"...the Travis County district attorney’s office is conducting an investigation to determine whether the actions of former CPRIT employees were criminal."

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/17/us/texas-cancer-institute-waits-for-a-cloud-to-lift.html?_r=0

THE TEXAS TRIBUNE

Waiting for Cloud to Lift on State Cancer Institute

By BECCA AARONSON

Published: February 16, 2013

"When Texas voters approved the creation of the $3 billion Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas in 2007, state officials said they hoped it would help Texas become an epicenter of cancer research, accelerate the development of lifesaving treatments and expand prevention programs.

But a series of improprieties at the institute, known as Cprit, has endangered the state’s mission, and a moratorium placed on Cprit grants while leaders work to reform the institute has left Texas’ cancer community hanging in the balance.
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But three of those grants — totaling $56 million — were approved without proper peer review, according to a state audit released in January. And the Travis County district attorney’s office is conducting an investigation to determine whether the actions of former Cprit employees were criminal.

The most problematic grant identified by auditors was the institute’s largest and most visionary: $25 million to establish a statewide clinical trial network, known as CTNeT, designed to expand access to cancer services and accelerate testing of new cancer treatments. An audit found that three high-ranking Cprit employees were members of CTNeT’s board of directors, and that the company received $6.8 million in advance payments not permitted under its contract.

CTNeT closed in January, and the state is trying to recover $1.3 million that was spent on prohibited expenses like employee bonuses and office furniture."