Unprecedented Partnership Brings Advanced Cancer Treatment to Connecticut
October 24, 2024– Hartford HealthCare and Yale New Haven Health today broke ground on a facility that will offer the most advanced form of radiation treatment for cancer patients in Connecticut. The Connecticut Proton Center will deliver proton beam therapy at a leading-edge facility being built at 932 Northrop Road, Wallingford, representing a significant milestone in cancer care. Using highly targeted radiological proton therapy rather than X-rays to treat cancer, this therapy is currently only available at a handful of facilities in the Northeast. The 25,000-square-foot center will be the first in Connecticut.
Connecticut Proton is a collaborative effort between two of the state’s leading health systems, Hartford HealthCare and Yale New Haven Health, with Proton International, a global leader in proton therapy, providing expertise in facility development and operations. “We are thrilled to break ground on this innovative center that will give our patients access to the most precise and effective cancer treatment available today,” said Christopher O’Connor, CEO of Yale New Haven Health. “Our unprecedented collaboration with HHC will allow us to care for patients with cancer in a new and effective way by bringing a life-changing therapy to our state. We are grateful the state recognized the value of this technology to residents of Connecticut and the importance of this unique collaboration. Jeffrey Flaks, president, and CEO of Hartford HealthCare, emphasized the impact the center will have on cancer care locally. “This is a historic moment for cancer care in Connecticut. We are thankful for the state’s support of this innovative partnership with Yale New Haven Health,” he said. “Together, we are transforming healthcare. Connecticut Proton will not only provide our patients and our communities access to proton therapy – one of the most clinically advanced radiation treatments in the world – but it will make Connecticut a world-class destination hub for cancer care. This will undoubtedly be a game-changer in the lives of cancer patients.”
Watch the press conference here.
Watch the ground-breaking video here.
What is proton therapy?
Proton therapy is a type of radiation therapy that uses a high energy beam of protons to irradiate cancer. The chief advantage of proton therapy is the provider’s ability to finely control the dose. With a proton beam, there is less radiation going elsewhere and providers can safely deliver higher doses of it directly to tumors. This also means fewer side effects and improved outcomes from the treatment.
Proton therapy is appropriate for many solid cancer tumors, including those of the brain and central nervous system, eye, gastrointestinal tract, head and neck, liver, lung, prostate, spine, and breast. It is particularly beneficial for children who are more vulnerable to radiation damage to healthy tissue and cancers that are difficult to target with traditional radiation therapy.
What the center will offer
Construction of the Connecticut Proton Center is expected to be completed by mid-2026, with the first patients receiving treatment in December 2026. This facility is poised to serve not only Connecticut residents but also patients from neighboring states, ensuring them access to the most advanced cancer care in the region.
Chris Chandler, CEO of Proton International, highlighted the significance of the new facility in expanding access to proton therapy.
“We are thrilled to break ground and move closer to offering a new tool in the fight against cancer, providing patients with access to a state-of-the-art treatment that has the potential to significantly improve their quality of life during and after treatment. Proton International is committed to ensuring that this center will provide world-class care to patients from across the region,” he said.
The facility will include a treatment room, control room, exam rooms and other clinical space. It will be run by physicians and clinical colleagues from YNHHS and HHC. Proton International is the project manager and operator of the new proton facility. The company’s role will be to assist with technology selection, financing, and construction, as well as management and operation of the facility.