Since 2016, the Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz has a cyclotron accelerator for the production of the radioacive nuclide fluorine-18. An adjacent cleanroom laboratory provides the necessary conditions for the synthesis of fluorine based radiopharmaceuticals.
Fluorine-18 and the synthesized radiopharmaceuticals using it are used for imaging in patients, a process also known as positron emission tomography (PET). The PET scan uses these radiopharmaceuticals to visualise metabolic processes in the human body and to detect tumours, metastases and inflammation as early as possible.
Since 2025, the operation of the cyclotron has been technically and organizationally integrated with the scientific reactor TRIGA.
For questions regarding the cyclotron or the production of radiopharmaceuticals please contact radiopharmaka@uni-mainz.de.