UT System Board of Regents Approves $145M Funding for UT Health RGV Cancer and Surgery Center

Updated: September 10, 2022

Rendering of UT Health RGV Cancer and Surgery Center. (UTRGV Photo)

By News and Internal Communications

EDINBURG, TEXAS – AUG. 29, 2022 –The University of Texas System Board of Regents has approved more than $145 million in funding for the new UT Health RGV Cancer and Surgery Center that will provide imperative healthcare services to the Rio Grande Valley.

The approved funding – $145,723,401 – will come from the Permanent University Fund (PUF), Tuition Revenue Bond (TRB), and other funding and gifts, including a recent $1 million donation from the City of McAllen toward this project.

“This crucial funding will help address an underserved healthcare need in our region and provide unprecedented education and research opportunities for our physicians and students,” said UTRGV President Guy Bailey. “I’d like to thank the UT System Board of Regents for believing in our goal of serving as a major catalyst for healthcare and well-being in the Valley. This center truly will be a gamechanger for our region.”

The center will allow for the provision of comprehensive cancer and surgical services that are on the leading edge of medicine, by serving as an incubator to train the physicians and scientist leaders of the future.

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, a world leader in cancer care and research, is providing oncology advisory services to the Cancer and Surgery Center, to develop and launch the program.

In addition, development plans were approved for the three-story center that will be located on the UTRGV McAllen Academic Medical Campus, on the south side of Pecan Boulevard between Jackson and McColl roads, within the 495 Commerce Center development.

“I would like to congratulate UTRGV President Bailey for his leadership in helping to make a cancer research center in the Valley a reality,” McAllen Mayor Javier Villalobos said. “The City of McAllen is proud to make this donation for development of this cancer research center.”

The 144,231-square-foot Cancer and Surgery Center will include:
A radiation oncology clinic.
Medical oncology clinic.
Diagnostic imaging suite.
Rehabilitation therapy.
Ambulatory surgery center.
Orthopedics center.

“This is tremendous news for us, as it will serve the student and patient care needs in the region by providing first-class multidisciplinary education, research and clinical services,” said Dr. Michael Hocker, dean of the UTRGV School of Medicine.

“We are looking forward to providing opportunities to expand cancer research and healthcare in the Valley, as our area has a higher rate of many cancers, with the majority in advanced stages at initial detection.”

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