MD Anderson receives $19 million in CPRIT funding for recruitment and research

MD Anderson News Release September 14, 2016

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center was awarded $19 million this week from the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) for the recruitment of four cancer scientists and research facility funding. The awards include $6 million for recruitment of a senior researcher, $4 million for a Rising Star investigator, and $4 million for two first-time, tenure-track  faculty members. An additional $5 million was granted for a next-generation sequencing facility at The Virgina Harris Cockrell Cancer Research Center at MD Anderson Cancer Center, Science Park in Smithville, Texas.

MD Anderson received 41 percent of recruitment grant funds awarded by CPRIT this week to Texas academic health institutions. Since its inception, CPRIT has distributed $1.67 billion for cancer research. The agency began making awards in 2009 after Texas voters overwhelmingly approved a 2007 constitutional amendment committing $3 billion to the fight against cancer.  

“CPRIT is a key source of support for MD Anderson’s quest to attract top cancer scientists,” said MD Anderson President Ronald DePinho, M.D. “This important funding, along with the award to augment our Smithville campus, will greatly help further our efforts to end cancer. I am thankful to the State of Texas and CPRIT for their continued recognition of important gains being made in the investigation and treatment of cancer.”

CPRIT has awarded grants to Texas researchers, institutions, non-profits and private enterprises and provides funding through its research, scientific and product development and prevention programs. Programs made possible with CPRIT funding have reached every corner of the state, brought more than 110 distinguished researchers to Texas, advanced scientific and clinical knowledge, and provided more than three million life-saving education, training, prevention and early detection services to Texans.

“With these new awards CPRIT continues to build Texas’ cancer research capabilities through the recruitment of some of the top minds in cancer research,” said Wayne Roberts, CPRIT chief executive officer, “as well as continuing core research facilities that are shared by researchers to advance science to benefit Texans.”