Moffitt Cancer Center cheers construction milestones
LAND O’ LAKES – Moffitt Cancer Center celebrated progress April 22 at SPEROS FL, its 775-acre global research park in Pasco County.
About 300 people gathered to celebrate two key milestones: the topping out of the Moffitt Discovery & Innovation Center and the installation of the cyclotron that will power its proton therapy system.
The campus is projected to create more than 11,000 quality jobs over the next decade.
“The research center and proton therapy program are central to our vision for Speros, which will become a global destination for cancer breakthroughs and a place where world-class care and discovery are happening side by side in one place,” said Patrick Hwu, Moffitt president and CEO.
The highlight of the event was the installation of the cyclotron, a particle accelerator that traveled more than 4,600 miles from Belgium and will serve as the heart of the ProteusONE proton therapy system.
This technology offers precision in cancer treatment, reducing side effects and improving outcomes by targeting tumors with millimeter accuracy.
Moffitt broke ground on Speros in January 2023 and will welcome its first patient on opening day in January 2026.
County using sterile mosquitoes to prevent disease
PASCO COUNTY – The Pasco County Mosquito Control District is releasing sterilized male Aedes aegypti mosquitoes in selected areas of Pasco County.
The goal is to reduce populations of this invasive species known to spread serious diseases such as dengue, Zika, chikungunya, and yellow fever.
Officials describe this as an “environmentally safe and scientifically proven method.” This comes after the county saw a cluster of locally transmitted Dengue Fever cases last year.
“The Sterile Insect Technique is an exciting addition to our integrated mosquito management program,” said Adriane Rogers, executive director of the district. “It’s a non-genetically modified organism, non-toxic method that has been used for decades around the world to control agricultural and public health threats and now, for the first time in our district’s nearly 75-year history, we’re bringing it to Pasco County to explore its potential as an additional long-term public health tool.”
Report explores air quality
TAMPA – According to the American Lung Association’s “State of the Air” report, released April 23, Tampa Bay residents are being exposed to unhealthy levels of ozone smog.
The report grades exposure to unhealthy levels of ozone pollution, also known as “smog,” and particle pollution, also known as “soot,” over a three-year period (2021-2023).
Findings for the Tampa Bay metro area include:
Ground-level Ozone Pollution:
- Number of Unhealthy Days per Year: 1.3 days (1.3 days in 2024 report)
- National Ranking: 115th worst out of 228 (71st worst in 2024 report)
Short-Term Spikes in Particle Pollution:
- Number of Unhealthy Days Per Year: 0.3 days (0.3 days in 2024 report)
- National Ranking: 177th worst out of 223 (124th worst in 2024 report)
Year-Round Average Level of Particle Pollution:
- Grade: Passing grade, pollution levels below the federal standard (passing grade in 2024 report)
- National Ranking: 155th worst out of 204 (99th worst in 2024 report)
