Funding Cycle

Step One:  Requests For Application

The initial step in the CPRIT funding cycle is the release of a request for applications.  The request includes important information about submitting the proposal to CPRIT, including applicable deadlines, requirements, and special considerations related to the grant award. CPRIT publishes all open requests on its website and sends an announcement about any new releases to subscribers of CPRIT’s email newsletter.  Some requests are always available, while other requests have a specific deadline. Only proposals submitted by Texas-based academic institutions, organizations, or companies, or those entities that demonstrate they will relocate to Texas if they receive a CPRIT grant award are eligible for CPRIT grant awards.
 

Step Two:  Applying Online

All applicants use CPRIT’s online application system to electronically submit proposals to CPRIT.  An applicant creates a user account and designates an individual at their institution or organization with the authority to approve the submission of the proposal.
 

Step Three:  Grant Proposal Review

CPRIT relies upon a multi-stage external peer review process to evaluate the applications for CPRIT grant awards.   Experts in the field of cancer research (including commercialization) and/or cancer prevention are appointed to the peer review committees by CPRIT’s executive director to evaluate the applications.  To minimize the potential for conflicts of interest in the review process, all research and prevention peer review committee members live and work outside of the state.  Peer review members are assigned to panels, generally with others that share their same area of expertise.

If CPRIT receives a significant number of proposals for a particular grant award, the peer reviewers may narrow the application pool by conducting an initial review of the applications.  In the initial review, peer reviewers (usually three reviewers) score an application based on its project summary and its significance to cancer research or prevention. Reviewers look for innovative approaches and potential impact, including, if applicable, the commercial potential of expected discoveries.  The unique skills and capabilities of the people involved with the project and the opportunities for partnerships and collaborations are assessed.  The reasonableness of the project’s proposed budget is also considered.  Applications that do not receive a minimum score in the initial review process are removed from further consideration.

After the initial review, an eligible application undergoes a rigorous peer review process where all aspects of the proposal are assessed by a group of peer reviewers (usually three reviewers) on the same panel.  After all proposals are individually reviewed, the full peer review panel (usually 15 reviewers) meets together to discuss the applications.  Based upon the discussion and the scores, the peer review panel develops a list of applications it recommends be considered for grant awards.  Proposals for commercialization awards undergo an additional due diligence review process.

The recommendations of each of the peer review panels are considered by a review council made up of the chairs for each of the peer review panel. Proposals for prevention awards undergo a programmatic review process during this stage. The review council creates a final list of proposals it recommends for CPRIT grant awards and submits the list to CPRIT's Executive Director.
 

Step Four:  Governing Board Action

CPRIT’s Executive Director formally submits the list of proposals recommended for CPRIT grant awards to the Oversight Committee in a meeting that is open to the public.  The Oversight Committee considers the recommendations and, by law, may set aside an award recommended by the Executive Director if 8 of the 11 committee members vote to do so.  The Oversight Committee plays a critical role in the award process, serving as the final check to ensure that the process was free from conflicts of interest and that the awards are consistent with CPRIT’s mission.
 

Step Five:  Funded Grant Awards

All CPRIT grants are awarded through a contract that specifies the responsibilities and obligations of the award recipient and reflects certain legal requirements, such as the restriction on the amount of grant funds that may be used for indirect costs.  Research grant recipients, including those receiving commercialization awards, must demonstrate that they have other funds dedicated to the project totaling at least half of the amount of the CPRIT award.  All award contracts include an intellectual property agreement and terms related to revenue sharing with the state.