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A BIANNUAL NEWSLETTER OF ASSAM CANCER CARE FOUNDATION A BIANNUAL NEWSLETTER OF ASSAM CANCER CARE FOUNDATION

in Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging. study group (Radiation Cell) was created with
Over 1200 cyclotrons are used in nuclear medicine the objective of biomedical research using
worldwide for production of radionuclides. The radioisotope and medical application of radiation.
first medical cyclotron in India was commissioned In1958, Field unit of Radiation Cell was established
in Radiation Medicine Centre under Bhabha Atomic at Safdarjung Hospital, Delhi for clinical services
Research Centre, , Mumbai in 2002.This triggered and research. Dr.SK Mazumdar envisaged the
revolution of Nuclear Mmedicine imaging in India. idea of constructing Institute of Nuclear Medicine
A nuclear reactor is a device used to initiate and and Allied Sciences (INMAS),Nuclear Medicine
control a self-sustained nuclear chain reaction. It is equipment was subsequently installed. The INMAS
constructed with fuel rods made of fissile materials was dedicated to the nation on February 13,1964
such as enriched Uranium– 235 and Plutonium-239. by then Minister of Defence,Shri YBChavan.
The nuclei in these fissile materials undergo Parallel activity was happening in Mumbai under
spontaneous fission whereby clinically useful the Department of Atomic Energy. The visionary
radionuclides like Iodine-131, Molybdenum-99 etc scientist Dr.Bhabha created provisions in DAE
are produced. activities in 1960 for development of nascent
nuclear medicine field. He managed to get USD
In India, the historic growth of Nuclear Medicine 120,000 grant for the development of nuclear
begins with the initiative and mastermind of medicine. With his initiation and persuasion, a
“Dr.Homi Jehangir Bhabha” who is regarded as space was provided on the third floor of Tata
“Father of Indian Nuclear Program”. Memorial Hospital(TMH), Mumbai, a premier cancer
hospital,for the setting up of the nuclear medicine
In 1948, the first Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal facility. This facility was inaugurated on September
Nehru assigned Dr.Bhabha, the responsibility 3,1963 and was christened as the Radiation
of India’s ambitious atomic energy program. Dr. Medicine Centre (RMC) by Dr.Homi Bhabha himself.
Bhabha built Atomic Energy Establishment,Trombay Dr. Ernest Lawrence (cyclotron fame), a good friend
(AEET)in 1954. In 1956, the first research reactor of Bhabha,contributed first set of instruments
in India and Asia (beyond USSR/Russia) became (Gamma counters, liquid scintillation Counter,
critical. It was named as APSARA. The second thyroid uptake probe, rectilinear scanner for the
reactor, named CIRUS also became operational in new facility). The best part of the story is that these
AEET in 1960. This led to the indigenous production instruments were commissioned and calibrated by
of various radionuclides of medical applications the team of doctors and technical staff of RMC, not
like Iodine -131, Phosphorus - 32, Chromium – 51. by engineers of manufacturing company.
Especially radio-iodine (131I) was gaining relevance As per the recent industry report, 233 gamma
in clinical practice. After Bhabha’s death in 1966 in cameras including SPECT-CT, 222 PET-CT
an air crash, the AEET was renamed as the Bhabha scanners,19 cyclotrons, 3PET-MRIs, 92 radionuclide
Atomic Research Centre (BARC) in 1967. Today, therapy wards have been installed in India till 2018.
BARC is India’s primary research and development India’s first PET machine was installed in 2002 at
institution focused on indigenous nuclear power RMC,Mumbai. The first dedicated PET- CT scanner
and other applications of nuclear technology. was commissioned in the Department of Molecular
The Isotope Division of BARC from the early 60s Imaging of TMH, Mumbai, 2004.The first PET-MRI
and later on Board of Radiation and Isotope was installed in Apollo Hospital, Delhi (2013).
Technology (BRIT) since 1989 took the herculean
task of production and commercial supply of Assam has presently nine functioning Nuclear
radio-isotopes, radio-pharmaceuticals(required in Medicine Imaging centres - State Cancer Institute
Nuclear Medicine Imaging to the hospitals in India. attached to Gauhati Medical College, Nucleomed,
NECHRI, BBCI, ARHI hospital, in Barpeta, Silchar and
In 1956, under the Ministry of Defence with nod Dibrugarh under Assam Cancer Care Foundation
from JawaharLal Nehru, a multi-disciplinary (ACCF). Many more are coming up.

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