DHR Health, University of Houston to open medical research, education center in the Rio Grande Valley

DHR Health is teaming up with the University of Houston to create a new medical research and education center in the Rio Grande Valley, backed by $15 million in state funding.

According to a news release from the hospital, the UH Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine and DHR Health Medical Research and Education Center will serve as a hub for clinical training, health education, and research focused on improving care in one of Texas’ most medically underserved regions.

“The University of Houston is committed to building a healthier Texas, and that means expanding our reach to communities where the need is greatest,” University of Houston President Renu Khator said. “Through this partnership with DHR Health, we are strengthening the state’s health workforce pipeline and ensuring the people of the Rio Grande Valley have greater access to the care and innovation they deserve.”

DHR Health will construct the new facility, which will house joint research initiatives and provide space for university faculty, students, and researchers to engage in clinical and translational research. 

The system already operates more than 70 facilities and serves over 600,000 patients annually across the Valley.

Susan Turley, president of DHR Health, called the collaboration a natural extension of the hospital system’s mission. 

“Partnering with the University of Houston allows us to accelerate that mission and bring new resources, research collaborations and training opportunities to the region,” she said.

The initiative builds on the university’s and DHR’s longstanding relationship, which began in 2017 with the launch of a satellite pharmacy program in the Valley.