Sec. 102.251. RULES FOR GRANT AWARD PROCEDURE

(a) The oversight committee shall issue rules regarding the procedure for awarding grants to an applicant under this chapter. The rules must include the following procedures:

(1) a research and prevention programs committee shall review grant applications and make recommendations to the executive director regarding the award of cancer research grants, including a prioritized list that ranks the grant applications in the order the committee determines applications should be funded; and

(2) the executive director shall submit to the oversight committee a list of grant applications that is substantially based on the list submitted by the committee under Subdivision (1) and, to the extent possible, gives priority to proposals that:

(A) could lead to immediate or long-term medical and scientific breakthroughs in the area of cancer prevention or cures for cancer;

(B) strengthen and enhance fundamental science in cancer research;

(C) ensure a comprehensive coordinated approach to cancer research;

(D) are interdisciplinary or interinstitutional;

(E) address federal or other major research sponsors' priorities in emerging scientific or technology fields in the area of cancer prevention or cures for cancer;

(F) are matched with funds available by a private or nonprofit entity and institution or institutions of higher education;

(G) are collaborative between any combination of private and nonprofit entities, public or private agencies or institutions in this state, and public or private institutions outside this state;

(H) have a demonstrable economic development benefit to this state;

(I) enhance research superiority at institutions of higher education in this state by creating new research superiority, attracting existing research superiority from institutions not located in this state and other research entities, or enhancing existing research superiority by attracting from outside this state additional researchers and resources; and

(J) expedite innovation and commercialization, attract, create, or expand private sector entities that will drive a substantial increase in high-quality jobs, and increase higher education applied science or technology research capabilities.

(b) A member of a research and prevention programs committee may not attempt to use the committee member's official position to influence a decision to approve or award a grant or contract to the committee member's employer.

Amended by: Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 266 , Sec. 4., eff. November 6, 2007. Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 368 , Sec. 11, eff. June 19, 2009.