The Radioisotope (RI) Center was established for interdepartmental use by the faculty in 1984, and Professor Yasuto Onoyama took office as the first director of the Center. Professor Ryusaku Yamada became director in 1995. The medical school building of Osaka City University was completed in 1998, and the Radioisotope (RI) Center (1,230 m2) was established on the third basement level. The center started with the approval of the Science and Technology Agency. It was renamed the Radioisotope (RI) Center of the Graduate School of Medicine in 2001. Professor Shoji Fukushima became director in 2002. Professor Susumu Shiomi took over as director in 2006, followed by Professor Yukio Miki in 2017. Professor Hideki Wanibuchi became director in 2018.

Radioisotopes have contributed to advancement of basic research in fields including medical biology, and have been applied in clinical studies on diagnosis and medical treatment. The RI Center is a collaborative laboratory for conducting research using radioisotopes.

The Center has been approved by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, and educates and trains users about compliance with the Act on Prevention of Radiation Hazards due to Radioisotopes and teaches them to handle equipment safely. The center is also maintained and managed to ensure the safety of users.