Targeted Cancer Breakthrough
$1.031 Million Federal Grant Brings Advanced Cancer Technology to Fox Cancer Center
Award supports targeted, non-invasive cancer treatment and cancer research at Texas Tech Health El Paso
For many Borderplex cancer warriors, stories of grueling cross-state trips to Houston for treatment are common. Now, a federal grant will help Texas Tech Health El Paso care for patients closer to home while boosting research to reduce the disease’s disparate impact on the region.
U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar (TX-16) announced $1.031 million in federal funding to support the acquisition of a medical linear accelerator (LINAC), the key technology behind modern external-beam radiation therapy. This aims to strengthen the cancer research efforts that will be a foundation of the Fox Cancer Center, currently under construction on the Texas Tech Health El Paso campus.
The award was included in the first government funding package of 2026. Rep. Escobar publicly identified the LINAC funding as part of her priorities for El Paso.
“I am so proud that El Paso will soon have a cancer center where members of our community can access the care they need and not have to seek help elsewhere,” Escobar said while announcing the package. “It was my honor to bring $15 million in Community Project Funding back to El Paso, including $1.031 million for Texas Tech Health El Paso for the cancer center to acquire a LINAC. I am grateful to Texas Tech for their commitment to the health of everyone in our community and am grateful for their partnership.”
A cornerstone for radiation oncology — and a platform for research
A medical linear accelerator (LINAC) is the most commonly used device for delivering external-beam radiation therapy. It generates high-energy X-rays or electrons that clinicians shape and aim to destroy tumor cells while protecting nearby healthy tissue.
Texas Tech Health El Paso President Richard Lange, M.D., M.B.A., has emphasized that the region’s cancer-care gap is not just about buildings. It is also about specialized treatment capabilities, particularly radiation therapy delivered through LINAC systems.
Dr. Lange pointed to the urgent need to bring “state-of-the-art care, specifically radiation therapy,” to the region. He also described LINAC technology as central to doing that precisely and safely.
“Half the people in our neighborhood diagnosed with cancer will need radiation therapy,” said Dr. Lange. “This LINAC machine allows us to deliver very high-energy radiation to cancer tissue while protecting the healthy tissue around it.”
The federal funding will help Texas Tech Health El Paso accelerate planning and acquisition steps for LINAC equipment that supports both patient care and research. This includes clinical trials and studies on how different radiation doses affect the body.
Built for the Borderplex: Fox Cancer Center construction underway
The Fox Cancer Center is a multi-level, 350,000-square-foot facility focused on clinical care, research, and education, currently under construction at the north entrance of the Texas Tech Health El Paso campus. It is developed in partnership with University Medical Center of El Paso, the university’s main academic hospital partner. The project represents an estimated $342 million investment and aims to open in 2028.
With dedicated space for medical, surgical and radiation oncology, the Fox Cancer Center is designed to consolidate multidisciplinary cancer care under one roof. This will reduce delays, improve coordination, and expand access to advanced therapies and clinical trials closer to home.
Because radiation therapy often involves repeated visits over weeks, local LINAC capacity can reduce treatment disruptions and help more patients complete care without leaving the Borderplex.
For many cancer warriors, El Paso can feel like a medical desert. Families with the means often make the difficult choice to seek care elsewhere, while those without the same resources are left with fewer options.
Texas Tech Health El Paso credited Rep. Escobar’s ongoing advocacy during the federal appropriations process for her Community Project Funding requests. She was also recognized for helping prioritize the LINAC acquisition as part of the Fox Cancer Center’s radiation oncology mission.
“This isn't about just a machine,” said Dr. Lange. “It's really about saving lives and bringing resources to our community.”
About the Fox Cancer Center
The Fox Cancer Center is a comprehensive clinical, research and education project under construction on the Texas Tech Health El Paso campus in partnership with University Medical Center of El Paso. The center is designed to deliver integrated medical, surgical and radiation oncology services and expand clinical research programs for the Borderplex region, with a target opening year of 2028.
About Texas Tech Health El Paso
Texas Tech Health El Paso serves 108 counties in West Texas and is dedicated to preparing the next generation of health care heroes. Established as an independent university in 2013, Texas Tech Health El Paso is a uniquely innovative destination for medical, nursing, biomedical sciences and dental education.
Focusing on excellence in health care education, research, and clinical service, Texas Tech Health El Paso has graduated over 2,600 professionals over the past decade. For more information, visit ttuhscepimpact.org.