Moffitt Cancer Center Is First Health System in Tampa Bay Area To Receive Proton Therapy System for Cancer Treatment
TAMPA, Fla. — Moffitt Cancer Center, one of the nation’s leading cancer care and research institutions, is bringing the most advanced proton therapy system to the greater Tampa Bay area. Moffitt’s Proteus®ONE proton therapy system, supplied by IBA (Ion Beam Applications S.A., EURONEXT), the world leader in particle accelerator technology, has left Belgium for its cross-Atlantic journey to Florida. Moffitt will be the first health system in the Tampa Bay area to begin installation of a proton therapy system with patients being treated as early as 2026.
Moffitt’s Proteus®ONE departs Belgium on the Morning Lynn vessel.
Proton therapy is the most advanced form of cancer-killing technology in the world. Moffitt will be one of the few top cancer centers in the U.S. and the only health system in the Tampa Bay area with state-of-the-art proton therapy technology that has received clearance from the Food and Drug Administration. This transformative technology positions Moffitt at the forefront of cancer care and will offer patients access to treatments that are highly effective, minimally invasive and produce better outcomes.
“This is a new chapter in Moffitt’s history that will open doors for patient care and research,” said Patrick Hwu, M.D., president and CEO of Moffitt. “With the addition of this proton therapy system, we are advancing cancer care, broadening access for patients and accelerating discoveries that will define the future of cancer treatment.”
The proton therapy system’s journey began at IBA’s manufacturing facility in Louvain-La-Neuve, Belgium, before heading to Zeebrugge for its oceanic voyage. The cyclotron and gantry, integral components of the Proteus®ONE system, are expected to arrive at the Georgia Ports Authority in February and then will be transported to Moffitt’s SPEROS FL campus.
The Moffitt Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation Proton Center will open to patients in 2026.
The equipment will be installed in Moffitt’s new 120,000-square-foot clinic that will include the 30,000-square-foot Moffitt Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation Proton Center. Installation will span 12 months and include multiple phases of construction, rigorous testing and training.
“Our patients deserve the best technology and not all proton therapy systems offer the same level of precision and effectiveness as the next-generation Proteus®ONE model,” said Kosj Yamoah, M.D., Ph.D., chair of Moffitt’s Radiation Oncology Department. “With this new equipment, we’re bringing the most powerful treatment capabilities to our patients to give them the best chance at a cure.”
The Proteus®ONE is a new generation, compact single-room proton therapy system developed by IBA that offers unparalleled precision in cancer treatment. Central to its operation are two key components: the cyclotron and the gantry. The 55-ton superconducting synchro-cyclotron serves as the accelerator and propels protons with unmatched energy efficiency and performance. With a greener footprint, the Proteus®ONE offers a more compact and sustainable alternative to older 220-ton models. Complementing this is the 100-ton gantry, a large, rotating mechanical arm that allows the proton beam to be precisely directed at a tumor from various angles. This system enables the delivery of radiation to the target area while minimizing damage to surrounding structures and tissues.
At the heart of the machine is the innovative pencil beam scanning method, an advanced technique that delivers protons in ultrafine layers. This method uses a narrow, magnetically guided proton beam that “paints” the tumor with pinpoint accuracy and allows millimeter-by-millimeter tumor targeting. By adjusting the beam’s depth and intensity, doctors can shape the radiation dose to match the tumor’s exact dimensions. The Proteus®ONE features the sharpest pencil beam scanning currently available, minimizing the amount of potentially harmful secondary radiation. This approach is especially beneficial for treating irregularly shaped tumors, as well as tumors in children, reducing long-term side effects and improving patient outcomes.
The cyclotron, left, weighs 55 tons and was sealed in vapor-locked packaging before its trans-Atlantic journey.
With a patient-centric design and versatile treatment positions, the Proteus®ONE offers a sophisticated setup that enables treatment for all disease sites. The design combines advanced gantry rotation and robotic positioning technology to allow clinicians to customize treatment plans with the highest degree of accuracy and provide better outcomes for patients with complex or difficult-to-reach tumors.
Beyond treatment, the Proteus®ONE will solidify Moffitt’s Speros campus as a premier health care destination and emerging global hub for research and innovation. Researchers at Speros will be able to explore novel proton therapy applications, including immunotherapies. IBA has also developed emerging technologies ConformalFLASH* and DynamicARC* that will be offered to patients once they receive regulatory clearance.
*ConformalFLASH® and DynamicARC® are registered brands of IBA’s Proton Therapy, which are currently under research and development.
About Moffitt Cancer Center
Moffitt is dedicated to one lifesaving mission: to contribute to the prevention and cure of cancer. The Tampa-based facility is one of only 57 National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers, a distinction that recognizes Moffitt’s scientific excellence, multidisciplinary research, and robust training and education. Moffitt’s expert nursing staff is recognized by the American Nurses Credentialing Center with Magnet® status, its highest distinction. For more information, call 1-888-MOFFITT (1-844-495-1371), visit MOFFITT.org, and follow the momentum on Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube.
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