biostudies-literatureBills LAU.S. Department of Energy41057https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12635120biostudies-literatureUnknown15(1)Terbium-149g ([Formula: see text] = 4.12 h) is of particular interest for targeted alpha therapy cancer treatment due to its ability to decay via both alpha and positron emission, making it a potential theranostic nuclide. Due to many challenges facing its production, there are limited facilities worldwide that have demonstrated the ability to produce this nuclide in quantities sufficient for medical research. Since the Cyclotron Institute at Texas A&M University is a specialized accelerator facility capable of accelerating a wide variety of ions, we are investigating production pathway options. One of the major challenges facing its production is the known co-production of the excited isomeric state, [Formula: see text]Tb ([Formula: see text] = 4.1 min). However, this state does not decayScientific reportsCross sections of [Formula: see text]Sm([Formula: see text]Li,x) reactions for the production of [Formula: see text]Tb for targeted alpha therapy.PMC12635120DE-SC0022550DE-SC0020958DE-FG02-93ER40773Harvey BMRojas DCAbbott ADMohs CBills LASantucci JThomas DYennello SJTobin ZRider RTamashiro ASSorensen MVermeulen CEHankins THarke JTMcIntosh LAMcIntosh ABHagel KMishnayot YGarcia-Duarte JReuter MPicayo GAHughes ROMorrell JTSauceda SGott MDTereshatov EEAdsley PWellons BTabacaru AfalseCross sections of [Formula: see text]Sm([Formula: see text]Li,x) reactions for the production of [Formula: see text]Tb for targeted alpha therapy.Terbium-149g ([Formula: see text] = 4.12 h) is of particular interest for targeted alpha therapy cancer treatment due to its ability to decay via both alpha and positron emission, making it a potential theranostic nuclide. Due to many challenges facing its production, there are limited facilities worldwide that have demonstrated the ability to produce this nuclide in quantities sufficient for medical research. Since the Cyclotron Institute at Texas A&M University is a specialized accelerator facility capable of accelerating a wide variety of ions, we are investigating production pathway options. One of the major challenges facing its production is the known co-production of the excited isomeric state, [Formula: see text]Tb ([Formula: see text] = 4.1 min). However, this state does not decay2025-01-01T00:00:00Z2025 Nov2026-06-05T19:44:02.564Z2026-05-21T03:10:58.983ZS-EPMC126351204126666310.1038/s41598-025-24894-9