Dr. Foxhall says the cancer prevention funding from CPRIT is a great resource for the state. He says all physicians, not just researchers, benefit from the insti- tute’s grant awards. “CPRIT prevention funds can help phy- sicians address risk factors such as tobac- co use or manage obesity and its health complications in patients, for example. The funds also can be used for public or professional education. The grant appli- cation process is open to all physicians and physician groups in Texas.” The Texas Constitution authorizes CPRIT to issue up to 10 percent of fund- ing, or $30 million, annually to pay for cancer prevention and control programs. The remaining 90 percent funds research and commercialization projects. When determining which cancer pre- vention programs to fund, Dr. Garcia says CPRIT is looking for projects that:
• Focus on underserved populations, • Involve evidence-based prevention, • Show potential to make an immediate public health impact, and
• Cover primary, secondary, and ter- tiary cancer prevention.
Recently, though, the organization was criticized over allegations that pol- itics played a role in some of its grant decisions. The controversy led to the res- ignation of its chief scientific officer and numerous reviewers of grant applica- tions. CPRIT officials denied the charges. CPRIT is asking the 2013 Texas Leg-
islature for $600 million in general ob- ligation bond proceeds for 2014–15, or $300 million per year, as authorized in the Texas Constitution.
Heidi McConnell, chief operating offi-
cer of CPRIT, says the request reflects the same amount of funding appropriated to CPRIT for 2012–13 and includes no ad- ditional budget or exceptional item re- quests. The estimated cost of the debt service is $63.5 million for anticipated bond issuances. CPRIT also awards grants for com-
mercialization. CPRIT gives priority to proposals that expedite innovation and commercialization, attract private sector entities that drive job creation, and en- hance higher education, applied science,
or technological research capabilities in the state.
Joseph Bailes, MD, an Austin oncolo-
gist and vice chair of the CPRIT Over- sight Committee, says to date, CPRIT has awarded $95,892,727 for commer- cialization in Texas.
“The authors of the legislation that
created CPRIT understood that commer- cialization addresses the need to move groundbreaking science from the labo- ratory to the patients. Incidentally, it is also the quickest and most effective way to make a difference over the course of CPRIT’s 10-year life span,” Dr. Bailes said. For a list of all funded projects, visit
www.cprit.state.tx.us/funded-grants.
Funds benefit physicians, patients
Principal investigator and medical an- thropologist Simon Craddock Lee, PhD, assistant professor of clinical sciences at The University of Texas Southwest- ern Medical Center, leads BSPAN2. The second stage of the breast screening program focuses on increasing screening and timely referral to breast cancer treat- ment services, while creating a program model that serves residents in more than 14,000 square miles in 17 underserved counties. “We’re going to be serving an area
roughly the size of Maryland with some counties that have more veterinary fa- cilities than health clinics,” Dr. Lee said.
POEP receives CPRIT funds
In September, the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) contracted with the TMA Physician Oncology Education Program (POEP) and provided $347,699 for its pre- vention initiatives through August 2013. Proposed POEP core projects for fiscal year 2013 include:
• Live educational activities that provide statewide clinical symposia in cancer prevention, early detection, screening, and control, in collaboration with relevant organizations;
• Speakers’ Bureau lectures that feature volunteer experts who address physicians and other health care professionals on cancer prevention, screening, early detection, and control;
• A TMA Medical Student Section cancer education activity that consists of one-hour lectures on the revised Texas Can- cer Plan and cancer screening at four Texas medical schools; and
• Electronic materials such as podcasts and online modules, iPhone and iPad applications for skin and childhood cancers based on the current POEP pocket guides, and updates to existing applications CanSearch, CanQuit, and HPVSearch.
For more information on POEP, visit
www.poep.org. December 2012 TEXAS MEDICINE 49
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