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‘Mines to Medicine’ research partner awarded grant for cancer medicine

Image is of a scientist working in Sandy Ridge Labs- Tellus' innovation and research arm. Tellus is partnering with organisations such as entX to research waste to medicine initiatives.

Most people, when they think about waste streams from mining, don’t associate them with state-of-the-art cancer treatments.

But that may be about to change.

Tellus is partnering with entX Limited, an innovative nuclear science and engineering company based in Adelaide, in a project called “Mines to Medicine.”

This groundbreaking “Mines to Medicine” initiative aims to establish a sovereign supply chain for lead-212 (Pb-212), a vital isotope used in Targeted Alpha Therapy for advanced metastatic cancers, including prostate cancer and neuroendocrine tumours. Using novel process technologies, entX, along with Tellus and several other partners, hopes to produce these isotopes from low-level radioactive waste generated from industrial waste streams, including mining, and oil and gas decommissioning.

 

Over 25,000 Australian men are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year.

It’s the second most common cause of death from cancer for men in Australia.

Neuroendocrine tumours can occur anywhere in the body. Most occur in the lungs, appendix, small intestine, rectum and pancreas.

Recently, this research has received a major boost. As announced by entX, the “Mines to Medicine” project has been awarded a $2,915,000 grant from the Department of Industry, Science and Resources as part of the Cooperative Research Centres Projects grant program.

 

This support will assist entX and Tellus as we strive to deliver a comprehensive process design and demonstration plant by late 2025.

 

At Tellus our mission is to safeguard Australia’s green future by permanently disposing of hazardous chemical and low-level radioactive waste. But imagine if we can enhance that future, and help Australians live longer and healthier, by repurposing some of this material.

It’s a bold vision, and “Mines to Medicine” is an important first step.