Elmhurst University will use $950,000 in federal funding to outfit its Health Sciences Building with advanced teaching and research equipment, including a life-size digital anatomy table.

U.S. Rep. Sean Casten visited campus Sept. 10 for a check presentation with university President Troy D. VanAken and other leaders, according to the university. Casten toured the Health Sciences Building and met with students and faculty before the ceremony.

Casten, who represents Illinois' 6th Congressional District, selected the project as one of his Community Project Funding sites for fiscal year 2026. Congress appropriated the money in the FY 2026 government funding package, his office said in a Sept. 9 press release. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) administers the grant.

Casten said securing resources for schools and universities across the 6th District is one of his top priorities in Congress. He called the funding "an investment in the students and families of the 6th Congressional District."

The money will pay for instructional, simulation and research equipment in the building at 190 S. Prospect Ave. Among the planned purchases is a 3-D Anatomage Table, a life-size digital system that lets students examine virtual human anatomy layer by layer. Faculty members identified the equipment needs for programs in nursing, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology and public health.

The four programs share the Health Sciences Building as their central hub. The building opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Oct. 3, 2025, and is certified LEED Gold.

VanAken said the university is grateful for Casten's work in securing the grant. He added that the new equipment "will give our future healthcare professionals the kind of invaluable educational experiences that will lead to better patient care."

Rep. Casten confirmed the visit in a Sept. 14 post on X, writing that he joined students, faculty and leadership to celebrate the funding.

No timeline has been announced for when the new equipment will be installed.