How Nevada RESEP at University of Nevada Las Vegas Delivers Cancer Exposure Assistance to Downwinders
Between 1951 and 1992, the United States conducted 928 nuclear tests at the Nevada Test Site, now known as the Nevada National Security Site. Of those, 100 were atmospheric tests that released radioactive fallout into the air, where wind currents carried it across communities in Nevada, Utah, and Arizona. The people who lived in the path of that fallout—commonly known as downwinders—continue to face elevated risks of radiation-linked cancers and other serious health conditions decades after the testing ended.
To address this ongoing public health challenge, the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at the University of Nevada Las Vegas operates the Nevada Radiation Exposure Screening and Education Program, better known as Nevada RESEP. This initiative provides free cancer exposure assistance to affected individuals and their families, including physician exams, preventive screening tests, educational resources, and direct help filing federal compensation claims. If you or a family member lived in a designated downwind area and later developed cancer, contact Nevada RESEP today to schedule a free, confidential screening—no insurance or payment is required.
The Nuclear Testing Legacy Behind the Downwinder Label
Understanding why programs like Nevada RESEP exist requires looking back at the history of nuclear weapons development in the USA. From 1951 to 1992, the federal government carried out 928 nuclear tests at the Nevada Test Site. While 828 of these tests occurred underground, the 100 atmospheric tests detonated above ground sent radioactive particles billowing into the atmosphere. Prevailing winds carried that fallout across broad swaths of the Southwest, settling onto farmland, townships, and water supplies throughout Nevada, Utah, and Arizona.
Exposure was not limited to simply being near a test site. As Dr. Laura Shaw, professor in the department of family and community medicine and principal investigator of Nevada RESEP, explains, many downwinders experienced internal exposure by breathing or swallowing radioactive fallout particles. Radiation energetic enough to damage DNA can interfere with the genetic instructions that control how cells grow and repair themselves, raising cancer risk in ways that may take many years—often decades—to appear.
Perhaps most striking is the fact that many individuals seeking help today were children when the testing occurred. They had no voice in the exposure and no way to protect themselves, yet they continue to live with the consequences. This reality is precisely why dedicated cancer exposure assistance programs remain essential: the exposure cannot be undone, but early detection and proper support can change health outcomes for affected families.
What Nevada RESEP Offers: Free Services for Affected Communities
Currently housed within the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV, Nevada RESEP was designed to remove every possible barrier between downwinders and the care they deserve. All services are provided at no cost to eligible individuals. Here is a closer look at what the program delivers.
Comprehensive Medical Screenings and Physical Exams
Eligible participants receive a complete physical examination from a physician, along with a battery of screening tests that include blood work, a urine dip test, a chest X-ray, and a fecal occult blood test. These screenings are selected specifically to detect cancers and other conditions associated with radiation exposure at earlier, more treatable stages. Participants also receive a written summary and a copy of their exam results, making it easier to coordinate care with their personal physicians.
Education and Referral Services
Beyond diagnostics, Nevada RESEP serves as an educational hub. Staff provide clear, accessible materials about routine cancer screenings and other preventive health measures tailored to radiation-exposed populations. When participants need specialized care, the program connects them with appropriate referral services, ensuring no one navigates the healthcare system alone.
Schedule your free physical exam and screening tests through Nevada RESEP as soon as possible—early detection remains one of the most powerful tools available to downwinders, and appointments cost nothing.
The Radiation Exposure Compensation Act: What Families Need to Know
One of the most valuable forms of cancer exposure assistance available to downwinders comes through the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act, or RECA. Enacted in 1990, this federal law provides a one-time payment of $100,000 to people who developed certain cancers and diseases after radiation exposure linked to U.S. nuclear weapons testing and uranium industry work.
RECA covers several distinct groups:
- Downwinders who lived in designated areas affected by nuclear testing fallout
- Onsite participants present during testing activities
- Uranium workers, including miners, millers, core drillers, and ore transporters, as defined by the United States Department of Justice
- Certain individuals exposed to Manhattan Project waste
Importantly, family members of deceased downwinders may also apply for compensation on behalf of their loved ones. This provision matters enormously for families who lost a parent, sibling, or spouse to a radiation-linked illness before compensation was secured.
