The Midwest Proton Radiotherapy Institute (MPRI) begins treating its first patient today, completing plans started ten years ago for the $40 million state-of-the-art facility. Located at the Indiana University Cyclotron Facility, the MPRI will use powerful, precise beam of protons to treat aggressive forms of cancer and other medical conditions.

MPRI held its dedication ceremony in December 2002. Since then the first of three treatment rooms has been equipped, staff hired and trained and the Food and Drug Administration approval for treating patients has been obtained. Now, MPRI’s first patient, a young Kansas woman with a benign but growing tumor, will begin receiving treatment today.

Ed Dickey, MPRI’s Clinical Director, said, “We are very excited to begin treating patients. It is gratifying to see all the hard work culminate in being able to fulfill our mission of providing affordable proton therapy treatment to patients.”

MPRI is owned by the Advanced Research and Technology Institute, the research and development arm of Indiana University. ARTI President Mark Long said it will provide an important medical service that’s unique in the central part of the United States, and it will contribute significantly to the economy of Bloomington and the region. “Basically, MPRI sets the standard in showing that the state of Indiana is a leader in health care,” he said.

MPRI is only the third cyclotron-based proton therapy center in the United States, with the others in Boston and Loma Linda, California. Dr. Allan Thornton, MPRI’s Medical Director, said, “Proton therapy programs are in the works in Texas, Florida and Pennsylvania, but are not expected to be up and running for three or four years. With our central U.S. location, we are well-situated to provide proton therapy for patients in the Midwest as well as patients from other parts of the country and the world.”

In addition to MPRI’s first patient, patients from Ohio, Missouri and Michigan will start treatment in the next few weeks. They are the first on the waiting list of about 60 prospective patients who have consulted with Dr.Thornton as the therapy center neared its opening date. Eventual plans are for the facility to treat 70 and 100 patients at a time and will operate two eight-hour shifts each day.

MPRI’s second treatment room is expected to open in January 2005, followed by the third room a year later. The facility currently has 14 employees. When fully operational, it will have 76 staff members.