The University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio is broke ground in December on a new $20-million research facility in Edinburg, one of three new facilities being constructed as part of the Lower Rio Grande Valley Regional Academic Health Center (RAHC). Sited on 12 acres adjacent to the University of Texas Pan American campus, the Edinburg facility will house RAHC's medical research division. The two-story, 46,700-sf facility will focus on basic research in infectious and emerging diseases affecting the Texas/Mexico border population. It will also house an extension of the University of Texas-Austin College of Pharmacy, targeting students pursuing a doctorate in pharmacology. The building's first floor will house office space and some research labs, with the majority of labs on the second floor. A large-animal research facility will also be included in the project; there are currently no other large-animal research facilities in the Rio Grande Valley. Construction is slated to begin fall 2002 and reach completion in 16 to 18 months.
