CPRIT awards $22 million to UT institutions to recruit top cancer researchers

Four University of Texas institutions will receive $22 million from the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) to recruit world-class cancer research talent to Texas.

CPRIT announced today that it had awarded nine academic research grants totaling $26 million to recruit cancer researchers to Texas. UT MD Anderson, UT Southwestern, UT Medical Branch and UT Health San Antonio will receive seven of those grants to add top cancer researchers to their faculties.

MD Anderson Cancer Center will receive $16 million and was the only Texas institution to receive “Established Investigators” grants to recruit scientists who already are working as senior faculty members with established cancer research programs. UT Southwestern, UTMB and UT Health San Antonio each received $2 million for “First-Time, Tenure-Track Faculty” awards to recruit promising researchers pursuing their first faculty appointment. The potential recruits are known as CPRIT Scholars.

CPRIT was established after Texas voters approved a constitutional amendment in 2007 authorizing the state to issue $3 billion in bonds to fund groundbreaking cancer research and prevention programs and services. In November 2019, Texas voters approved a constitutional amendment to provide an additional $3 billion to CPRIT for a total $6 billion investment in cancer research and prevention.

Today, CPRIT is the largest state research investment in the history of the United States and the second largest cancer research and prevention program in the world. More than $2.6 billion—including over $1.3 billion to UT institutions—has been awarded to support research and programs that benefit Texans in every area of the state.

About The University of Texas System

For more than 130 years, The University of Texas System has been committed to improving the lives of Texans and people all over the world through education, research and health care. With 14 institutions, an enrollment of nearly 240,000 students and an operating budget of $21.7 billion (FY 2021), the UT System is one of the largest public university systems in the United States. UT institutions produce more than 64,000 graduates annually and award more than one-third of the state’s undergraduate degrees and more than half of its health professional degrees. Collectively, UT-owned and affiliated hospitals and clinics accounted for more than 9.2 million outpatient visits and 1.8 million hospital days last year. UT institutions also are among the most innovative in the world, collectively ranking No. 3 for most U.S. patents granted in 2019, and the UT System is No. 1 in Texas and No. 2 in the nation in federal research expenditures. The UT System also is one of the largest employers in Texas, with more than 21,000 faculty – including Nobel laureates and members of the National Academies – and more than 85,000 health care professionals, researchers and support staff.

News Contact Information

Karen Adler: kadler@utsystem.edu • 512-499-4360 (direct) • 210-912-8055 (cell)