Moffitt Celebrates Dual Milestones at Speros FL with Cyclotron Lift and Topping Out Ceremony
Moffitt Cancer Center marked two monumental milestones at SPEROS FL, its 775-acre global research park in Pasco County. With the final steel beam placed atop the Moffitt Discovery & Innovation Center and a 55-ton cyclotron lifted into the vault of the Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation Proton Therapy Center, the event marked the beginning of a new era in cancer care for the Tampa Bay region.
The 55-ton cyclotron traveled more than 4,600 miles from Belgium. It’s the first and most advanced proton therapy system in the Tampa Bay area.
When it opens in mid-2026, Moffitt’s proton center will offer patients the most advanced and precise form of radiation therapy available today. Funded in part by a generous $15 million gift from the Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation, the center will use the ProteusONE proton therapy system. The unit is the most advanced compact proton therapy solution on the market. This next-generation technology offers highly targeted treatment for a variety of cancers while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue. The treatment is especially effective for pediatric patients and tumors near vital organs.
Moffitt’s proton center will be located in its 120,000-square-foot outpatient clinic. The ProteusONE, manufactured by Belgium’s IBA, integrates high-precision imaging, pencil-beam scanning and robotic positioning to deliver treatment with extraordinary accuracy.
With the ProteusONE technology, Moffitt can target tumors millimeter by millimeter and tailor treatments more precisely, leading to better outcomes and quality of life.
Kosj Yamoah, MD
“This system is the most advanced of its kind in the Tampa Bay area,” said Kosj Yamoah, MD, PhD, chair of the Radiation Oncology Department at Moffitt. “It delivers the power of large multiroom systems in a smarter, more efficient single-room design. It’s precise, scalable and built to grow with future innovation. It will touch thousands of lives and transform care across the region.”
The proton center is just one part of the initial development phase at Speros, a mission-driven, global research park. Construction began in early 2023 with the first phase spanning 75 acres and named the W.E. Simpson Concourse for Cures. This area includes Moffitt’s proton center and clinic and the Moffitt Discovery & Innovation Center for research.
Moffitt President and CEO Patrick Hwu, MD, signs the beam before it is placed atop the Moffitt Discovery & Innovation Center.
“Today’s events at Speros symbolize both excellence and hope for the patients of today, as well as those we’ll serve through our cancer discoveries and care for decades to come,” said Patrick Hwu, MD, Moffitt president and CEO. “The research center and proton therapy program are central to our vision for Speros, which will become a global destination for cancer breakthroughs and a place where world-class care and discovery are happening side by side in one place.”
Beyond clinical care, Moffitt’s vision at Speros is grounded in innovation and research. The Moffitt Discovery & Innovation Center, scheduled to open in mid-2026, also celebrated a major milestone with a topping out ceremony. The event is a longstanding construction tradition that celebrates the placement of the highest structural element of a building.
The state-of-the-art facility will hold 250,000 square feet of dedicated research space, including wet labs, conference rooms and collaborative workspaces. Research programs will include bioengineering, molecular oncology, tumor microenvironments, cell and gene therapy, as well as a Nikon Center of Excellence.
Speros is projected to create more than 11,000 jobs and deliver over $2.5 billion in economic impact over the next decade. With $600 million in active construction projects underway and infrastructure like Speros Parkway complete, the initial phase of the campus is anticipated to reach completion by 2028.
“Today, we are lifting hope,” said Josh Carpenter, DPhil, president of Speros. “Hope for cancer patients and their families. Hope for scientists collaborating with industry to find cures. Hope for physicians integrating innovation into their daily practice. And hope for bringing quality jobs and strength to Florida’s bioeconomy.”
Speros is larger than downtown Tampa and located in fast-growing Pasco County. With more than 92 new residents moving to the county each day, Speros is fueling Pasco’s emergence as a national medtech and biotech corridor. With Cryogene’s biorepository expected to break ground in September 2025, Speros is poised to become a flagship destination for life sciences and biotech innovation in the Southeast.
