CPRIT Oversight Committee Member Addresses Life Science Council

This spring, the Oversight Committee of the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) is working hard to get the Institute off the ground towards becoming an operational grant dispersing organization. CPRIT’s mission is to fund research and commercialization projects aimed to find cures and prevent cancer.

Recently, the Committee named Bill Gimson as CPRIT’s executive director. Gimson’s prior experience includes more than 35 years with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Gimson will be responsible for creating and implementing a vision for CPRIT, handling its finances and managing a staff of up to 70 employees.

Cindy Brinker Simmons, a member of the Oversight Committee, briefed the Dallas Regional Chamber’s Life Science Council on April 8 with an update on the activities of CPRIT and her personal passion for cancer research. As a person whose life has been intimately affected by cancer, Brinker is a strong advocate for cancer research and founded Wipe Out Kids’ Cancer, one of Dallas’s largest pediatric cancer organizations in memory of her late mother.

Brinker highlighted that top priorities for CPRIT include fully staffing the Institute and ensuring the passage of legislation that would enhance CPRIT’s governance, structure and ethics requirements. Brinker stated that CPRIT is actively lobbying in support of H.B. 1358 and is also supporting funding via the appropriations process. Currently, the Senate version of the appropriations bill would fund CPRIT at a $600 million for the upcoming biennium, while the House version would fund it at $300 million. The differences between the two bills will be worked out in conference committee by May 15.

The Institute plans to release a request for grant proposals by August, accept its first grant applications in September/October and award its first grants in December 2009.
For additional information on the Texas Cancer Prevention and Research Institute, please visit http://www.cprit.state.tx.us/.

The Dallas Regional Chamber is supportive of CPRIT and is monitoring the current legislation. For more information on the Chamber's position or activities related to life science policy, please contact Jane Edson at (214) 712-1937 or jedson@dallaschamber.org.