Medical Valley; medicine in the dunes of Petten - Introduction. Public Information Service NRG (An ECN-KEMA company)

Medical Valley, medicine in the dunes of Petten

Public Info Service

•	Medical Valley (photo)
•	Preface
•	Introduction
•	1. What is nuclear medicine?
•	2. Wider aspects of nuclear medicine
•	3. Production of nuclear farmaca
•	4. Molybdenum and Technetium
•	5. The four 'dune' companies
•	Appendix A. A bit of nuclear physics
•	Appendix B. The cover of the original printed version of this info

[List of Public Info] > [Medical applications] > [Medical Valley]

Introduction

Nuclear medicine in the dunes of Petten

The opinions on the benefits of nuclear power are not unanimous. This is certainly true in the Netherlands. But medical applications of nuclear knowledge and skills enjoy the appreciation of all. This is hardly surprising: the use of nuclear technology for medical diagnosis and therapy may prolong life and improve its quality.

In the dunes near Petten all elements are available for activities in the development of nuclear medicine:
two research reactors, two cyclotrons, laboratories where radioactive materials can be examinated and managed, medical and pharmaceutical research- and production facilities, and of course the necessary knowledge on radio chemistry, radio biology, pharmacy, industrial processes, logistics, nuclear physics and radiation protection.

This combination and concentration of knowledge, experience and facilities is unique.

Medical Valley is the medical-nuclear center :

where the major part of all nuclear pharmaca used in European hospitals is produced;
where diagnostics are conducted that are not possible in hospitals;
where several types of tumors are irradiated that are difficult to treat;
where new medical high-tech will increase the prestige of the partners in Petten and of the region.

'Medical Valley: nucleaire geneeskunde in de Pettense duinen' (in Dutch) was written by Jan Heijn and Albert Keverling Buisman and published by ECN in 1996. The business unit at that time responsible for nuclear technology is now part of the company NRG, a full daughter of the companies ECN en KEMA. The booklet has been updated by the editors of this website.

Use of the contents of this booklet is admitted, with proper reference.

NRG, PO Box 25, NL-1755 ZG Petten, Netherlands, Tel +31-224564950, Fax +31-224568912
Information: info@nrg.eu
Update 18 June 2004