UF Health Proton Therapy Institute installs new technology

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (Nov. 20, 2018) – The UF Health Proton Therapy Institute recently reached a major milestone in the expansion of its cancer treatment capabilities. The largest piece of the new, single-room proton therapy system – known as the Proteus^®ONE manufactured by IBA – was lifted and lowered into the building addition Monday, Nov. 19.

The 100-ton device, roughly the weight of a 757 airplane, is called a gantry. It is the part of the proton therapy system that rotates around the patient to deliver the proton beam.

The second largest piece was delivered and installed on Tuesday, Nov. 13. It is a 55-ton cyclotron that accelerates the protons used in proton therapy.

A heavy-lift crane was assembled on site to lift and lower the device through the roof of the building.

It is part of the $39 million expansion and upgrade project started in 2016. When the equipment becomes operational next year, the cancer treatment facility will be able to treat 25 percent more patients and treat additional types of cancer.

UF Health Proton Therapy Institute is the regional resource for proton therapy – an advanced form of radiation to treat cancer patients. It has been open in Jacksonville since 2006 and has treated more than 7,700 patients from Jacksonville and 32 countries.

The UF Health Proton Therapy Institute is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization affiliated with the UF College of Medicine and the UF Health Cancer Center, a Florida Cancer Center of Excellence, dedicated to delivering state-of-the-art cancer treatment and setting new standards for treating and curing cancer. The cancer treatment facility houses both conventional radiation and proton therapy, and delivers proton therapy to 100 patients a day. For more information about the UF Health Proton Therapy Institue, please visit www.floridaproton.org, or call toll-free 877-561-6152.