Advanced cancer treatment will be integrated within UNC Hospitals’ established oncology program — reducing travel, wait times, and burden for patients
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Feb. 17, 2026 – UNC Health today announced plans to bring proton therapy, one of the most precise forms of radiation treatment available, to patients in North Carolina’s Triangle region — expanding access to advanced cancer care closer to home.
For a child with a brain tumor, or an adult with cancer near the spine or heart, proton therapy offers a critical advantage: It delivers radiation directly to the tumor and then stops, sparing surrounding healthy tissue from unnecessary exposure. This precision can mean fewer side effects, faster recovery, and better long-term outcomes — especially for patients with complex or hard-to-reach cancers.
UNC Health is incorporating proton therapy into its established radiation oncology program at UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill. Rather than building a standalone center, this approach allows patients to receive advanced treatment within a care environment they already know — with the same physicians, support teams, and coordinated services. It will enable cancer patients to receive the novel technology without traveling out of state.
“This is about advancing care responsibly,” said Robert L. Ferris, MD, PhD, Chief of Oncology Clinical Services for UNC Health. “We are expanding access to innovative treatment in a way that is sustainable, patient-centered, and aligned with our mission to serve North Carolinians.”
What This Means for Patients
- More precise treatment: Proton therapy is designed to focus radiation on the tumor and then stop, helping limit exposure to nearby healthy tissue. Proton therapy kills the tumor while avoiding damage to normal tissues, more effectively than traditional radiation.
- Care closer to home: Patients in the Triangle region will no longer need to travel long distances or out of state to access proton therapy. The new system will be installed at UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill.
- A more human experience: The technology will support flexible treatment options, including upright positioning, which may enhance comfort and allow for more personal interaction between patients and care teams.
By embedding proton therapy within its existing oncology services, UNC Health aims to streamline care delivery and reduce the hidden burdens of cancer treatment — such as travel time, lodging costs, time away from work, and disruption to family life.
“For patients and families facing cancer, access matters — access to the right care, at the right time, without unnecessary burden,” said Jean Wright, MD, chair of the UNC Department of Radiation Oncology. “By offering innovative proton therapy here in the Triangle, we’re bringing highly advanced treatment closer to home and integrating it into the care environment patients already know and trust.”
The new proton therapy capability will be available to both adult and pediatric patients and represents the first availability of this type of advanced radiation therapy in the Triangle region.
UNC Health expects to begin treating patients in approximately two years.
UNC Health will implement the MEVION S250-FIT Proton Therapy System, a compact design that enables integration within existing facilities. Mevion is the only U.S. manufacturer of proton therapy systems, designing and building its technology domestically.
As an academic medical center, UNC Health will also explore how proton therapy can advance cancer research and expand treatment options for patients with complex cases.
About UNC Health
UNC Health is a state entity and an affiliated enterprise of the University of North Carolina system, comprised of 20 hospitals and more than 900 clinics along with the clinical patient care programs of the UNC School of Medicine.
UNC Health exists to improve the health and well-being of North Carolinians and others we serve and to further the teaching and research mission of the UNC School of Medicine. UNC Health provided more than $800 million in Uncompensated Charity Care during the past five years. Our hospitals have received numerous awards and recognition for quality care, patient safety, and the overall patient experience. For more information, please visit unchealth.org.