Penn Medicine is building its fourth proton therapy center and has taken a major step toward opening the facility.
A 55-ton particle accelerator was delivered to the Roberts Proton Therapy Center at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center in University City this week.
Known as a “cyclotron,” the equipment powers proton therapy treatment by providing a high-energy radiation beam to precisely target and kill cancer cells, while minimizing radiation exposure to nearby healthy tissues.
Doctors said that proton therapy is particularly well-suited for treating certain cancer types in adults and for treating cancer in children.
A partnership with the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia will help support pediatric patients receiving care at the center.
Penn broke ground of the $224 million Roberts Proton Therapy Center back in 2025 and is expected to open the doors in late 2027.