As Australia’s premier organisation for delivering and characterising high‑intensity irradiation, ANSTO has established a sovereign capability that enables world‑leading research into how radiation interacts with biological matter. This expertise is vital for advancing the understanding of how living systems respond to radiation in extreme environments.
At ANSTO’s Centre for Accelerator Science and the Department of Human Health and Bioscience, specialised facilities support researchers and industry in investigating the effects of ionising radiation on a wide range of biological materials, including human and animal cells, plants, food sources, and pharmaceuticals. These studies refine medical applications such as targeted particle therapy and inform protection strategies for people working in high‑radiation settings, including medical and nuclear facilities, as well as in space as missions become more ambitious and frequent.
Gaining a deeper understanding of how radiation exposure alters biological systems is essential for developing effective mitigation measures that protect human health, maintain food and drug stability, and preserve biological function during prolonged exposure.
Irradiation Facility
The ANTARES 10MV accelerator is equipped with the Heavy Ion Nuclear Microprobe, the only instrument in Australia capable of focusing light and heavy ion beams down to a micron-size spot. The ion microbeam is extracted in air, allowing irradiation of living samples with a wide range of ion species and fluxes and with dose rates from mGy/s to G/s. The flexible and unique system allows irradiation of samples of dimension from µm2 to cm2.
The ANSTO facilities and capabilities are well suited for irradiation of human, animal or plant cells with potential research applications in radiobiology for harsh radiation environments, such as space or nuclear plants; fundamental radiobiology, cancer research and particle therapy, drug development as countermeasures, and dosimetry.
Radiobiology Facilities
Radiobiology facilities include PC1 and 2 laboratories to support for pre- and post-handling of biological samples.
The available cell-based capabilities see survival, proliferation, damage/repair, Reactive Oxygen Species, molecular biology, biochemistry and pharmacology.
Scientists can access to analysis such as immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry, and fluorescence microscopy.
Finally, the facilities provide access to other radiation sources such as X-rays, gamma-rays and neutrons.
Contact
CAS Irradiation Team Lead
