2016 ACS CAN Texas Cancer Policy Forum - North Texas
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.
Featured speakers include:
Joshua Mendell MD, PhD, Professor of Biology at UT Southwestern Medical Center, recently won the 2016 Edith and Peter O’Donnell award in medicine from The Academy of Medicine, Engineering and Science of Texas (TAMEST). Dr. Mendell relocated his laboratory from John Hopkins University to UT Southwestern Medical Center in 2011 after receiving a “Recruitment of Rising Stars” Award from CPRIT. Dr. Mendell's work has increased our fundamental understanding of the regulation and function of microRNAs in physiological processes, which is important for understanding wound healing, tissue regeneration, and diseases such as cancer.
Terry Wilson-Gray is Executive Director of The Bridge Breast Network. In the past decade, The Bridge has served over 130,000 North Texas women and connected more than 19,000 with medical treatment. They are the recipient of two CPRIT prevention services grants and helped reach the remarkable achievement of delivering 2 million cancer prevention services in all 254 Texas counties.
State Rep. Jason Villalba has served as a member of the House of Representatives since 2013 and is a vocal advocate for cancer-fighting policies at the Capitol. The battle of his beloved sister against lung cancer has driven his involvement in the fight against cancer. In both his previous sessions, he has passed a bill designating May 24 as Lung Cancer Awareness Day in Texas, in honor of his sister. In 2015, he received an American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network Advocacy in Action award for his work to secure passage of the legislation establishing Texas’ Palliative Care Advisory Council. Villalba is a graduate of Baylor University and The University of Texas School of Law. His district includes a large swath of North Dallas, including the location of this year’s North Texas Policy Forum.
Tom Kowalski is President of the Texas Healthcare & Biosciences Institute. THBI is the leading voice of the Texas Healthcare and Bioscience Industries and advocates for policies at the legislature that impact these industries. Tom will provide the unique perspective of CPRIT's impact on the Texas economy.
Guests will include leading researchers, oncologists, health professionals, citizen-volunteers, health care advocates, and other interested individuals. Questions will be taken during the event.
Light refreshments will be served. The event is free and open to the public.
This event is generously supported by the following partners:
