What is the University of Florida Proton Therapy Institute?

The University of Florida Proton Therapy Institute located at Shands Jacksonville is a 98,000-square-foot facility providing conventional radiation cancer treatment and proton therapy. UFPTI includes clinics for the pre- and post-therapy and on-treatment evaluation of cancer patients, planning suites, an infusion and anesthesia suite, psychosocial and dietary services, a research office, and faculty offices. At capacity, the facility can treat up to 150 patients.

An additional area of research is being developed to improve proton therapy through new technology.

Currently, UFPTI is one of only several proton therapy facilities operating in the nation, and the only proton therapy facility in the Southeast.

The University of Florida Proton Therapy Institute (UFPTI) is an affiliate of the University of Florida for the purpose of proton therapy and research. It is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization.

History of UFPTI

When Proton Therapy was first suggested by Dr. Robert Wilson in 1946, he clearly understood the advantages of proton therapy over traditional radiation therapy. Since that time, researchers and clinicians have understood his premise but were not able to fully exploit protons' potential benefit, as they could not adequately pinpoint a tumor's specific location in the body.

The development of more sophisticated imaging opened the door for proton therapy, since it allowed radiation oncologists to precisely direct the protons used in treatment.

In 1990, Loma Linda University built the first clinically dedicated proton therapy facility. For the first time ever, a large number of patients could be treated day-to-day.

By 1998, cancer had become one of the two most common causes of death in the U.S. Because of the significant impact of cancer on Florida residents, both the UF College of Medicine and the Shands Teaching Hospital at UF decided that strengthening the cancer program was key to meeting the needs of Florida's citizens in the 21st century. For these reasons, both the College of Medicine and Shands Hospital made cancer treatment their top priority in 1998.

In the fall of 1998, the Chair of the Department of Radiation Oncology approached the Dean of the College of Medicine with the concept of a proton therapy and research center.

In 1999, a task force headed by Dr. Craig Tisher, then Associate Dean for Research, was appointed to investigate the feasibility of such a program. Over the next two years, subcommittees conducted extensive investigation into legal, public relations, marketing, financial, construction, and technical issues.

In January of 2003, UF launched its proton therapy initiative to the public, with plans detailing the construction of the Florida Proton Therapy Institute on the Shands Jacksonville campus.

The first patient was treated August 14, 2006.