👤 Who: Governor Ron DeSantis, First Lady Casey DeSantis, Mayo Clinic CEO Dr. Kent Thielen
🧬 What: Launch of the first carbon ion therapy program in the Western Hemisphere
📅 When: Proton therapy in 2027, carbon ion therapy in 2028
📍 Where: Mayo Clinic Jacksonville’s Duan Family Building
🎯 Why: To provide advanced treatment for aggressive and hard-to-treat cancers while strengthening Florida’s role in medical innovation
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Mayo Clinic Jacksonville is set to make medical history after Governor Ron DeSantis and First Lady Casey DeSantis announced the launch of the first carbon ion therapy program in the United States — and the only one in the Western Hemisphere.
The announcement was made alongside Mayo Clinic President and CEO Dr. Kent Thielen, highlighting Florida’s growing role as a national leader in advanced cancer treatment and research.
Carbon ion therapy is one of the most advanced radiation technologies available worldwide, offering new hope to patients battling aggressive and treatment-resistant cancers. Until now, the treatment has only been accessible at select facilities in Europe and Asia.
The new program will be housed inside Mayo Clinic’s recently opened Duan Family Building, a 228,000-square-foot cancer treatment and research facility that began operations in June 2025. The center is uniquely designed to provide both proton therapy and carbon ion therapy, allowing doctors to treat the same tumor using multiple advanced techniques for greater precision.
Proton therapy services are expected to begin in 2027, with carbon ion therapy projected to launch in 2028. In the meantime, patients will benefit from expanded oncology services already offered at the facility, including photon therapy, immunotherapy, CAR-T cell therapy, advanced imaging, and specialized cancer care.
Governor DeSantis said the project reflects the state’s long-term investment in cancer research and innovation. Since 2019, Florida has invested more than $1 billion into cancer programs, increasing funding by more than 114 percent. In 2025 alone, nearly $218 million was committed toward cancer research.
First Lady Casey DeSantis credited the Casey DeSantis Cancer Research Program as a key contributor to making the groundbreaking project possible, emphasizing the statewide impact of Florida’s medical innovation efforts.
State leaders say the new therapy program not only strengthens Florida’s healthcare infrastructure but also positions Jacksonville as a global destination for cutting-edge cancer treatment.
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