Hampton University Proton Therapy Institute

The Hampton University Proton Therapy Institute (HUPTI), established in 2010, has successfully helped fight the cancers of thousands of patients from across the globe. Located in Hampton, Virginia, HUPTI is the country’s largest standalone proton treatment center and at its inception, was the eighth such center in the United States.

Proton therapy is universally accepted as a viable and effective method to treat many forms of cancer—one of the top killers in Virginia. It is a noninvasive option that precisely targets the tumor, sparing healthy tissue. With five treatment rooms at HUPTI, patients receive outpatient treatment in about 30 minutes, which means no hospital stays, allowing them to maintain their current lifestyle. The center treats several types of cancer, including breast, lung, prostate, head & neck, ocular, brain & spine, gastrointestinal and pediatric tumors.

In recent years, HUPTI has installed multimillion-dollar equipment and machinery for research and treatment.  In 2023, HUPTI announced it began a unique partnership with Leo Cancer Care to help advance research into Proton Arc Therapy. The partnership will see HUPTI engage Leo Cancer Care to repurpose an existing fixed-beam proton therapy treatment room and install its advanced upright patient positioning system and CT scanner, with treatments expected to begin in 2026.