South Texas Center of Excellence in Cancer Research

The South Texas Center of Excellence in Cancer Research (ST-CECR) is working to reduce health disparities among Hispanics in South Texas through advanced cancer-related research and studies in liver cancer, gall bladder cancer, stomach cancer and cervical cancer. With a health population of over 1.3 million people, we are building the leading center for cancer research in the RGV and will provide cutting-edge technologies, tools, and necessary scientific resources to support expert cancer research investigators of the Rio Grande Valley and South Texas region.

About

The South Texas Center of Excellence in Cancer Research (ST-CECR) was established in 2019 by UTRGV School of Medicine to address cancer-related health issues of Rio Grande Valley residents and establish a world-class facility for cancer research in the Valley. This institute is located in a state-of-the-art 80,000 square-foot Biomedical Research Building in McAllen, TX, and is equipped with core facilities and all other required infrastructure to support cancer research.

This facility will house new technologies (Flow Cytometry, CyTOF, Image Stream Flow, Droplet Digital PCR, molecular and microPET/CT imaging) to support flow cytometric analyses in cell suspension and tissues, cell sorting, analysis of tumor immune components, microbiome and probiotics, cancer health disparity, antibody drug conjugates production, antibody nanoparticle therapies, antibody radionuclides and cancer immunotherapy research.

This institute will also provide access to molecular and imaging facility and will provide world-class infrastructure for cancer research training to junior scientists, student researchers, fellows, medical students and residents. The ST-CECR supports several federal and state-funded projects that involve studies related to tumor immune components, tumor microenvironment, nanomedicine, antibody therapies, animal cancer models and cancer imaging.

Mission

Our mission is to address and provide innovative scientific discoveries, reduce cancer-related health disparities in the Rio Grande Valley, improve the quality of patient care and serve as the leader for cancer research in the RGV.

Impact

The ST-CECR will impact the RGV and South Texas region and will advance the understanding, detection, diagnosis, treatment, cure, and prevention of cancer, cancer health disparities, and cancer-associated co-morbidities.

The South Texas Center of Excellence in Cancer Research will:

• Develop a unique facility for research to improve cancer prevention, detection, diagnosis, and survivorship.

• Conduct and support cancer research and cancer health disparity research across the RGV, South Texas region and nation to expand scientific knowledge and help people live longer and healthier lives.

• Promote, initiate, integrate the innovative research on minority health and border health issues.

• Support education, training, and outreach in basic and clinical research programs related to cancer through scientific training, fellowship and career awards.

• Collaborate and coordinate with all sciences divisions at UTRGV to enhance cancer research efforts.

• Partner with City of McAllen, Edinburg, Pharr, private philanthropic organizations, and industry, federal agencies, and other institutions to participate in cancer research and training programs.