U.S. Department of Energy Isotope Program
Managing Critical Isotopes for Medical Applications & More
The Department of Energy's Isotope Program supports the production, distribution, and development of production techniques for radioactive and stable isotopes in short supply and critical to the nation. Isotopes are commodities of strategic importance for the nation. They are essential for energy exploration and innovation, medical applications, national security, and basic research. The goal of the program is to make key isotopes more readily available to meet U.S. needs. The program also supports R&D efforts to develop new and more cost-effective and efficient production and processing techniques. The R&D activities provide collateral benefits for training, contributing to workforce development, and helping to ensure a future U.S.-based expertise in the fields of nuclear chemistry and radiochemistry.
