Calgary to receive first cyclotron for cancer treatments

Alberta is constructing its first cyclotron in Calgary to expedite medical testing and cancer treatments. The project is part of a $71 million initiative, including $64 million in provincial funding over three years, to establish a new radiopharmaceutical centre at the Foothills Medical Centre.

A cyclotron uses charged particles to create radioactive materials required for medical scans and treatments. Currently, southern Alberta relies on two cyclotrons in Edmonton. Because radiopharmaceuticals have short half-lives—approximately 109 minutes—the three-hour drive from Edmonton to Calgary presents logistical challenges.

The new facility is expected to be operational by 2029. It aims to support the development of next-generation radioactive medications and address a projected tripling of medical testing needs in Alberta over the next 15 years.