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CPRIT Presents TTUHSC Research Grants Totaling Over $1 Million

Front: Dr. Min Kang and Dr. Luis Reuss. Back left to right: Dr. Steven L. Berk, Dr. Douglas Stocco, Bill Gimson, Chancellor Kent Hance, Dr. Guillermo Altenberg, and Dr. Ina Urbatsch.

AUSTIN, Texas (May 7, 2010) - The Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) today presented a check to Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in the amount of $1,344,300. The check was accepted by Texas Tech University System Chancellor Kent Hance.

"We are grateful to the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas for these grants," said Hance. "Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center is committed to improving the quality of patient care, and these funds will advance our research efforts in creating preventative solutions for life-threatening diseases. I would like to thank the institute for supporting our researchers and university."

These monies, part of CPRIT's $61 million inaugural grants, will fund research projects at the university under the direction of Dr. Min Kang and Dr. Guillermo Altenberg. Their work will focus on childhood cancers and the reversal of multidrug resistance during chemotherapy.

"The research projects of these two scientists are exactly what we at CPRIT are looking to fund," Jimmy Mansour, Chairman of the CPRIT Oversight Committee, said. "These types of investments will bring us one step closer to the outcome that we all so desperately want - a cure for cancer."

CPRIT also presented a $2,800 check to Vasia Craddick, UMC Clinical Director of the Cancer Center for the UMC Foundation for transportation for cancer patients.

Texas voters overwhelmingly approved a constitutional amendment in 2007, establishing the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) and authorizing the state to issue $3 billion in bonds to fund groundbreaking cancer research and prevention programs and services in Texas. CPRIT's goal is to expedite innovation and commercialization in cancer research and to enhance access to evidence-based prevention programs and services throughout the state. CPRIT accepts applications and awards grants for a wide variety of cancer-related research and for the delivery of cancer prevention programs and services by public and private entities in Texas. More information about CPRIT and the funded proposals is available at its Web site, www.cprit.state.tx.us.