Cancer center best placed in university

As a physician who acknowledges the potential value of proton therapy to cancer patients, I offer my medical opinion that any proton therapy cancer treatment center built in Illinois is best situated in a university setting as are all the other five centers in the country.

Now that the Health Facilities Planning Board has approved the Northern Illinois University Proton center, I hope they will allow time for the establishment of a proper research facility and development of treatment protocols before authorizing similar facilities. NIU offers the best opportunity to advance the science of proton therapy. I believe it is best to partner these types of facilities with educational institutions like NIU who are well acquainted with the sophisticated technologies involved in proton therapy.

There are also a number of important reasons why proton centers need to be research-oriented with a focus on advancing the technology. This type of treatment is really in its infant stages when compared to traditional methods for treating cancer.

For example, protons have yet to be tested against X-rays in multi-institutional trials. Such trials should be initiated as quickly as possible and done in the context of academic research. Such clinical trials and research are best suited for a state university setting. It is vital to remain focused on the research side of this technology and that is best accomplished in a clinical environment offered by a university such as NIU.

NIU has a longstanding affiliation and ongoing partnership with Fermilab in the area of applied accelerator physics and neutron therapy. It is important for any future facilities to have these types of relationships to support extensive research and monitoring.

I commend the Health Facilities Planning Board for approving NIU's request to provide this exciting new treatment modality to the people of northern Illinois.

Richard Jorgensen

Wheaton