An effort to build a comprehensive cancer treatment and care center in El Paso has taken a significant step forward with a vote by the Texas State Legislature approving $65 million for the project.
The Steve and Nancy Fox Cancer Center has been long in both the talking and planning stage and will go up on the El Paso campus of Texas Tech University.
In noting the passage of the $65 million, a Texas State Senator Cesar Blanco remarked that the center will “be the first of its kind in our region, delivering advanced, multidisciplinary cancer care, research, and patient support services tailored to the needs of our Borderplex.”
The project got off to a start three years ago when Steve Fox, chief executive officer of the El Paso-based Fox Auto Team, announced that he was donating $25 million for the construction of the facility.
Fox, who has survived both tongue and throat cancer, said he wanted to see the center located in El Paso after repeatedly driving to and from Houston for treatment at the MD Anderson Cancer Center.
University officials say the new center has the potential to transform cancer treatment in the Borderland, noting that many area residents diagnosed with cancer often are unable to get the attention and care they need.
The nearly 131,000-square-foot facility will specifically focus on research and clinical trials for patients who have had limited success with therapy, and will include an infusion clinic and both radiation and medical oncology clinics.
An imaging center, as part of the larger facility, will measure around 49,000 square feet.
The project has received support from a variety of sources, including a $5 million grant from the El Paso del Norte Health Foundation. Late last year the Texas Tech University Board of Regents voted to approve some $6.3 million to fund the design of the building.
June 2, 2025
By Garry Boulard
Rendering courtesy of Texas Tech University
