CPRIT AND THE CURE OF CANCER

As it is preparing to relaunch its funding of cancer research and prevention, it is imperative that its leaders realize that external influences have realized its opulence and weaknesses, and are ready to seduce and suck it of all its juices once more with pretentious programs that may fit universities'objectives but not CPRIT's.
The previous experience is summarized like this, almost 1 billion went to 72 institutions instead of 200 (or more) and nothing tangible really to show for! Obsession with funding universities without creating real competition had created a sens of entitlement and real production  of innovation is still lacking! Many institutions had pulled old projects from their past and submitted them for funding visiting old paths to known outcome!  Sold findings and patents were refunded and relocated to Texas without shame, wasting resources.  The idea that we promised to fund this and that has now stolen the power to reexamined projects as to their true validity.  CPRIT needs to regroup, recapture its soul, and focus on the cure.
The difference between development and lack of it is man made, Africa is where it is not because of lack of potentials but because of lack of understanding by humans shackled by traditional practices and mis-guided understanding of currents systems.  The rise of China and some prominent countries is a demonstration that vision and focus can lead to success of different shape.  What is lacking here is an understanding of what cure should look like which will allow to pick and choose projects of relevant importance that will show advances toward a cure as it looks to CPRIT.  Lack of this type of focus, will not only lead to waste and open to  political games, distractions and false tendencies!  It is imperative that CPRIT recaptures its soul, knows that as a source of funding, it is the independent decider of how the game should be played, and where to lead this boat.  It should be mindful that all Texas is funding this, and its actions should touch the life of Texans as a whole not just few cities.  Its meeting should show a spirit of freedom when it comes  to deciding where to place money.  Same beneficiaries at each meeting leads to waste of resources and fails to show respect to the whole Texans while reducing the pool of solicited imagination.  Cancer cure may not come from the standard suspects!  Small incremental progress may!
There are Cities like El Paso that has been ignored all together despite the existence of brave researchers here.  72 beneficiaries of 1 billions dollars is a club! Not a true competition!  The Number of participants matter because the more they are, the more they can attract other federal funding to Texas!   CPRIT wants to be richer by finding new target therapies, but creating various viable institutions that could potentially apply for other grants is an ignored potential for true revenues today (not tomorrow or by chance!).  It takes vision to see this!
The bringing in of an oncologist on board will allow to not only define a cure better, but put CPRIT at the edge of progress and get a feedback from Doctors as to where the interest is today in Oncology practice!  Not all bright researcher idea is well received by practitioners who are the first to handle side effects in patients!
We have seen the expressed will to comply with recommendations from the legislature, what is left to be seen is if there is indeed a soul, vision and courage  to CPRIT and its leaders!