Calgary’s first cyclotron will be built at Foothills Medical Centre as part of a new radiopharmaceutical centre, with completion expected in three years. The centre is supported by $71 million in government and donor funding and will also help develop next-generation radioactive medications.

A cyclotron accelerates tiny charged particles and directs them at a target to create radioactive materials used in medical scans and treatments. Health Minister Adriana LaGrange said Edmonton has two cyclotrons, while the Calgary facility will be Alberta’s third. Medical testing in the province is expected to triple over the next 15 years.

LaGrange told reporters Tuesday that timing is critical because radiopharmaceuticals begin to decay immediately after production. “When it comes to these medicines, every second counts. They begin to decay as soon as they are produced,” LaGrange said. “Right now, every dose used in southern Alberta has to come from Edmonton. Producing them here in Calgary means less time in transit and more reliable supply for patients.”

The Calgary facility is intended to reduce transit time for doses used in southern Alberta. The Canadian Press first published this report on Sept. 29, 2026.

Based on reporting by CTV News Calgary.