2016 ACS CAN Texas Cancer Policy Forum - Austin
The Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) and Texas’ Role as a Leader in the Fight Against Cancer
The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) will host its third annual Texas Cancer Policy Forum series, uniting key leaders and decision-makers in business, health care, and government to consider the impact of the Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) in preventing unnecessary cancer deaths, pioneering new cancer treatments, and strengthening the Texas economy through its life-saving work.
Texas voters overwhelmingly approved a constitutional amendment in 2007 establishing CPRIT and authorizing the state to issue $3 billion in bonds to fund groundbreaking cancer research and prevention programs in Texas. As Texas crosses the halfway point in distributing these funds, a conversation is beginning about the future of CPRIT and where Texas goes next.
Confirmed speakers include:
Thomas Yankeelov, Ph.D., a distinguished senior cancer researcher with expertise in computational biology, advanced imaging, and mathematical modeling, recently joined The University of Texas at Austin as a Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering and Dell Medical School. Recruited from Vanderbilt University, he is the recipient of a prestigious $6 million recruitment grant from the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT), marking the first time The University of Texas at Austin has received an Established Investigator award from CPRIT.
Jane N. Bolin, Ph.D., is a professor in the Department of Health Policy and Management at the Texas A&M Health Science Center School of Public Health and Director of the Southwest Rural Health Research Center. Dr. Bolin and Dr. David McClellan of the A&M Family Medicine Residency received $2.78 million grant in CPRIT funding to train family medicine residents and provide free colorectal cancer screenings to uninsured and underinsured residents of the largely rural Brazos Valley region.
State Senator Kirk Watson was first elected to the Texas Senate in 2006. As a cancer survivor himself ahe is a champion for cancer policy priorities in the legislature.
State Rep. Kyle Kacal has served as a member of the Texas House of Representatives since 2013 and is a passionate advocate for policies affecting cancer patients at the Capitol.
Amanda Martin from the Texas Association of Business will talk about the positive economic benefits of CPRIT to the Texas.
*Additional speakers to be added.
Guests will include leading researchers, oncologists, health professionals, citizen-volunteers, health care advocates, and other interested individuals. Questions will be taken during the event.
The forum is free and open to the public.
This event is generously supported by the following partners:
