Astral Systems, the newest company to take space on the Dorset Innovation Park in Winfrith, is leading the way on a new technology with the potential to revolutionise cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Fronted by Dr Tom Wallace-Smith from Poole and Canada-based Talmon Firestone, the company is developing its patented Multi-State Fusion Reactor, which can produce the medical isotopes needed to scan for cancer and treat tumours and cancerous cells on a much smaller scale and quicker than the current standard methods.

It all started with an idea Tom had while studying for his PHD and working on a placement in Osaka Japan on a nuclear reactor.

“When I was studying for my PHD I was researching ways to make the production of neutrons produce isotopes more quickly and cost effectively,” Tom explained.

“Not only do nuclear power plants take a long time to build but there is also very limited space in which to build them. Due to the short shelf-life of medical isotopes, when there’s a shortage it means that within the week cancer treatments are postponed or cancelled.

“The MSF Reactor provides a ‘now’ solution at a much lower cost and with less environmental impact, it can alleviate shortages in the near term. This is fusion technology that can solve real world problems now.”

Once Tom returned to the UK, he was introduced to businessman and scientist Talmon, who has a two-decade long history in the nuclear, space and defence industries which includes time as a partner at NSD-Fusion GmbH, the first company to successfully commercialise a nuclear fusion technology in the mid-2000s.

In 2021, the pair formed Astral and were awarded a £1 million research grant in partnership with Bristol University to optimise and commercialise their technology while also demonstrating medical radioisotope production.

Astral recently completed a £200,000 research contract with the UK Atomic Energy Authority (AEA) to set up their fusion reactor facility at the Dorset Innovation Park to undertake fusion materials research.

Tom has designed his own seven and a half tonne radiation proof bunker to allow him to carry out his research at the Winfrith-based innovation park.

Talmon Firestone, CEO of Astral Systems

Astral’s CEO, Talmon Firestone, explained: “We want to address real world problems today – not in 20 or 30 years’ time.

“There is a real pressing problem now that needs addressing urgently, the delay in cancer diagnosis and treatments caused by the Covid pandemic.

“Nuclear medicine has been helping to save lives for decades by enabling the medical profession to scan for cancer and directly treat tumours and cancerous cells at source.

“However, the old tech around fusion is limited in how much and how quickly it can be produced. Our system has been developed far more quickly and can produce isotopes at a much smaller scale.

“This means medical isotopes can be produced on smaller sites without having to rely on giant international nuclear generation fission plants.

“More than half of nuclear power plants will close by 2030 and it can take around eight years to open a new one. It took us four months to get Astral off the ground.”

Astral is now bidding for another £1.5m grant from the UKAE’s Fusion Industry Programme to carry out more research. If successful, Tom and Talmon will look to open a larger site on the Dorset Innovation Park.

For Tom it’s particularly special to have found his base at “home”.

“I grew up in Poole and my parents currently live a short distance from the Dorset Innovation Park,” he said.

“This was once home to the UKAEA and it was their funding that enabled us to open our base here – it feels like we’ve come full circle. I’m very proud to have our company based in Dorset.”

The Dorset Innovation Park is owned by Dorset Council and is currently home to more than 40 businesses, employing around 1,200 people.

It’s a site that boasts companies that hail from the world of high-tech, digital, science and engineering and defence industries.

Astral has taken a commercial unit in the council’s Quadrant development of small-scale workshops and development space.

Due to demand, the council has recently submitted a planning application for a second phase, Quadrant 2.  Subject to planning and funding approval construction of the new units will get underway in the autumn.

Dorset Council’s portfolio holder for Economic Regeneration, Cllr Simon Gibson, said: “We are incredibly proud to have a site like the Dorset Innovation Park and companies such as Astral Systems based there.

“The technology Astral Systems is producing is ground-breaking and potentially lifesaving. It will surely not only have a tremendous impact on the lives of people in the UK but also around the world.”

• https://www.astralneutronics.com/