Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and First Lady Casey DeSantis have announced the launch of the nation’s first carbon ion therapy program to treat cancer, marking a significant advancement in oncology.
The initiative, set to debut at Mayo Clinic Jacksonville, will be the only carbon ion therapy program in the Western Hemisphere. The announcement was made during a press conference attended by Mayo Clinic President and CEO Dr. Kent Thielen.
Casey DeSantis, a cancer survivor, highlighted the program’s potential to provide hope for patients with treatment-resistant cancers. “Have courage and stay strong because you can beat it,” she said. “Look at what the state of Florida is doing to help provide options that are nowhere else in the Western Hemisphere, but right here at the Mayo Clinic and right here in Florida.”
The program represents a $30 million investment from the state, part of broader efforts to bolster cancer research and treatment. Governor DeSantis noted that Florida has increased funding for such initiatives by more than 114 percent during his administration, with over $100 million allocated specifically to Mayo Clinic.
“This state-of-the-art technology was made possible, in part, through the Casey DeSantis Cancer Research Program,” said the First Lady. “Under the Governor’s leadership, Florida continues to lead in innovation, and today at Mayo Clinic Jacksonville, we are proving that this leadership extends beyond our state.”
The first patients are expected to begin treatment in early 2027.