Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas Awards $142 Million in Texas' Fight Against Cancer

AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas today awarded $142 million in grants to fund innovative cancer research and prevention programs across the state. Today’s announcement caps the first year of the Institute’s ten year mission. Together with matching funds committed by grant recipients, more than $300 million has been invested this year in Texas’ extraordinary endeavor to change the face of cancer.

“This is what CPRIT was created to do – to invest in the people and projects that will find a cure for cancer,” said the Institute’s Oversight Committee Chairman Jimmy Mansour. “The groundbreaking work singled out today brings us one step closer to that audacious goal.”

Many of the cancer research awards announced today will fund ambitious projects bringing together teams of scientists at leading Texas institutions to tackle critical issues in cancer detection, diagnosis and treatment. One major award supports the creation of a statewide clinical trial network, providing access to cutting-edge clinical trials for patients in their own communities. Among other key initiatives singled out for support by the Institute, two programs are pediatric cancer collaborations – including an outstanding proposal targeting childhood liver cancer that will make Texas the world leader in this area.

Partnerships addressing coordinated, evidence-based cancer prevention strategies in Texas communities also received special attention. Many of the prevention efforts that were awarded grants propose new ways to increase screening and early detection of breast, cervical, and colorectal cancers in medically underserved or rural parts of the state.

Today’s awards also marked an important step in the Institute’s initiative to support commercialization opportunities – moving scientific discoveries from the laboratory to the patient. Three Texas companies received inaugural commercialization awards, providing funding critical to late-stage testing of medical devices and diagnostics that have the potential to significantly change the treatment and detection of certain cancers. The Institute also announced its first Company Creation and Recruitment award recipient will be Damascus Pharmaceuticals, a Dallas-based company that will be created to implement a discovery and development pipeline for cancer therapeutics. Not only will these companies contribute to progress in cancer treatment, but they are expected to add two hundred highly skilled new jobs in Texas.

“Texas is leading the way in cancer research and prevention efforts,” stated CPRIT Executive Director Bill Gimson. “The investment Texas makes today in attracting new talent and expertise to the state will be life-changing for many of our fellow Texans and others around the world fighting cancer.”

Texas voters overwhelmingly approved a constitutional amendment in 2007 establishing the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) and authorizing the state to issue $3 billion in bonds to fund groundbreaking cancer research and prevention programs and services in Texas. CPRIT’s goal is to expedite innovation and commercialization in the area of cancer research and to enhance access to evidence-based prevention programs and services throughout the state. CPRIT accepts applications and awards grants for a wide variety of cancer-related research and for the delivery of cancer prevention programs and services by public and private entities located in Texas. More information about CPRIT is available at its website, www.cprit.state.tx.us.

CPRIT officials will be available by telephone for follow-up questions if desired. Please contact Ellen Read at 512-305-8483 to arrange an appointment.

Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas

June 18th Awards

Institution/Organization No. of Prevention Grants Prevention Awards 2010 No. of Research/ Company Grants Research Awards 2010 Total All Awards Institution/ Organization Totals 2010 Apollo Endosurgery 1 $ 5,001,063 1 $ 5,001,063 Baylor College of Medicine 1 $ 2,500,000 4 $ 15,853,016 5 $ 18,353,016 City of Laredo Health Department 1 $ 2,497,500 1 $ 2,497,500 Clinical Trials Network (CTNET) 1 $ 23,533,433 1 $ 23,533,433 Damascus Pharmaceuticals 1 $ 11,044,931 1 $ 11,044,931 Gradalis, Inc. $ 748,906 - $ 748,906 Lance Armstrong Foundation 1 $ 250,000 1 $ 250,000 Mirna Therapeutics, Inc. 1 $ 10,297,454 1 $ 10,297,454 Rice University 1 $ 3,712,960 1 $ 3,712,960 Rules-Based Medicine 1 $ 3,024,432 1 $ 3,024,432 Shannon Business Services 1 $ 255,198 1 $ 255,198 Texas A&M University 1 $ 300,000 1 $ 300,000 Texas A&M University System Health Science Center 1 $ 299,861 1 $ 299,861 Texas Agrilife Extension Service 1 $ 300,000 1 $ 300,000 Texas Medical Association 1 $ 500,000 1 $ 500,000 Texas Nurses Foundation 2 $ 730,452 2 $ 730,452 Texas Tech University 1 $ 199,796 1 $ 199,796 Texas Tech University Health Science Center 2 $ 1,982,980 1 $ 1,220,556 3 $ 3,203,536 The Methodist Hospital Research Institute 1 $ 199,725 1 $ 199,725 The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth 1 $ 298,148 1 $ 298,148 The University of Texas at Austin 3 $ 5,014,815 3 $ 5,014,815 The University of Texas at Dallas - $ - The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston 1 $ 138,768 3 $ 5,711,076 4 $ 5,849,844 The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio 2 $ 4,737,811 2 $ 4,737,811 The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center 3 $ 820,017 6 $ 18,842,449 9 $ 19,662,466 The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston 1 $ 3,497,984 1 $ 3,497,984 The University of Texas Medical School at Houston 1 $ 2,000,000 1 $ 2,000,000 The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas 7 $ 13,601,146 7 $ 13,601,146 University Health System (San Antonio) 1 $ 285,706 1 $ 285,706 University of Houston 1 $ 2,387,664 1 $ 2,387,664 Total Awards 18 $ 11,158,630 37 $ 130,629,217 55 $ 141,787,847

Contacts

Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas Ellen Read, 512-305-8483

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