State’s Cancer Initiative Infected With Problems

The $3 billion cancer research initiative passed by Texas voters in 2007 isn’t exactly having a rosy time these days.

Problems with scientists trying to raise the required matching funds coupled with concerns that poor quality proposals will end up getting approval in the first round are among the top problems for the program.

From the Dallas Morning News:

But scientists say the cancer research initiative may face a major roadblock: Not one penny can be distributed unless researchers can also come up with large sums from a different source.

For every dollar granted by the state, the Texas Constitution requires researchers to come up with 50 cents on their own – as much as $1.5 billion over the next decade. With the economy in recession and federal funding tight, researchers say it could be hard to find those matching funds.

“In this economy … where is this $1.5 billion going to come from?” said Dr. Daniel Foster, professor of internal medicine at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas and past president of The Academy of Medicine, Engineering and Science of Texas.

Scientists also say the state may be trying to award money too quickly in its first year, operating on a schedule that could result in hastily written research proposals that don’t meet the highest scientific standards.

“I think this is a fantastic opportunity for Texas, for cancer research that could have a major impact throughout the entire U.S., and I think we owe it to the public to get it right,” said Dr. John Minna, a cancer biologist at UT Southwestern. “But it could also be an unmitigated disaster if it’s not organized right.”

I’m also wondering what impact the anti-stem cell amendment stuck on the General Appropriations Act in the Senate will have on the cancer initiative. If it does effect it, that’s yet another problem the initiative will face.

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