Rocio Villalobos 
McALLEN – With well over half of Texas voters casting their ballots in favor of Proposition 6, a $3 billion bond is going toward the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) to continue funding grants and research initiatives.
I spoke with the American Cancer Society’s Texas Senior Governmental Relations Director for the Cancer Action Network about what has been accomplished over the years and how this additional funding is critical for moving closer to a cure.
“Since 2007 CPRIT has been responsible for funding projects throughout the state that do a couple of things, either fund scientific research to find new treatments and new cures to the many diseases that cause cancer,” said Marina Hench. “Or, and or, to fund prevention programs that offer free screenings and health care services across the state.”
She adds that between 2010 and 2015 Texas’ cancer mortality rates have dropped by 9.2%, which the ACS believes is related to CPRIT’s efforts.
And while they do not receive any of the funding, Hench says they are impacted by the institute.
“Our organization’s mission is to lead the fight against cancer and what the cancer action network does is advocacy on legislation and public policy that’s gonna help do that,” she said.
One of the direct effects CPRIT has had in the Rio Grande Valley is providing grants to educate our community about the importance of the human papilloma virus, or HPV, vaccination, which protects against cervical cancer.
Additionally, the institute has invested in nearly 15 hundred cancer research and prevention projects across Texas and helped create more than 10,000 jobs.
“We know that for every $2 billion spent by CPRIT it attracts an additional $10.8 billion from external sources outside of Texas,” Hench said. “That could be additional capital investment, angel investors or other companies that are providing their support to the same researcher. So that money is flowing into Texas and having a ripple effect on our economy.”
Hench adds the ACS is grateful to those who voted “yes” to proposition 6, something that will have an effect on thousands of lives.
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