AUSTIN - The Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) today awarded 12 new academic research grants totaling $38 million to recruit cancer researchers to Texas.

"With the addition of today’s newest class of 12 CPRIT Scholars, CPRIT continues to connect world-class researchers to universities and institutions across Texas and form a critical ecosystem of distinguished cancer-fighting talent," said Wayne Roberts, CPRIT Chief Executive Officer. "The selection process for these awards is robust and ensures that Texas institutions are at the cutting edge of cancer research."

CPRIT’s recruitment awards attract exceptional cancer research talent to Texas to work alongside preeminent scientists at the state’s research institutions, creating the finest cluster of cancer researchers in the world and contributing to Texas’ emerging bioscience ecosystem. The awards approved today bring talented researchers to The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, The University of Texas at Dallas, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, The University of Texas at Arlington, University of Houston, Texas A&M University, Houston Methodist Research Institute and Baylor College of Medicine. These recruits will join the 253 CPRIT Scholars already working at 21 institutions across Texas.

To learn more about CPRIT Scholars and the vital contribution they make to cancer research, please visit http://scholars.cprit.texas.gov.

See the list below for all grants awarded.

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About the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas

To date, CPRIT has awarded $2.9 billion in grants to Texas research institutions and organizations through its academic research, prevention and product development research programs. CPRIT has recruited 253 distinguished researchers, supported the establishment, expansion or relocation of 43 companies to Texas and generated over $7.2 billion in additional public and private investment. CPRIT funding has advanced scientific and clinical knowledge and provided 7.6 million life-saving cancer prevention and early detection services reaching Texans from all 254 counties. On November 5, 2019, Texas voters overwhelmingly approved a constitutional amendment to provide an additional $3 billion to CPRIT for a total $6 billion investment in cancer research and prevention.

Learn more at https://cprit.texas.gov/. Follow CPRIT on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

CPRIT awards three types of recruitment grants: Established Investigators for senior research faculty with distinguished professional careers and established cancer research programs; Rising Stars for early-stage investigators who have demonstrated promising continued and enhanced contributions to the field; and First-Time, Tenure-Track Faculty awards for emerging investigators pursuing their first faculty appointment, and who are expected to make outstanding contributions in cancer research. Recruits receive the prestigious “CPRIT Scholar” designation.

AWARDED RESEARCH GRANTS

Recruitment of Established Investigators Awards* - Two grants totaling $12,000,000

  • Samuel Achilefu, PhD, Recruitment to The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center - $6,000,000
  • James William Harbour, MD, Recruitment to The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center - $6,000,000

Recruitment of Rising Stars Awards* - Three grants totaling $12,000,000

  • Mingji Dai, PhD, Recruitment to The University of Texas at Dallas - $4,000,000
  • Siyuan Zhang, MD, PhD, Recruitment to University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center - $4,000,000
  • Gregory Delgoffe, PhD, Recruitment to University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center - $4,000,000

Recruitment of First-Time, Tenure-Track Faculty Members Awards* - Seven grants totaling $14,000,000

  • Jacob Luber, PhD, Recruitment to The University of Texas at Arlington - $2,000,000
  • Sachet Shukla, PhD, Recruitment to The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center - $2,000,000
  • Gül Zerze, PhD, Recruitment to University of Houston - $2,000,000
  • Wanhe Li, PhD, Recruitment to Texas A&M University - $2,000,000
  • Filippo Romiti, PhD, Recruitment to The University of Texas at Dallas - $2,000,000
  • Kristopher Brannan, PhD, Recruitment to Houston Methodist Research Institute - $2,000,000
  • Mingxing Teng, PhD, Recruitment to Baylor College of Medicine - $2,000,000

* Awarded recruitment grants indicate only approval to negotiate offers; at the time of release candidates have not accepted offers.