Maryville, Tenn. — ProNova Solutions, manufacturer of next-generation proton therapy systems, today celebrated the grand opening of its headquarters.
The 55,000-square-foot LEED certified building, located in Pellissippi Place research and development park, houses the company’s administrative offices, a research and development facility and plant space for manufacture and assembly of the systems. Proton therapy is an alternative to conventional radiation treatment that precisely targets tumors while sparing healthy surrounding tissues and organs.
“We are thrilled to be in our new space and working quickly toward our goal of making the best proton therapy machines in the world,” said Joe Matteo, division president of ProNova Solutions. “Our business promises not only to make proton therapy more available to cancer patients but also to aid the local economy by creating high-paying, skilled jobs and supporting other local businesses as part of our production supply chain.”
ProNova Solutions is developing, building and testing smaller, lower-cost, more technologically advanced systems, including the superconducting gantry that directs the proton beam to its tumor target. Thanks to this innovative and proprietary technology, the equipment is half the size and one-tenth the weight of technology currently on the market, making them much easier to transport and install. The systems also cost significantly less than competing systems and include the latest in treatment delivery and imaging technology. These improvements will allow proton therapy to become more accessible worldwide and support increasing demand for treatment centers. The company’s first unit is currently being tested at Provision Center for Proton Therapy, ProNova’s sister company located in Knoxville.
Superconducting magnets used in the proton accelerator and gantry systems will be produced in ProNova’s Pellissippi Place facility, where the gantries also will be assembled. Many of the components for the systems will be manufactured locally. Suppliers include Machined Products and ARMEC in Karns, Cryomagnetics and Oak Ridge Tool in Oak Ridge, Axis Fabrication in Rockford, Orion Composites and Bertelkamp Automation and Mesa Associates in Knoxville.
Attending the grand opening event were company representatives, local officials and ice skating gold medalist Scott Hamilton, president of the Scott Hamilton CARES Foundation and Provision(ProNova’s parent company) board member. State approval was just received for the development of the Scott Hamilton Proton Therapy Center in Franklin, Tennessee.
“It’s always exciting to see someone’s vision and plans come to fruition. On behalf of the Blount Partnership, Blount County, Knox County, Innovation Valley and everyone else involved in moving this project forward, I congratulate ProNova on its grand opening and am looking forward to a bright and productive future,” said Bryan Daniels, Blount Partnership president/CEO.
About ProNova Solutions, LLC
ProNova is committed to making proton therapy accessible to a greater number of patients and physicians worldwide. Founded by the leaders of CTI Molecular Imaging, ProNova’s team brought positron emission tomography (PET) technology out of the laboratory and made it a clinical reality for millions of cancer patients. Our team’s early work revolutionized cancer diagnostics and helped to develop an industry with over 350 cyclotrons, more than 3,000 PET & PET/CT systems and 160 PET radiopharmaceutical distribution centers installed around the world today. The same team will redefine cancer treatment once again with the introduction of the SC360 proton therapy system.