AECL's major research and development (R&D) efforts take place at the Chalk River Laboratories (CRL). Scientists and engineers perform research and product development to support and advance CANDU nuclear reactor technology and the facility has world-class expertise in physics, metallurgy, chemistry, biology, and engineering.

Environmental scientists, and a rigorous Environmental Protection Program, ensure that the impact of operations at the Chalk River site are negligible on the health and well-being of employees, the public and on the environment.

The National Research Universal (NRU) reactor, one of the world’s most versatile research reactors, has been operating at CRL since 1957. NRU is Canada’s only major materials and fuel testing reactor used to support and advance the CANDU design. It also produces neutrons used by the National Research Council’s Neutron Beam Centre to investigate and non-destructively study all types of industrial and biological materials. Lastly, NRU continues to produce the majority of the world’s medical isotopes used in both the diagnosis and treatment of life-threatening diseases. NRU does not produce electricity, but rather tests the fuels and materials for CANDU reactors which AECL designs and sells around the world.

AECL has designed and constructed two MAPLE reactors and an associated processing facility at the Chalk River site for MDS Nordion. These reactors will be dedicated to isotope production and will be owned and operated by AECL.