El Paso is home to America’s newest 4-year medical school, only the second US med school to receive accreditation in the last quarter of a century. REDCo has identified significant opportunities for discovery, research, and development efforts in healthcare issues related to Hispanics, international borders, and the military. With an 82.1% Hispanic demographic and graduating more than 1,100 scientists and engineers each year from two local universities, our region has the potential to develop cures for a number of diseases that have shown to occur in higher prevalence in the Hispanic population, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and ophthalmologic disorders. This has particular relevance as the Hispanic demographic of the US is anticipated to increase 188% in the next 40 years. Basically, El Paso represents the face of the US in the future, and we have a notable advantage to pursue this type of research. Additionally, our location on the US-Mexico border creates an environment that fosters unique exposure to maladies that can be directly linked to our bi-national interface. Furthermore, the growth and transformation of Fort Bliss introduces unique health-related conditions to the region, particularly post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, and other disorders that could place our community in a leadership position for the development of prosthetics and advanced operative procedures. Finally, the presence of numerous disposable medical device manufacturers located in the bi-national regionhas resulted in an ample cluster of contract sterilization capabilities to include steam, ETO and irradiation.

 

Life Science Opportunities in the El Paso Region

Diverse opportunities exist within a broad range of biomedical sub-clusters, including the following:

• Device manufacturing: There are a number of devices being manufactured, in particular specialty areas such as cardio and general/plastic surgery. There are sterilization capabilities.
• R & D (Hispanic & Army populations): Research opportunities are available in the areas of infectious diseases,border health issues, mental/behavioral health issues, diabetes, heart disease, and certain cancers.
• Water technology: El Paso is home to the world's largest inland desalination facility.

 

El Paso Region's Value Proposition

• The region provides a large, trainable workforce for device manufacturing.
• More than 1,200 scientists and engineers graduate each year from UTEP and NMSU.
• A large concentration of contract ETO and radiation sterilization services exist in the region.
• Advent of 4-year Texas Tech medical school provides opportunities for companies to partner in developing devices, test protocols and cures for Hispanic, border, & Army health challenges. (Nationally, the Hispanic demographic is projected to grow by 179% over next 45 years. El Paso is greater than 80% Hispanic today).
• Operating costs compare favorably with most regions of the United States.

 

The El Paso Region's Hispanic Health Research Advantages

• Researchers can effectively study the effects of Genetics, Diet, Location, and Environment.
• El Paso offers broad diversity in "Cohorts of Acculturation"-A company can study populations that have been here from 10 days to 10 generations.
• El Paso is virtually an untapped market for clinical trials.
• The expanded Texas Tech Med School will conduct research with an emphasis on border and Hispanic Health issues (Type 2 diabetes & more).

 

A company can also collaborate with William Beaumont Army Medical Center in El Paso to conduct clinical trials, joint research, and more.