» About CPRIT » Purpose, Powers, and Duties

Purpose, Powers, and Duties

Purpose

The Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) is the state agency mandated to:

• Create and expedite innovation in the area of cancer research and in enhancing the potential for a medical or scientific breakthrough in the prevention of cancer and cures for cancer;

• Attract, create, or expand research capabilities of public or private institutions of higher education and other public or private entities that will promote a substantial increase in cancer research and in the creation of high-quality new jobs in this state; and

• Develop and implement the Texas Cancer Plan.

Texas Health and Safety Code, Chapter 102.002

Powers and Duties

In furtherance of its statutory mandate, CPRIT is authorized to:

• Make grants to provide funds to public or private persons to implement the Texas Cancer Plan, and may make grants to institutions of learning and to advanced medical research facilities and collaborations in this state for:
  • Research into the causes of and cures for all types of cancer in humans;
  • Facilities for use in research into the causes of and cures for cancer;
  • Research, including translational research, to develop therapies, protocols, medical pharmaceuticals, or procedures for the cure or substantial mitigation of all types of cancer in humans; and
  • Cancer prevention and control programs in this state to mitigate the incidence of all types of cancer in humans;
• Support institutions of learning and advanced medical research facilities and collaborations in this state in all stages in the process of finding the causes of all types of cancer in humans and developing cures, from laboratory research to clinical trials and including programs to address the problem of access to advanced cancer treatment;
   
• Establish the appropriate standards and oversight bodies to ensure the proper use of funds authorized under this chapter for cancer research and facilities development;
   
• Employ an executive director as determined by the oversight committee;
   
• Employ necessary staff to provide administrative support;
   
• Monitor contracts and agreements; and
   
• Work to implement the Texas Cancer Plan and continually monitor and revise the Texas Cancer Plan as necessary.

Texas Health and Safety Code, Chapter 102.051

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In this noble vision that defines CPRIT, we at CRBCM believe in the genuine intent of the founders to find a solution or cure to cancer.  This mission was to be completed responsibly and safeguards for the management of public funds needed to be established early.  Reliance on Universities to lead the way was correct because these institutions have the set up to achieve rapid advances.

But the CPRIT experience itself has taught us a lesson.  That is overconfidence and having less vision than the founders has lead to limiting the impact of the dream to a few only.  The foot print of CPRIT needs to be broadened and only bold leaders can achieve this.

CPRIT's call into existence has created a race for the cure.  By inviting only a few, it is limiting its impact on the lives of Texans, by inviting only the sure choices, it will limit the amount of surprises it may stumble upon if it ventured more, by focusing only on large universities, it is soliciting only a restricted pool of idea.  And more importantly, it reduces its own potential to make more money.  Indeed if new funded CPRIT programs are able to attract federal dollars, more money will come to Texas if more applicants apply for federal funding than just a few Texas Universities.   The secret is for more companies to apply for more outside funding.  Focusing on 8-10 universities shortens the vision, creates less jobs, decreases the pool of surprises in discovery, and creates university sense of ownership and danger of abuses.  CPRIT's 10-year budget is equivalent to the annual budget of MD Anderson!  It means it can stand on its own as long as a bold visionary leads.  CPRIT says "Impact is the single most important criterion for the award of CPRIT funding." but yet it chooses to restrict its funding pool.   CPRIT has spent 1 billion dollars on 500 projects. Most of the 500 projects belong to 4-5 Universities.  Making CPRIT a University funding source.   Remember, only 15% of  MD Anderson funds go to actual research (see their budget 2009).  Recurrent funding to same institutions seems to increase waste of public funding!  CPRIT has got to be smarter.   Believe me, we can fund the same institutions, but in smarter ways.   They know the rules, and will play better than others without necessarily achieving more.  Bold CPRIT leaders are needed!

 

Increasing impact means you got to dare and create new ventures!