The University of California (UC) Board of Regents has approved an advanced University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) cancer treatment centre.

The development plans include a new clinical- and life-sciences building incorporating an advanced proton-beam therapy centre.

UCSF’s facility will include research space, a life sciences incubator, and primary and speciality care clinics.

It is part of the Dogpatch Power Station development in southeast San Francisco.

The UCSF Clinical and Life Sciences Building will be situated four blocks south of UCSF’s Mission Bay Campus.

UCSF plans to enter a public-private partnership with property developer Associate Capital to bring the new building to life. It aims to create jobs and enhance access to UCSF Health clinical care in the growing area of the city.

Upon its inauguration, expected in 2029, the proton beam therapy centre will provide services to patients across Northern California.

Additionally, the building will include a life sciences incubator. This space will support scientific startups that benefit from being close to UCSF’s research campus.

UCSF Chancellor Sam Hawgood said: “This is an exciting project that will bring together renowned patient care and biomedical research, as well as graduate-level training and new biomedical companies to serve the region for years to come.

“It will also provide good jobs in the Dogpatch area, contributing to the economic vitality of this area of the city. We are pleased that the UC Regents saw the value in this project and its importance to San Francisco.”

The 130ft building, designed by Herzog & de Meuron with Stantec, will feature eight floors above ground and two below for the proton therapy centre.

The proton therapy centre will enhance UCSF Health’s cancer programme by providing precise radiation treatment of challenging cancers, including those of the brain, eye, lung, prostate, and spine.

This technology delivers concentrated doses that target cancer cells while minimising damage to surrounding tissues.

Additionally, the centre will function as a hub of excellence, focusing on advancing proton therapy through ongoing research.

The building will also feature an endoscopy suite, an infusion centre, and a pharmacy.

In March 2023, Thermo Fisher Scientific opened a new current good manufacturing practice (cGMP) cell therapy manufacturing facility next to the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) Medical Center’s Mission Bay campus.