CPRIT presents a $300,000 check to UNT Health Science Center for cancer research

University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort WorthJun 9 2010

The Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) recently presented a $300,000 check to the University of North Texas Health Science Center. The check was accepted by the UNT Health Science Center Provost Thomas Yorio, Ph.D., and Richard Kurz, Ph.D., dean of the School of Public Health.

"The UNT Health Science Center is pleased to be recognized by the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas for its continuing cancer research," Yorio said. "CPRIT's support of community-based cancer prevention programs in South Dallas will help improve early detection efforts to reduce cancer mortality in this area. We thank the institute for its support of our work."

These monies, part of CPRIT's $61 million inaugural grants, will fund a prevention program at the university under Kathryn Cardarelli, Ph.D., principal investigator. "This program was developed with significant input by dedicated community members over a two-year period.  We are proud to have developed this program through a partnership with the South Dallas community," Cardarelli said.

"This research project is 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."

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.