorable for SPECT* imaging (184 keV) and a beta emission that is favorable for therapy (E = 141 keV).
*SPECT –Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography is an imaging technique using gamma rays that can provide true 3D information.

4. Cu-67
Given the favorable properties of 67Cu-labelled antibodies, it is the reliable availability of the 67Cu nuclide which is the limiting factor for their more widespread evaluation in radioimmunotherapy trials. (Copper-67 as a therapeutic nuclide for radioimmunotherapy Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging Jun;29(6): Epub 2002 Feb 2.)

5. Cu-67
“This isotope of copper, owing to interesting decay properties, is potentially useful for radioimmunotherapy, but due to limited availability, researches that actually use this isotope are few, compared to other Cu isotopes.” (BioMed Research International, Volume 2014 Article ID ) Not much has changed in the availability of this isotope

6. Bit of History (Jlab)
We responded to an FOA for isotope production using LERF in ERL configuration.
Favorable response to our expertise about producing
Unfavorable because we lack expertise in radiochemical separation
We have forged a collaboration with VCU (Center for Molecular Imaging, Department of Radiology at VCU Medical Center)

7. Present
Meanwhile, Pavel and George have been looking at Gallium instead of the more traditional Zinc as a potential target for producing 67Cu
With the encouragement of the Isotope Facilities at DoE, we produced a white paper for photoproduction of 67Cu
We then put in a proposal in response to an FOA for R&D in producing 67Cu (including radiochemical purification)
This implies producing commercial quantities for sale
Sales handled by Office of Nuclear Physics

8. Proof of Principle
In a previous short test, we proved that Gallium is a viable target for producing 67Cu
In this test, we wish to demonstrate the second part – that our partner VCU can effectively separate and purify 67Cu from Gallium
Regardless of the beam quality, 67Cu will be produced for separation. Controlling the beam parameters is helpful but not critical

9. Time Table
>May 1 Installation of beam elements (Kevin Jordan/Joe Gubeli’s presentation) May 1 Calibration of 4-D beam line elements and setting up the beam to 4-D dump (Joe Grames/Yves Roblin/Reza Kazimi presentation) May 2 Installation of the target (Kevin Jordan/Joe Gubeli’s presentation) May 3 Target alignment and beginning of run with expected results (George Kharashvili’s Presentation) May 7 End of run at ~8AM (Post Irradiation, target handling, preparation for shipment, regulation compiance (Pavel Degtiarenko’s presentation) May 8 Sample shipped to VCU May 15 Results and certificate of disposal of material from VCU