Rocky Road to Redemption
Can a state-funded research institute regain its footing in the wake of grant scandals and resignations?
| February 12, 2013
Since awarding an $18 million research grant without any scientific peer review last March—among other shocking events revealed last year—investigations and dramatic resignations have mired the $3 billion, state-funded Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT). Now, amid results of a state audit, draft legislation for new regulations, and a band of fresh executives, CPRIT looks to reinstate its suspended grant application process, and—more importantly—rebuild its lofty reputation. But some researchers and legislatures have their doubts that the institute will recover from this high-profile scandal.
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The problems at CPRIT are not unique, Sharp points out. “If [decision making] is allowed to go in the backroom,” he said, “you will get political influence and inefficiency, and sometimes even criminal use of funds.”
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