IRSN

The aim of NFRP-2019-2020-09 call is to capitalise existing technologies for characterisation and risk assessment, dismantling, on-site waste management and environmental remediation in order to gain needed efficiencies in the decommissioning of nuclear power reactors. One very challenging dismantling task in the focus of the industry is the segmentation of the reactor pressure vessel and internals. Limitations are known for all conventional cutting techniques currently used including mechanical cutting, plasma arc cutting or abrasive water jet cutting. In this context, the laser cutting technology for nuclear dismantling, an adaptation from the manufacturing industry developed by over a decade of R&D efforts, is identified in Europe and elsewhere in the world as a promising alternative. The objective of the LD-SAFE project is to validate the laser cutting technology for the dismantling of the most challenging components of power nuclear reactors in air and underwater. LD-SAFE project will remove the last barriers to enable the replacement of conventional cutting techniques and prove by 4 specific objectives that the technology is mature (TRL7): - Objectives 1: Demonstration of the capabilities of a versatile laser cutting solution to address the key technical challenges in decommissioning of large nuclear facilities - Objectives 2: Environmental and safety assessment of the implementation of laser cutting for nuclear reactor decommissioning - Objectives 3: Technical validation of the laser cutting prototype in operational environment (TRL7) - Objectives 4: Demonstration of the economic advantage of using the laser cutting technology for the forthcoming reactor decommissioning market LD-SAFE consortium is a strong partnership of 4 leading industrials and 2 European research centres having extensive track-records in the field of dismantling of nuclear facilities; environment and people protection; safety assessment; and associated domains.

NECTAR proposes an alternative and revolutionary strategy to address AD (Alzheimer’s Disease) treatment, suggesting and investigating a therapy based mainly on nuclear physics principles and phenomena, i.e. neutron capture nuclear reactions and structural damage of AD Aβ aggregates induced by ionizing radiations (IRs). AD is the most common cause of dementia. There is no cure and no new FDA medication has been approved since 2002. NECTAR aims to develop, test and prove the feasibility, safety and effectiveness of a Capture-Enhanced Neutron Irradiation of Aβ aggregates exploiting the synergy between an external beam of low energy neutrons which irradiate the whole brain and specifically engineered radiation enhancers capable of increasing the administered dose only in the Aβ aggregate site. NECTAR will develop: 1) biocompatible probes containing Gd/B-enriched molecules able to cross the BBB and target selectively the Aβ aggregates; 2) a detailed modelling, validate by innovative dosimetric measurements, of the secondary radiations set in motion at μm and nm scales and related to: (a) the different types of Aβ aggregates and to their radio-induced structural modifications which further relate to neurotoxicity and biological effects, (b) the macroscopic irradiation of the brain and the compatibility with its tolerance assuming a prolonged, highly fractionated low energy neutron irradiation protocol. NECTAR brings an interdisciplinary network of research teams from 7 academics: UNIPV (neutron irradiation), UNITO (probes preparation and testing), MNEGRI (AD mouse models), SU (cellular effects of IRs at low doses and low dose rates), IRSN (IRs metrology), UKESSEN (AD clinics), UKJ (clinical radiotherapy, including advanced particle radiotherapy) and an innovative start-up Raylab (n-spectrometry and miniaturised dosimeters). The positive completion of NECTAR would open the route for the application of IRs-based treatments to other forms of amyloidosis and proteinopathies