Proton Treatment and Research Center

What Proton Treatment and Research Center does

Proton Treatment and Research Center, officially the James M. Slater, MD Proton Treatment and Research Center, is a hospital-based proton radiation therapy facility operated by Loma Linda University Health (LLUH), a non-profit Seventh-day Adventist healthcare system. Founded in 1990 by Dr. James M. Slater, it was the world's first hospital-based proton treatment center and remains the only one in the United States until 2003. The center treats cancer and other conditions with proton beams using a variable-energy synchrotron built by physicists and engineers at the U.S. Department of Energy's Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, complemented by proprietary robotic patient positioning hardware achieving 1mm precision and active beam scanning technology.

The center's product portfolio spans proton therapy for prostate (14,000+ treated), breast, lung, and pediatric cancers, plus a long tail of other malignancies and benign conditions including acoustic neuromas, AVMs, and uveal melanomas. Supporting services include diagnostic screening, insurance coordination with 250+ payors including Medicare and Medicaid, and health and wellness programs. The facility operates four to five treatment rooms with 35-foot diameter gantries at its Loma Linda, CA headquarters, plus a satellite at LLUMC Murrieta, and has treated 23,000+ patients and delivered 600K+ treatments since opening.

The business model is a professional services, fee-for-treatment model reimbursed by insurance on a case-by-case basis, supplemented by charitable giving and research grants typical of an academic non-profit. Go-to-market is sales-led through physician referrals (urologists, oncologists) and direct patient outreach via a 1-800-PROTONS line, website request forms, and an extensive YouTube testimonial library. International patient acquisition from Switzerland, Australia, Canada, and the Netherlands is a deliberate growth channel. Leadership is anchored by Dr. Jerry D. Slater as Chairman, continuing the founder's legacy, supported by a multi-specialty radiation medicine faculty.

Name

Proton Treatment and Research Center

Legal name

Loma Linda University Health

Website

https://protons.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The James M. Slater, MD Proton Treatment and Research Center, founded in 1990 at Loma Linda University Health, is the world's first hospital-based proton therapy facility, treating cancer and other conditions in 23,000+ patients using a proprietary Fermilab-built synchrotron and robotic 1mm-precision positioning.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Proton Radiation Therapy Services

NAICS

Specialty (except Psychiatric and Substance Abuse) Hospitals (622310)

SIC

Services-Specialty Outpatient Facilities, Nec (8093), Services-Offices & Clinics Of Doctors Of Medicine (8011)

akta.pro primary industry

Radiation Oncology (HLAKAFAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Ambulatory Oncology Centers (Outpatient Chemo/Radiation) (HLAFABAI), Hospital-Integrated Cancer Centers (Acute Oncology Programs) (HLAFAAAM), Oncology & Cancer Specialty Hospitals (HLAFAHAC)

Keywords

• Proton radiation therapy
• Cancer treatment services
• Radiation oncology
• Hospital-based healthcare
• Pediatric proton therapy

Headquarters

HQ city

Loma Linda

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Patient Treatment Services: The center generates revenue through providing proton radiation therapy treatment services to patients. Revenue is collected through insurance reimbursement from private insurers, Medicare, and Medicaid, as well as direct patient payments for co-pays and uncovered services. Loma Linda University Medical Center is one of only three hospital-based, non-profit proton centers in the United States that CMS reimburses.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Proton Treatment and Research Center operates the world's first hospital-based proton treatment center, delivering proton radiation therapy for cancer, tumors, and other conditions. Services are provided through a variable-energy proton synchrotron with four treatment rooms and robotic precision patient positioning. The center treats prostate, breast, lung, pediatric, and various other cancers and benign conditions on an outpatient basis.

Product overview

Proton Treatment and Research Center (also known as James M. Slater, MD Proton Treatment and Research Center) is a hospital-based proton therapy treatment center operated by Loma Linda University Medical Center. The center offers proton radiation therapy as its core product—a precise, non-invasive cancer treatment that uses proton beams to target tumors while minimizing damage to healthy tissue. The portfolio includes specialized treatment programs for prostate cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer, and pediatric conditions, along with treatment for various other cancers and benign conditions including acoustic neuromas, chordomas, meningiomas, AVMs, and uveal melanomas. Supporting services include diagnostic screening services, health and wellness programs with fitness facilities and nutritional counseling, and insurance coordination. Founded in 1990, it is the world's first hospital-based proton treatment center and has treated over 17,500 patients.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Proton Therapy Advanced radiation therapy using proton beams to target and destroy cancerous cells with precision, minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue. Painless, non-invasive treatment that allows patients to maintain quality of life.
• Prostate Cancer Treatment

Quantifiable outcome

• 23,000+ patients treated since 1990
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe LLUMC Proton Treatment Center partnered with NASA, using protons to study the effects of space flight in cell cultures, experimental animals, and human beings. This translational research applies proton beam technology to understand radiation effects relevant to space exploration.
• U.S. Department of Energy - Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Fermilab)coreTechnology or IntegrationBuilt by Fermilab physicists and engineers, LLUMC's accelerator is the world's smallest variable-energy proton synchrotron. This collaboration established the technical foundation for modern clinical proton therapy.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Emory Proton Therapy Center: Hospital-based proton therapy at Emory/Winship Cancer Institute offering similar multi-indication treatment within an academic medical center environment.
• Northwestern Medicine Proton Center: Hospital-based proton therapy program in Chicago operating within a large academic medical system; comparable patient mix and clinical trial infrastructure.
• Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital / Washington University Proton Therapy: Academic medical center proton therapy program at Siteman Cancer Center; similar hospital-based, research-integrated delivery model and indication mix.
• University of Florida Health Proton Therapy Institute: Academic medical center proton therapy program with a strong pediatric and adult caseload; comparable outpatient oncology delivery and research integration within a university health system.
• Seattle Cancer Care Alliance Proton Therapy: Hospital-affiliated proton therapy program serving the Pacific Northwest through an academic cancer alliance model similar in referral dynamics and patient mix to Loma Linda.
• MD Anderson Proton Therapy Center: Hospital-based proton therapy center at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston—one of the largest academic proton programs in the U.S. with a multi-indication portfolio and research depth comparable to Loma Linda's pioneering model.
• Massachusetts General Hospital Francis H. Burr Proton Therapy Center: Hospital-based proton therapy program at Mass General/Harvard with a similarly long operating history and academic medical center structure; directly comparable clinical and referral model.

Broad incumbents

• IBA (Ion Beam Applications): Global leader in proton therapy systems and a key infrastructure provider to hospital-based proton centers including Loma Linda's peers; comparable industry exposure but operates as an equipment vendor rather than a treatment provider.
• Mayo Clinic Proton Beam Therapy Program: Operates proton therapy across multiple Mayo campuses as part of a much broader oncology service line; comparable technology and patient mix, but embedded in a larger multi-specialty system rather than a proton-focused center.

Emerging players

• Provision CARES Proton Therapy Center: Independent proton therapy center in Knoxville, TN; comparable technology and patient mix but operating outside a large academic medical center, making it a partial rather than direct peer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@ LomaLindaUniversityMedical
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/loma-linda-university-medical-center
• Facebookfacebook.com/LomaLindaUniversityHealth

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Proton Treatment and Research Center