The program’s legislative history has been turbulent. RECA expired in June 2024, creating uncertainty for thousands of potential claimants, before federal legislation reinstated it in 2025. However, this reinstatement came with a critical deadline: funding for RECA claims ends December 31, 2027. Individuals in areas recently added to the covered list should pay particular attention to this window.
Navigating a federal compensation claim can feel overwhelming, but you do not have to do it alone. Reach out to Nevada RESEP for free, hands-on guidance with filing your RECA claim well before the 2027 funding deadline.
Why Radiation Screening Matters Decades After Exposure
A common misconception keeps many eligible people from seeking help: the belief that because the tests ended generations ago, health risks are behind them. Medical evidence tells a different story. Radiation-induced cellular damage can lie dormant for years, which means cancers linked to fallout exposure may surface in individuals who are now in their 50s, 60s, 70s, and beyond.
This latency period is exactly why the screenings offered through Nevada RESEP matter so much. Regular, targeted screening increases the likelihood of catching radiation-associated cancers when treatment options are broadest and outcomes are best. For downwinders, screening is not a luxury—it is a reasonable and prudent response to a documented exposure history.
Nevada RESEP’s track record speaks for itself. The program has helped hundreds of individuals receive compensation under RECA, and more than 80 percent of the claimants the program assists are ultimately awarded benefits. That success rate reflects both the staff’s deep familiarity with documentation requirements and their commitment to seeing every eligible person through the process.
How to Get Started With Nevada RESEP
Taking the first step is simpler than many people expect. Follow these practical guidelines to access cancer exposure assistance through the program:
- Review your residence history. Determine whether you lived in a designated downwind area during the covered time periods. Recently added counties and regions may now qualify, so check eligibility even if you were denied or never applied in the past.
- Gather relevant documentation. Records establishing where you or your deceased family member lived, along with any cancer diagnoses or medical records, will strengthen both your screening appointment and any compensation claim.
- Contact the program directly. The Nevada RESEP team will verify eligibility, answer questions, and schedule your free physical exam and screenings.
- Ask about RECA claim assistance. Request help filing your compensation claim during your first interaction. With the December 31, 2027 funding deadline approaching, starting early protects your place in the process.
Share this information with siblings, cousins, former neighbors, and anyone else in your network who lived in downwind areas. Many eligible individuals simply do not know these programs exist, and family members of those who have passed away may be entitled to compensation without realizing it.
The Broader Community Impact of the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV
Nevada RESEP reflects a larger institutional commitment at the University of Nevada Las Vegas to serving Southern Nevada’s most vulnerable residents. Through its medical school and affiliated clinics, UNLV continues to expand access to care for underserved populations while training the next generation of physicians who will serve the region. For downwinders, having a program of this caliber embedded within an academic medical center means access to current medical knowledge, compassionate providers, and a trusted institutional partner.
This community-rooted approach also ensures the program evolves. As eligibility areas expand and federal rules change, Nevada RESEP updates its outreach so that newly covered residents learn about their options in time to act.
Help Is Available Now: Take the Next Step
The core message from the Nevada RESEP team is unmistakable: help is available right now. If you or a family member lived in a downwind area and developed cancer, the program’s screenings and claim assistance are completely free services designed with your situation in mind. With RECA claim funding scheduled to end on December 31, 2027, delaying could mean missing a compensation opportunity worth $100,000.
Do not wait to find out whether you qualify. Visit the Nevada RESEP program webpage to review eligibility requirements, or contact the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine team directly to ask questions and schedule your appointment. If you want to stay informed about the medical school’s ongoing work across Southern Nevada, subscribe to its Making the Rounds newsletter for regular updates.
The generations who lived through atmospheric nuclear testing carried a burden they never chose. Accessing free screening, education, and compensation assistance is a practical, dignified way to address that legacy—starting today.
