ANSTO staff will be swapping their lab coats for running shoes at the Sutherland Shire Relay for Life – taking the race to find answers to cancer out of the lab and onto the track at Wanda Beach.
The Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) uses cutting-edge nuclear technology to investigate the origins and progression of cancers, as well as contribute to the development of treatments.
The organisation has entered a team for the Relay for Life event being held on May 6/7 at Wanda Beach’s Don Lucas Reserve, raising money for Cancer Council NSW.
“Relay for Life is one of the events in the yearly ANSTO calendar that our staff most look forward to, because it is an important cause and another way that we can reduce the impact of these devastating diseases,” ANSTO chief executive Dr Adi Paterson said.
“Every week ANSTO supplies over 10,000 doses of nuclear medicine to more than 250 hospitals and medical centres across the country.
“One in two Australians, on average, in their lifetime, will benefit from nuclear medicine produced at ANSTO.
“These cancer-detecting pharmaceuticals include Technetium-99m, which is used extensively to generate images of malignancies in the body, and Lutetium-177, a therapeutic pharmaceutical being investigated for the treatment of neuroendocrine tumours.”
Dr Paterson said ANSTO’s state-of-the-art infrastructure, based at Lucas Heights, was a great resource for cancer research.
“Cancer is in fact more than 200 complex diseases with different, but related, causes, prognoses, treatments and patient needs.
“We need to find answers to all of them,” Dr Paterson said.
“At Lucas Heights, we are working towards completion of our ANM facility, which will increase ANSTO’s nuclear production to 10 million doses per year, helping to provide more nuclear pharmaceuticals to Australia and the world.
“ANSTO is proud of its contribution to fighting cancer on a daily basis. We are honoured to be a major supporter of the goals and vision of the shire’s Relay for Life and we look forward to seeing the community down at Cronulla.”
The Shire Relay for Life is held annually and is the second biggest of its kind in the country.
It sees teams of about 10 to 15 people try and have at least one team member on the walking track for the entire 24 hours. To enter a team or donate click here.