Event: Dr. Alfred Gilman, chief scientific officer of the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT), will discuss the institute’s challenges and opportunities. CPRIT is a new state agency, empowered by the Texas Legislature and a constitutional amendment, to invest $3 billion over 10 years to enhance research and prevention activities toward alleviation of suffering and death from cancer. During CPRIT’s first year, 111 awards totaling about $195 million were made for research projects. While the majority of funds have gone to the academic health science centers, including The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, UT Southwestern Medical Center and the Baylor College of Medicine, awards have also been made to academic campuses and to companies. Learn more at The Austin Forum.
When: 5:45 p.m., Dec. 7. This event is free and open to the public.
Where: ATandT Conference Center Amphitheater (Room 204), 1900 University Ave.
Background: Dr. Alfred Gilman is responsible for ensuring that grant monies fund the most meritorious attempts to discover more effective ways to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer. In 1994, Gilman received the Nobel Prize in the category “Physiology or Medicine” for his discovery of G proteins and the role these proteins play in regulation of cell function. He has received other significant recognition for his work, including election to the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, the Albert Lasker Basic Medical Research Award and several honorary degrees.
