CPRIT Academic Research

CPRIT Scholars — Recruitment of Established Investigators

Funds Texas universities to recruit established cancer researchers and build strong senior leadership labs.

Eligibility · United States · US-TX

⚠ This may reflect a past cycle — verify the current call on the funder's site.

The CPRIT Scholars Recruitment of Established Investigators (REI) mechanism is a flagship program of the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas, the state agency authorized to award approximately $300 million per year in cancer research and prevention funding. The REI mechanism enables Texas universities and cancer research institutes to recruit senior faculty with distinguished research careers to relocate to Texas institutions. As of the most recent count, 72 established investigators have been recruited through the REI mechanism since the CPRIT Scholars program launched. The host institution — not the individual researcher — submits the application on behalf of the targeted recruit.

Awards under the REI mechanism can reach up to $4 million over a five-year performance period, covering salary support, laboratory setup, and direct research costs. The recruited investigator must commit to relocating to and remaining at a Texas institution for the full grant period. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis within the fiscal year application window established under RFA R-261-REI, which runs from June 23, 2025 through June 22, 2026. Awards are notified continuously as reviews are completed. All peer reviewers are external to Texas to eliminate conflicts of interest.

Institutions competing for REI awards should identify a recruitment target whose research program is directly relevant to reducing the cancer burden in Texas and whose laboratory transition costs and ongoing research needs can be compellingly justified at the $4 million ceiling. CPRIT evaluates both the scientific merit of the investigator's research program and the strategic value of the recruitment to Texas's cancer research ecosystem. Institutions should allow adequate lead time for the full application stage, which follows a preliminary review, and should confirm current portal availability at cprit.texas.gov before initiating the application process.