Nuclear Physics Institute of the CAS Reaches Key Milestone in AlphaStar Project
23. 02. 2026
The beginning of the year marked an important milestone for the AlphaStar project, a contract research program at the Nuclear Physics Institute of the CAS funded by Eckert & Ziegler Radiopharma. Led by Prof. Ondřej Lebeda and Dr. Jan Ráliš, the research team is developing a technology for the production of actinium-225 (225Ac).
This radionuclide is widely regarded as the most promising alpha emitter for the treatment of small tumors and micrometastases. A major obstacle to 225Ac-based radiopharmaceutical research and clinical adoption is the limited availability of the radionuclide, caused by the exceptional complexity of its production. The AlphaStar project paves the way toward producing 225Ac in high quantities and quality.
As part of the research and development phase, the team successfully produced the first gigabecquerel of 225Ac in a single production run. This level of activity is sufficient for the preparation of more than one hundred therapeutic doses. Given the limited supply of 225Ac, reaching this milestone represents a remarkable achievement on a global scale. The 225Ac production laboratory at NPI has thus joined a small, elite group of facilities capable of supplying this radionuclide in clinically relevant quantities.
This milestone represents a major step toward the routine production of 225Ac and provides strong motivation for the research team’s continued work.
Regarding the success, Prof. Lebeda says: “It is my joy and pleasure to work with such an outstanding team of professionals. After four years of focused effort, this key result confirms that our technology meets the requirements for large-scale production of 225Ac at high purity. It represents another step toward implementing alpha-emitter-based radiopharmaceuticals, which target cancers that are challenging to treat.”
Read also
- The Science Communication 360° conference will bring the Head of communications of the Max Planck Society
- Research reveals a previously unknown mechanism of genetic transcription
- Warming weakens natural enemies of insects, new research shows
- Hope for rare anemia patients: Czech scientists create "perfect" mouse model
- Czech Researchers Contribute to SOLAO Project on Soil-Transmitted Parasites
- Scholars from the Czech Academy of Sciences will help make key UN documents on refugee policy in post-communist Europe accessible
- New perspective on the climate crisis: an ERC Consolidator grant
- World first for Czech science: egg ageing can be reversed
- How the human genome duplicates. A Czech becomes a new EMBO Young Investigator
- For the First Time Ever, a Czech Scientist Wins the international Dream Chemistry Award
The Czech Academy of Sciences (the CAS)
The mission of the CAS
The primary mission of the CAS is to conduct research in a broad spectrum of natural, technical and social sciences as well as humanities. This research aims to advance progress of scientific knowledge at the international level, considering, however, the specific needs of the Czech society and the national culture.
President of the CAS
Prof. Eva Zažímalová has started her second term of office in May 2021. She is a respected scientist, and a Professor of Plant Anatomy and Physiology.
She is also a part of GCSA of the EU.