The future of brain science in Texas just got a major boost. The University of Texas System and UT San Antonio have officially unveiled the UT Health San Antonio Center for Brain Health, a $100 million, 103,000-square-foot facility in the South Texas Medical Center that brings patient care, therapy, diagnostics, and research under one roof at 4940 Charles Katz Dr.
Officially opening in December, the center will house the Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases and serve as a home base for the UT Health San Antonio Department of Neurology. It’s billed as the first facility of its kind in Texas, featuring the state’s most advanced MRI.
The powerful technology is capable of producing ultra-high-resolution brain images to diagnose and study Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, epilepsy, and other neurological conditions. Researchers will study brain diseases in unprecedented detail with dramatically higher resolution, particularly in deep or complex brain regions.
“The Center for Brain Health is a transformational facility bringing together clinical care, innovative research, and caregiver support to revolutionize how diseases of the brain are treated and understood,” said Taylor Eighmy, PhD, president of UT San Antonio, in a release. “We are profoundly grateful to the UT System for its vision, to our extraordinary faculty and staff for their dedication, and to our generous supporters whose belief in this mission has made it a reality.”
The new center integrates treatment for neurological conditions, offering multidisciplinary care from neurologists, therapists, and counselors in one centralized location. It includes 91 exam and treatment rooms, 12 infusion chairs, and specialty spaces for therapy, diagnostics, and wellness. Patients and families will also find areas for meditation, art, and music, along with lounges designed to offer a quiet space to rest.
“This is more than a building; it’s a new model for neurological care,” said Carlayne Jackson, MD, FAAN, chair of the Department of Neurology, in a statement. “Our patients need comprehensive assessments, imaging, neuropsychology testing, family services, and more. All of that will be available here in a single, coordinated location.”
The center’s opening coincides with statewide momentum in neuroscience research. Earlier this month, Texas voters approved Proposition 14, creating a 10-year, $3 billion Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas to fund ongoing brain health studies.
