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Texas' cancer-fighting agency loses another high-ranking official

Austin Bureau — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 17:36:43 +0000

The state’s $3 billion cancer-fighting agency has lost another high-ranking official.

Jerald “Jerry” Cobbs has resigned as chief commercialization officer of the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas. He was the agency’s point person in efforts to help for-profit companies try to develop better ways to treat cancer.

Drew: http://dallasne.ws/WigvTm

DMN Investigates: State’s cancer-fighting agency funded projects of Perry campaign contributor

Austin Bureau — Sun, 18 Nov 2012 18:07:36 +0000

One night in December 2007, Dallas businessman David Shanahan and several of his family members gathered at a home in Highland Park with a special guest, Gov. Rick Perry, to talk about cancer.

By the end of the next day, the governor had collected $50,000 for his campaign fund from Shanahan and several of his associates. Less than one week earlier, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst pulled in $40,000 from a similar group of donors that included Shanahan.

This political gift-giving came just a month after Texas voters approved a 10-year, $3 billion program to fight cancer. Millions from that program later would flow to Shanahan’s firms.

DMN Staff Writers JAMES DREW and SUE AMBROSE GOETINCK: http://dallasne.ws/U8xpGs

Top scientific officer for Texas cancer-fighting agency says he was told to resign

Austin Bureau — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 21:28:32 +0000

AUSTIN — Dr. Alfred Gilman, a Nobel Prize winner and top scientific officer for the state’s cancer-fighting agency, said he was told to resign after he objected to what he saw as political interference in the $3 billion program, according to documents obtained under Texas’ public information act.

Drew: http://dallasne.ws/KRQIha

Texas cancer agency’s top scientific officer to resign over funding system

Austin Bureau — Fri, 11 May 2012 16:25:17 +0000

The top scientific officer for the state’s cancer-fighting agency is stepping down, citing concerns over how Texas is distributing millions of dollars in public money for cancer research.

Sue Goetnik Ambrose and James Drew report: http://dallasne.ws/JjuQeR

After scrutiny and changes, Emerging Technology Fund returns to the street

Austin Bureau — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 21:26:12 +0000

After an extended lull, the state program that uses tax dollars to help high-tech commercial ventures is back in business.

The Texas Emerging Technology Fund this week set a June 12 deadline for accepting applications to the statewide advisory committee. Regional committees do the initial vetting of projects. (The North Texas Regional Center for Innovation and Commercialization will accept applications from April 1 through May 1.)

Drew: http://dallasne.ws/GMiRD3