On October 14, during their state visit to Kazakhstan, Their Majesties King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of the Belgians visited the Institute of Nuclear Physics. The royal delegation was presented with the results of cooperation with Belgian scientific organizations and companies, ranging from joint research to the production of radiopharmaceuticals for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.
During the visit, the guests toured the Institute’s scientific and production infrastructure and visited the new Cyclone-18/9 cyclotron facility and the WWR-K research reactor. Particular attention was paid to the development of nuclear medicine and prospects for expanding cooperation between Kazakhstan and Belgium. One of the key outcomes of the partnership was the 2014 delivery of a Cyclone-30 cyclotron from the Belgian company IBA. Since 2019, this facility has been used to produce the radiopharmaceutical «Fluorodeoxyglucose F-18» for PET diagnostics; during this period, the Institute has produced enough of the drug to screen 63,000 patients. The industrial radioisotope cobalt-57 is also produced on the Cyclone-30 and exported to Germany, the USA, France, and Russia.
« The Belgian cyclotron, installed at the Institute of Nuclear Physics, is a key component of Kazakhstan’s nuclear medicine infrastructure and is used to produce socially significant radiopharmaceuticals. The implementation of this project demonstrates the practical value of international scientific and technological cooperation and its contribution to the development of the national healthcare system, the expansion of early diagnostic capabilities, and improved access to modern medical care», noted Almassadam Satkaliyev, Chairman of the Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan for Atomic Energy.
Medical radioisotopes are produced using the WWR-K research reactor and the Cyclone-30 cyclotron; these serve as the basis for the Institute's production of radiopharmaceuticals for the diagnosis of cancer and cardiovascular diseases, as well as for the treatment of thyroid disorders, including thyroid cancer.
Currently, three radiopharmaceuticals — including those based on iodine-131 and molybdenum-99 — are being supplied to medical centers in Kazakhstan. The Institute also produces technetium-99m generators using its own patented technology.
Radiopharmaceutical production is organized in accordance with the international GMP standard.
The Institute’s scientific cooperation with Belgian partners encompasses joint research, specialist training, and the exchange of scientific and technical expertise. In 2022, prospects for cooperation with the Belgian nuclear research center SCK CEN within the framework of the MYRRHA project were discussed. A cooperation agreement has been concluded with the National Institute for Radioelements IRE, providing for collaboration in the field of radioecology. One promising area of long-term cooperation is the development of production technology for the radioisotope actinium-225.
The signing of a Memorandum between the Institute of Nuclear Physics and Ghent University on October 13, on the sidelines of the Rectors' Forum, marked an important step in strengthening international scientific cooperation.
«A new stage in the development of our cooperation was marked by the Memorandum signed with Ghent University just prior to the visit. One area of joint activity involves the development of radiation-based water purification technologies, with the participation of specialists from Kazakhstan, Belgium, and the Republic of Korea. The parties are also interested in collaborative international research, the advancement of nuclear medicine, and training and knowledge exchange for young professionals. I am confident that our joint efforts will serve the health and well-being of people in both countries, at the very least», noted Sayabek Sakhiyev, Director General of the Institute of Nuclear Physics.
Chingis Daulbayev, Head of the Solid-State Radiation Physics Department at the Institute of Nuclear Physics, discussed the practical results of this joint work. Together with Ghent University (Belgium) and its global campus, scientists are investigating the photocatalytic purification of water to remove organic pollutants, including antibiotics. Specifically, they are studying wastewater from Sorbulak and the impact of seasonal changes on purification efficiency. Initial results have already been obtained, and a joint research paper has been published.
Olivier Legrain, CEO of IBA SA; Petra De Sutter, Rector of Ghent University; Emmanuel Bertrand, Vice President of Business Development at Trasis; and François Smets, Rector of UC Louvain, also spoke at the meeting. They presented ongoing projects and prospects for cooperation in research and the supply of equipment for the production of radioisotopes for medical and industrial use.
During the tour, the King and Queen of Belgium were shown the Institute of Nuclear Physics' capabilities for producing radiopharmaceuticals, as well as plans for its expansion.
Alexander Silnyagin, Deputy Head of the Accelerator Technology Department, described the Cyclone 18/9 cyclotron system, which was transferred to the Institute in May of this year and transported to Almaty. Specialists carried out the preliminary assembly, connected the main systems, and performed maintenance and initial testing. The next stage involves commissioning the installation and launching regular production of fluorine-18 and the radiopharmaceutical fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) for PET diagnostics of cancer and other diseases.
The launch of the Cyclone 18/9 will enable increased production volumes of radiopharmaceuticals, improve supply reliability, and reduce the load on the existing Cyclone 30 cyclotron. This will expand capabilities for producing other high-demand isotopes: the Institute already produces cobalt-57 and plans to develop the production of germanium-68 — used in germanium-gallium generators for nuclear medicine — as well as establish, in the long term, production technology for the promising radioisotope actinium-225.
During a visit to the WWR-K research reactor, Askhat Bekbayev, Deputy Director General of the Institute, described the facility's history and its use for scientific research, applied tasks, and radioisotope production.
Asset Makhambetov, Deputy Chairman of the Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan for Atomic Energy, presented plans for the construction of a nuclear power plant in Kazakhstan and discussed the Institute's role as a training base for nuclear industry specialists.
This visit reaffirmed the importance of cooperation between Kazakhstan and Belgium in the fields of nuclear medicine, scientific research, and specialist training. The development of joint projects will help strengthen Kazakhstan’s scientific and technological capabilities, expand domestic production capacity for radiopharmaceuticals, and advance the field of nuclear medicine.
