Sunday, December 16, 2012

CPRIT, A CHALLENGE FOR THE CRBCM

HOW CAN YOU TELL THE TRUTH TO SOMEONE IN CHARGE OF FEEDING YOU. HOW CAN YOU TELL THE TRUTH TO AN ORGANIZATION THAT CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE.
The CRBCM was in a CONUNDRUM.  We had a choice to make, denounce what was going on at CPRIT in order to free it from an inevitable shrinking of its potentials, or stay quiet and play it safe to keep our chances intact for obtaining a grant now or in the future.  Events at CPRIT however forced the hands of the CRBCM.  CPRIT under intense scrutiny, dropped its approval of grants from 20-25% to 11% this round.  Restricting its allocations of grants strictly to universities and Biotech companies.  There we knew strains on CPRIT had taken its toll.  We understood that current leaders at CPRIT were not being bold and risk takers.  Our chances to have a grant is "zero" under the current leadership.  We had to denounce the situation.  As a Coalition, we have to fight these unfriendly environments at CPRIT.

By choosing to invest in Universities and Biotech, CPRIT is living in the future.  The time it will take to form companies, to discover new cellular pathways, find a product, put it in a clinical trial and passing FDA approval.  we are talking 5-10 years at least.  CPRIT has 7 years left to be.  The cure in 10 years still has a chance, but most likely after the current CPRIT.   And life of contemporary Texans will not significantly change.   We need to create Jobs now and expand the foot print of CPRIT.  Injecting more money into MD Anderson  is a safe investment in the mind of the public.  But how many more jobs do you expect them to create?  I really doubt they will add to their work force the same number of jobs like a new company in El Paso could!  Are they more likely to find a cure?   May be, but don't be so sure!  The search for the cure is a race.  If you are serious about finding it without politics, give a chance to more people to compete! Create true competition.  It may keep them on their toes and eventually help them!

The notion that reviewers should come from out of state is being sold to us as a strong proof of impartiality. It sounds "safe".  But it means ignoring realities on the ground in Texas.   That El Paso needs jobs may not be a factor for out-of-state  Reviewers.   Is this what the CPRIT founders clearly intended?  Then, the NCI needs to bring in foreign reviewers for its process to be impartial.  But clearly the NCI doesn't!  CPRIT needs a reform of its culture... We should be ashamed that we do not believe in ourselves anymore.  How did we end up like this!(I am trying to get a reaction, if you get my drift!). El Paso women had to starve and camp before the White House to call for jobs before this last Thanksgiving!  

CPRIT has chosen to grow from out of State in, and not from In state out.  Don't you think a balanced approach may be better since no approach is free of "side effects"?  Middle ground is good!  " Easy come, Easy go" remember!

ALL WE MEAN AT CRBCM IS GOOD FOR CPRIT, DON'T KILL US FOR BEING A COALITION THAT FIGHTS FOR ITS CAUSE.  WE WOULD NOT BE A COALITION WITHOUT STANDING UP TO BE COUNTED! AND CPRIT WILL NOT BE THE CPRIT WITHOUT CLEARING ITS NAME!
FOR THE RECORD WE PARTICIPATED IN "NEW DIRECTIONS AT CPRIT".  We are going for an appeal.  Let's God help us!

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