site.btaBulgarian Academy of Sciences to Construct Building for Housing Particle Accelerator

Bulgarian Academy of Sciences to Construct Building for Housing Particle Accelerator

Sofia, October 27 (BTA) - Prime Minister Boyko Borissov visited here on Thursday the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences' Institute for Nuclear Research and Nuclear Energy. On Wednesday, Cabinet allocated to the Institute 3 million leva for constructing a special building which can house the cyclotron particle accelerator, purchased with USD 3 million donated by the US, USD 2 million from the Kozloduy N-plant and 1 million leva from the Education and Science Ministry.

Borissov noted that isotopes for cancer treatment have been supplied from Hungary and the Czech Republic for decades, but now Bulgaria can have a wonderful facility for around 10 million leva.

The Institute's Director Dimiter Tonev thanked for the funds, noting that 60 years later Bulgaria is starting a new research project in the field of nuclear physics. This facility will produce isotopes for diagnosing and treating various diseases and will be able to supply countries in the Balkans.

The particle accelerator facility will be used to train students and for research purposes in the fields of nuclear pharmacy, nuclear medicine, physics, chemistry, biology, etc.

US Ambassador here Eric Rubin also noted the project's importance for health care and science in Bulgaria, voicing gratitude to the Bulgarian Government and the Prime Minister for financially assisting it.

The cyclotron, which was delivered to Bulgaria in January, currently has the best parameters in the Balkans, the Institute said. It will be able to meet the needs of all PET scans in the country, with plans to supply neighbouring countries as well.