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