Working with Radioactive Materials at the Ƶ
The Ƶ (MCW) is licensed by the State of Wisconsin for radioactive materials for clinical and research applications at facilities located at MCW and Froedtert Hospital (FH). FH and MCW are jointly responsible for the implementation and review of the Radiation Safety Program to ensure that it conforms with State/NRC regulations, specific license conditions and any other applicable local, state or federal regulations. The Radiation Safety Program is directed and monitored by the Radiation Safety Committee (RSC). The RSC is an administrative committee responsible for the oversight of radioactive material under the license. The day-to-day operation of the Radiation Safety Program is provided by the Office of Radiation Safety (ORS) under the direction of the Radiation Safety Officer (RSO). The RSO has been delegated the authority by MCW and FH Administration to address and resolve problems that occur with noncompliance of regulations or State license conditions.
Radioactive materials are used in research at MCW in a number of ways. For example: unsealed radioactive materials are used to label cells in order to better understand cellular pathways; sealed source irradiators are used to study the impact of radiation on cells and biological processes; X-ray diffraction can be used to analyze the crystalline structures of materials.