University of Wisconsin's $62M expansion aims to boost radiopharmaceutical production
The University of Wisconsin-Madison is spending over $62million to expand its radionuclide research and production facilities, including the nation’s first cyclotron dedicated to producing alpha-particle-emitting radionuclides.
The expansion has received $48.5 million in initial funding and had an additional $13.5 million approved by the University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents in 2025. The National Institutes of Health also awarded the university a $10 million grant for the project.
UW-Madison is seeking to strengthen its research into targeted radiopharmaceutical therapies. This will allow researchers to produce radionuclides, administer treatments and perform imaging within the same building, potentially streamlining the path from laboratory development to patient care.
Currently, UW-Madison ships radionuclides to facilities elsewhere in the country for patient treatment. Bringing production and clinical capabilities together could reduce logistical barriers and support closer coordination between radiopharmaceutical development, imaging and treatment.
The university’s existing cyclotron facility is located in the basement of the Wisconsin Institutes for Medical Research. The project will preserve the current system while adding both an additional conventional cyclotron and a new alpha-particle option. Additional floors will provide more space for research, while the basement will remain dedicated to the cyclotron equipment.
Alpha-particle-emitting radionuclides are of particular interest in cancer treatment because they can deliver highly localized radiation over short distances. When paired with a targeting molecule that binds to cancer cells, these agents may damage tumors while limiting radiation exposure to surrounding healthy tissue.
Jonathan Engle, PhD, a UW-Madison associate professor of medical physics and radiology, says the new equipment will enable production of therapeutic radionuclides that are critical to ongoing cancer research. Scientists are studying their potential across different cancer types, although many applications remain under clinical investigation. University leaders say the integrated facility could help advance targeted radionuclide therapies as researchers continue to evaluate their safety and effectiveness.
Read more from Wisconsin Public Radio here.
In addition to her background in journalism, Hannah also has patient-facing experience in clinical settings, having spent more than 12 years working as a registered rad tech. She began covering the medical imaging industry for Innovate Healthcare in 2021.