Product Development Research Program

The Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) offers funding opportunities through its Product Development Research Program to support Texas-based companies in developing novel products or services that benefit cancer patients. The program aims to translate groundbreaking scientific discoveries into cancer drugs, diagnostics, and therapies accessible to Texans. CPRIT focuses on accelerating the development of promising research discoveries through the early stages of regulatory development, offering four specific Requests for Applications (RFAs) for different types of projects. The Texas Therapeutics Company RFA supports the research and development of innovative products and services with a significant potential impact on patient care. Eligible companies should have identified and characterized a lead compound, demonstrated efficacy in animal models, completed pilot toxicology studies, and developed a scalable manufacturing process. The funding can be used for preclinical proof of concept studies, CMC/manufacturing development, GLP safety studies, and Phase 1 and 2 clinical trials. The Texas Device and Diagnostics Company RFA targets the development of diagnostic tests and devices for cancer treatment, detection, and monitoring. Eligible applicants should have developed a commercial prototype or functional representation of the device and be working towards regulatory submissions such as an IDE or PMA. The funding supports preclinical proof of concept, product validation, and clinical studies. The Texas New Technologies Company RFA is designed for emerging technologies that do not fit into the other RFAs, including bioinformatics, artificial intelligence, and biomanufacturing. The funding supports studies for preclinical proof of concept, product validation, and clinical trials. The Texas Seed Company RFA focuses on early-stage research and development of novel oncology products, providing up to $3 million per project to help companies progress towards commercial viability. CPRIT's application process involves a preliminary application consisting of an executive summary, a slide deck, and a budget explanation. Successful applicants are invited to submit a full application and present their proposal to the review panel. CPRIT awards are grants requiring matching funds and revenue-sharing agreements, supporting three-year projects with potential extensions. Companies outside Texas can apply but must commit to relocating to Texas. CPRIT has approximately $70 million available annually for product development awards, and applications are reviewed for scientific merit and potential impact. The application portal may close if funds are exhausted for the fiscal year. For further information, applicants can contact CPRIT at 512-463-3190 or cprit@cprit.texas.gov.

CPRIT's application process involves a preliminary application consisting of an executive summary, a slide deck, and a budget explanation. Successful applicants are invited to submit a full application and present their proposal to the review panel.