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Media alert
Thornton to discuss Midwest Proton Radiation Institute
Nov. 6, 2001Dr. Allan Thornton, who will serve as the first clinical director of the Midwest Proton Radiation Institute, will provide a progress report on the institute at an 11:30 a.m. luncheon Thursday at Indiana University's Cyclotron facility.
The Midwest Proton Radiation Institute will be one of only three such facilities nationwide. Dr. Thornton comes to the institute from Massachusetts General Hospital's Northeast Proton Therapy Center. Renovations are underway at the Cyclotron. The Midwest Proton Radiation Institute should be treating patients by 2003.
Proton radiation is used to treat several forms of cancer, including some pediatric cancers. It can be particularly effective in targeting tumors without damaging surrounding healthy tissue or organs. It is also used to treat macular degeneration, a common eye disease associated with aging.
A study by the Strategic Development Group predicts that the new facility would create 395 related jobs in the region over a five-year period. The report foresees an overall economic impact of nearly $40 million annually on the local economy once the institute is in full operation.
James Tinney, 812-855-8773, jltinney@indiana.edu or Kirk White, 812-855-0921, krwhite@indiana.edu