Reactor Laboratory for Biomedical Research in National Centre for Nuclear Research in Poland

Abstract

National Centre for Nuclear Research, NCBJ is one of the biggest research institutes in Poland, in which scientists deal with basic research in the various fields of subatomic physics, development of nuclear technologies and practical applications of nuclear physics methods, including those for nuclear medicine and radiotherapy. NCBJ operates the only Polish nuclear research reactor MARIA, around which a Reactor Laboratory for Biomedical Research, RLBR has been built in the last 4 years. One of the main aims of the RLBR team is to adapt the H2 channel, one of the eight MARIA’s horizontal channels, to a specific irradiation facility delivering a high flux thermal/epithermal neutron beam. The beam derived from the channel will be a tool for biological, physical and material studies for Boron Neutron Capture Therapy, BNCT. While NCBJ is focused on building a neutron research facility, the Polish scientific community expressed its interest in BNCT development and implementation as an alternative therapy for cancer treatment. Through the working group meetings organized in the form of regular scientific workshops since 2015, it led to the establishment of a national scientific consortium dedicated to BNCT. Polish Consortium for Boron Neutron Capture Therapy agreement was initially signed by twelve institutions including scientific institutes, universities and oncological centres in October 2019. National Centre for Nuclear Research was appointed the leader of the consortium. A year later the consortium was enlarged by two more institutions.

MARIA Reactor Irradiation Technology Capabilities towards Advanced Applications

“…The epithermal energies are achieved by the means of a uranium based neutron converter. The converter will be installed at the reactor core periphery at the channel inlet and it will amplify epithermal and fast neutron flux [30,31]. The remaining channels are going to be equipped in collaboration with Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin, as shown in MAKARONI is one of the thermostatic irradiation rig programs currently developed in MARIA.…”