Moffitt Cancer Center Celebrates Opening of Proton Therapy Center at Speros

For more information, contact:  
Ashley Moore
850-525-7342
Ashley.Moore@moffitt.org
 
Moffitt Cancer Center Celebrates Opening of Proton Therapy Center at Speros
 
TAMPA, Fla. – Moffitt Cancer Center recently celebrated the grand opening of the Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation Proton Center at Moffitt's Speros Outpatient Center with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. 

The opening marks a major milestone for cancer care in the Tampa Bay area, bringing the region its first and most advanced proton therapy center at Speros, a 775-acre global research and development campus in Pasco County. 

“This marks the beginning of a new era of cancer care, one where more patients have access to one of the most advanced and precise forms of radiation therapy available, right here in our community,” said Moffitt President and CEO Patrick Hwu, MD. 

The ceremony featured remarks from Hwu, Speros President and Chief Integration Officer Josh Carpenter, DPhil, Moffitt Radiation Oncology Chair Kosj Yamoah, MD, PhD, and IBA Chief Market Officer Luk Herremans. 

Moffitt and IBA, the world leader in particle accelerator technology, partnered to bring proton therapy to Speros and are both celebrating their 40th anniversaries this year. 

“With its ability to precisely target tumors while sparing healthy tissue, this treatment will improve outcomes and quality of life for many patients,” Yamoah said. 

The center was made possible through a transformative $15 million gift from Best Buy founder Dick Schulze and the Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation. 

Impact on Patients 
The Proteus®ONE proton therapy system delivers high-dose radiation with submillimeter accuracy. The system’s rotating gantry allows clinicians to treat tumors from multiple angles, helping protect healthy tissue, reduce side effects and provide a more comfortable treatment experience. 

Proton therapy offers another treatment option for patients with certain complex cancers. It does not replace conventional radiation therapy but expands the tools available to personalize care by matching each patient with the appropriate technology at the right time. 

Moffitt patient Alexander Shaffer will be the first patient to be treated at the proton therapy center. He and his mother Cindy Shaffer visited the proton therapy center treatment center just days before its grand opening. 

Hub for Cancer Care, Discovery 
Researchers at Speros will also explore how proton therapy could be combined with immunotherapy to help the immune system better recognize and fight cancer. This research could accelerate discoveries that benefit patients for generations to come. 

“The proton center embodies exactly what Speros was designed to do: Bring discovery, development and patient care together in one connected ecosystem,” Carpenter said. “It combines advanced proton therapy with multidisciplinary cancer care while creating new opportunities for research that will shape the future of oncology.” 

State and local officials and philanthropic partners also attended the ceremony, which was followed by tours of the outpatient and proton therapy spaces. The event highlighted Speros’ growing role as a hub for cancer care, biotechnology and scientific discovery in Florida. 

Just the Beginning 
The ribbon-cutting comes as Moffitt prepares to celebrate the opening of the Moffitt Discovery & Innovation Center this fall. There, researchers, physician-scientists and industry partners will work together to advance breakthroughs in radiopharmaceuticals, immunotherapy, cancer engineering, drug discovery and other emerging technologies. 

Together, these initiatives position Speros as a model for modern cancer innovation, a place where discovery moves at the speed of collaboration and patients remain at the center of every advancement. 

 About Speros
Speros is a 775-acre campus in Pasco County, Florida, designed to accelerate cancer prevention and treatment through strategic industry partnerships and by forging collaborative space for scientific research and clinical care. Anchored by Moffitt Cancer Center, Speros imagines a new frontier for research and development with a mission-driven real estate venture where groundbreaking discoveries become lifesaving treatments. For more information, visit Speros.org or follow Speros on LinkedIn and X.

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 58 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 (1-844-453-0589), visit Moffitt.org, and follow the momentum on Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube.