County Board Passes Resolution Supporting NIU Proton Treatment Center

WHEATON, IL — The DuPage County Board approved a resolution Tuesday in support of the proposed Northern Illinois Proton Treatment and Research Center to be built at the DuPage National Technology Park in West Chicago.  The Center would be established by a consortium of Northern Illinois University, the Northern Illinois Research Foundation and the Northern Illinois Proton Treatment and Research facility, LLC.

The Center would enhance the work done at the adjacent Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory in proton therapy for the treatment of cancer.   The therapy has proven highly effective for pediatric and adult tumors of the head, brain, neck and lung.   

“This therapy is only accessible in five states throughout the nation,” Chairman Schillerstrom stated.  “The DuPage Tech Park offers a premier location for this facility with its proximity to the national labs, superior healthcare network and its central location in the Midwest.  Because of our regional advantages, many more people will be able to travel here and receive this cutting-edge treatment. Beyond providing often life-saving treatment, the facility will also provide clinical training for healthcare professionals.”

The Northern Illinois consortium has submitted an application to the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board for permission to establish the facility.

“The proton therapy center will be a major resource for cancer patients in the Chicago area, Illinois and the Midwest,” said NIU President John Peters.  “The center will also establish the state as a worldwide leader in cancer treatment and research using particle accelerator technologies that were pioneered right here in Illinois.”

“We are proud to have NIU as our university partner in the Park and we are excited to site the Proton Treatment and Research facility as an anchor tenant.  The presence of an esteemed university and a state-of-the-art research center is why the Park was developed,” said Jack Tenison, Executive Director of the Technology Park.  “The location of this facility will attract other high technology and cutting edge healthcare tenants.  NIU will also partner with other allied health programs to offer advanced training and create a dynamic for the continued advancement of particle therapy.”   

When fully operational the Center will provide for up to 1500 patients with access to this treatment.  A short-term residential facility to house patients and their families while in treatment at the proton center is also planned by NIU for the future.

“The location of this prestigious facility will inaugurate Phase Two of our Tech Park and help us to fulfill our mission of transferring research and technology into the marketplace in order to improve the lives of our citizens,” Schillerstrom concluded.

Additional information on the Northern Illinois Proton Therapy Treatment and Research facility can be found at www.niu.edu/protontherapy/index.shtml and more information on proton therapy can be found at www.proton-therapy.org.

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