CPRIT Scholar Morrison Elected to the National Academy of Medicine

(AUSTIN) – CPRIT Scholar Sean Morrison, Ph.D. of The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center has been elected to the National Academy of Medicine (NAM). Election to the Academy, considered one of the highest honors in the fields of health and medicine, recognizes individuals who have demonstrated outstanding professional achievement and commitment to service.

CPRIT Grantee Eberlin earns “Genius” Award for Innovative Cancer-detecting Device

(AUSTIN) – Livia Schiavinato Eberlin Ph.D., an assistant professor of chemistry at The University of Texas at Austin, has won a MacArthur Foundation Fellowship, sometimes called a “Genius” award with a no-strings attached prize of $625,000. The fellowship results from her invention of the “MasSpec Pen,” a handheld device that identifies cancerous tissue within 10 seconds during surgical procedures. The Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas provides the funding to determine if her innovation has practical application. Earlier this year, her work on the device earned an Innovation Award from South by Southwest Interactive, and she consulted on an episode of “Grey’s Anatomy” that featured the “MasSpec Pen.”

CPRIT Scholar James Allison, PhD Awarded Nobel Prize in Medicine

AUSTIN, TEXAS – Oct. 1, 2018 – James P. Allison, a native of Alice, Texas, son of a country doctor, eminent scholar of the Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) and pioneer of cancer immunotherapy, has been awarded the 2018 Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine jointly with Tasuku Honjo. For Dr. Allison, the Nobel Prize recognizes his breakthrough work in studying a protein known as CTLA-4, proving that it behaves like a brake on immune responses. In November 2011, Dr. Allison was recruited back to The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center to study CTLA-4 with the help of a $10 million CPRIT grant.

CPRIT Calls for All Texans to Take Action Against Cancer, Releases Blueprint for Reducing Cancer Burden in Texas

The Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) today announced the release of the 2018 Texas Cancer Plan (“Plan”), a guide outlining actionable, achievable goals, objectives and strategies to reduce the burden of cancer for communities and individuals across Texas.

“Since its creation in 2007, CPRIT has helped make great strides in our fight against cancer, providing access to cancer prevention services for millions of Texans who have never had them before, and investing $2.15 billion in cancer prevention and research programs to reduce the cancer burden,” said Wayne Roberts, CPRIT CEO. “The Texas Cancer Plan is a road map in ongoing efforts to eradicate cancer and it sets goals for what Texans can accomplish when we set our minds to the betterment of our communities and our state.”

CPRIT launches new liver cancer initiative to address growing Texas public health concern

SAN ANTONIO – Today, the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) announced a new statewide initiative aimed at reversing the rising rates of liver cancer. Texas has the highest incidence rate of liver cancer among all states. Texans of Hispanic ethnicity living along the US-Mexico border have more than twice the incidence rate of liver cancer, also known as hepatocellular cancer (HCC), than non-Hispanic whites.

“CPRIT is uniquely positioned to foster collaboration between clinical liver cancer research and community stakeholders,” said James Willson, MD, CPRIT Chief Scientific Officer. “By encouraging new partnerships across the state, we can better identify risk factors for cirrhosis and HCC and implement more effective evidenced-based interventions among high-risk populations.”

CPRIT Surpasses $2 Billion Milestone with 64 New Grants

AUSTIN – Today, with the approval of 64 new research, product development, and prevention grants totaling more than $177 million, the Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) has awarded $2.15 billion of the $3 billion approved by Texas voters in 2007 to fight cancer.

“CPRIT has reached a significant milestone, which is only possible due to the support of Texans, their elected representatives, and our partner institutions and grantees,” said Wayne Roberts, CPRIT Chief Executive Officer. “As a result of this historical undertaking, Texas is developing into a world class center of cancer research and prevention as our state’s institutions grow in international prominence.”