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The Advanced Radioisotope Technology for Health Utility Reactor (ARTHUR) is a state-of-the-art nuclear facility proposed for development in North Wales, aimed at significantly enhancing the UK's capacity to produce vital nuclear medicines. Spearheaded by the Welsh Government, with the support of a detailed outline business case and feasibility study, the project is, as of Summer 2024, under consideration by the UK Government [1]. ARTHUR will focus on producing key isotopes such as Technetium-99m (Tc-99m), the most widely used radioisotope in medical diagnostics, essential for imaging in areas such as cardiology and oncology. They are also a key part of future tailored medicines to simultaneously image and treat cancers: termed theranostics. By securing domestic production of these critical medical isotopes, the reactor will play a pivotal role in strengthening the UK’s healthcare infrastructure and reducing reliance on international suppliers, ultimately ensuring a stable and timely supply of life-saving diagnostic tools.
The project was initiated in 2019, after the cessation of the Wylfa Newydd programme by the Welsh Government. The Trawsfynydd site, currently in decommissioning, was chosen after a siting study, owing to its nuclear history, need for economic uplift, existing nuclear licensed site, and proximity to infrastructure. Following a global nuclear medicine supply chain shortage in the late 2010s-2020s, the project has been developed to deliver medicines to the UK market in the early 2030's, just as other supplies are expected to cease, supporting the NHS recommendation [2].
In the UK, nuclear medicine procedures are a critical component of diagnostic and therapeutic healthcare. As of recent data, it is estimated that approximately 1 million nuclear medicine procedures are carried out annually across the country [3]. This includes a range of diagnostic imaging procedures, such as PET (positron emission tomography) scans and SPECT (single-photon emission computed tomography) scans, as well as therapeutic procedures involving radiopharmaceuticals.
- ^ "Welsh Government unveils major plans for national nuclear medicine laboratory in north Wales | GOV.WALES". www.gov.wales. January 10, 2023. Archived from the original on February 21, 2024. Retrieved September 14, 2024.
- ^ "Response to the ARSAC Report 'A Review of the Supply of Molybdenum-99, the Impact of Recent Shortages and the Implications for Nuclear Medicine Services in the UK'" (PDF).
- ^ Young, Jennifer D.; Jauregui-Osoro, Maite; Wong, Wai-Lup; Cooper, Margaret S.; Cook, Gary; Barrington, Sally F.; Ma, Michelle T.; Blower, Philip J.; Aboagye, Eric O. (December 14, 2021). "An overview of nuclear medicine research in the UK and the landscape for clinical adoption". Nuclear Medicine Communications. 42 (12): 1301–1312. doi:10.1097/MNM.0000000000001461. PMC 8584216. PMID 34284442.