CPRIT releases five cancer research requests after receiving first funding

The Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) released five cancer research requests for applications (RFA) just three months after receiving its first funding. In May, 2009, the 81^st Legislature appropriated $450 million dollars in bond proceeds for the next two years for CPRIT to fund cancer research and prevention grants that will expedite innovation in cancer treatment and expand cancer prevention services in the state. This appropriation is the first for the $3 billion, ten year project approved by Texas voters in 2007.

“CPRIT is now officially open for business,” said William “Bill” Gimson, CPRIT executive director. “Now we can get to the important work we have to do in the fight against cancer.”

RFA categories include Individual Investigator Research Awards, the High Impact/High Risk Research Awards, Recruitment Research Awards for First-time Tenure-track Faculty Members, Rising Stars, and Established Investigators. Additional cancer research and prevention services RFAs will be released over the next few months. Nobel laureate Phillip A. Sharp, Ph.D. will chair CPRIT’s Scientific Review Council which will make recommendations for funding research grant awards.

“We designed the RFAs to be broad and to encourage innovation,” said Alfred G. Gilman, M.D., Ph.D., CPRIT chief scientific officer. “They will inspire exciting proposals, and we will fund superb research.”

A more detailed description of each RFA can be found by visiting CPRIT’s website at www.cprit.state.tx.us. The online application system will be open on September 15, 2009.

A webinar focusing on the prevention program was recently held by Rebecca Garcia, Ph.D., CPRIT chief prevention officer, with an estimated 250 participants. 

http://www.cprit.state.tx.us/