St. Jude leads the field in the application of intensified modulated radiation therapy, known as IMRT. The technique is effective at avoiding damage to adjacent tissues; however, IMRT can still deliver significant radiation doses to underlying tissues resulting in unavoidable side effects for some children. Proton therapy can be focused more precisely and intensely on specific areas of cancerous activity. Protons can also be energized for a desired degree of tumor penetration, thus sparing underlying tissues from radiation exposure.

UF Proton Therapy Institute is one of only six proton therapy centers in the United States. Since opening in August 2006, UF Proton Therapy Institute has treated 100 pediatric patients.


St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is internationally recognized for its pioneering work in finding cures and saving children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases. Founded by late entertainer Danny Thomas and based in Memphis, Tenn., St. Jude freely shares its discoveries with scientific and medical communities around the world. No family ever pays for treatments not covered by insurance, and families without insurance are never asked to pay. St. Jude is financially supported by ALSAC, its fundraising organization. For more information, please visit www.stjude.org.


University of Florida Proton Therapy Institute

University of Florida Proton Therapy Institute is a nonprofit 501(c) 3 organization dedicated to patient care, using radiation techniques that offer cancer patients the best chance of cure and the least chance of treatment-related side effects. Affiliated with the UF College of Medicine, the physician and physicist faculty are engaged in numerous clinical research protocols and technology development projects to determine the best roles and methods of delivery for proton therapy.

Nemours Children's Clinic Jacksonville

Nemours, one of the nation's leading pediatric health systems, is dedicated to achieving higher standards in children's health by offering a spectrum of clinical treatment, research, advocacy, and educational health and prevention services extending to all families in the communities it serves. For more information about Nemours, please visit www.nemours.org.

Wolfson Children's Hospital

Wolfson Children's Hospital is a not-for-profit 180-bed pediatric referral hospital serving children throughout Northeast Florida, Southeast Georgia, the U.S. and from around the world. One of only two children's hospitals in Florida to receive Magnet™ status for excellence in nursing care, Wolfson Children's patient- and family-centered environment is specially designed for the care of children. Wolfson's medical staff is comprised of dedicated physicians representing virtually all children's medical and surgical specialties and subspecialties through its partnerships with Nemours Children's Clinic, the University of Florida/Jacksonville and Mayo Clinic Florida.

More HCB News