(AUSTIN) At its annual Fall Policy Summit at the Stephen F. Austin Hotel in downtown Austin, the Texas Healthcare and Bioscience Institute (THBI) recognized CPRIT Chief Executive Officer Wayne Roberts with its highest honor, the Luminary Award. Each year, THBI’s membership nominates individuals who have had an impact on the life science and biotech community through policy, advocacy, and research.
According to THBI, Mr. Roberts was recognized for “his hard work and dedication to fostering innovations for potential medical breakthroughs in prevention and cures, and championing cancer research in Texas.” As the CEO of CPRIT for over a decade, Roberts leads the largest state cancer research investment in the history of the United States and the second largest public funder of cancer research and prevention in the world. CPRIT is now a $6 billion, 20-year initiative that has transformed the life science industry in Texas.
“I am humbled to receive this award,” said Roberts, “because I know it is in recognition of the success of CPRIT and our grantees, grantee institutions, prevention programs and corporate innovators throughout the years. CPRIT is the spark that ignited a life science and biotech revolution in Texas, and I am proud to have played a role in that success. I’d also like to thank THBI, its board and its membership. As the major biotech organization in Texas, THBI is positioned to inform policymakers and the public of the value initiatives like CPRIT bring to the state, the nation, and world.”
State Senator Royce West and State Representative Angie Chen Button were also recognized at the event.
Prior to the Awards Dinner, the Fall Policy Summit hosted a half day of panel discussions highlighting scientific innovation in Texas, the latest breakthroughs in medicine, and how Texas’ policymakers can support policies that expand and protect patient access to innovation and improve health and health programs. The theme of this year’s event was “The Future of Healthcare is Now.”
CPRIT also recently concluded its two-day Innovations in Cancer Prevention and Research VI Conference in Galveston.
ABOUT CPRIT
Created by the Texas Legislature and approved by a statewide vote in 2007, the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) leads the Lone Star State’s fight against cancer. In 2019, Texas voters again voted overwhelmingly to support CPRIT with an additional $3 billion, for a total $6 billion investment in cancer research and prevention.
To date, the agency has awarded more than $3.4 billion in grants to Texas research institutions and organizations through its academic research, prevention, and product development research programs. CPRIT has also recruited 295 distinguished researchers to Texas, supported the establishment, expansion, or relocation of 56 companies to Texas, and supported 9 million prevention services reaching all 254 counties in Texas.