The CPRIT oversight committee on Nov. 20 approved 15 prevention grant recommendations totaling $27,000,169.50, a slate the prevention program said would expand screening, tobacco cessation and primary prevention services across dozens of counties.

In a brief presentation, Chief Prevention staff described the slate as geographically diverse and aligned with program priorities. "If the board approves all of the awards, I believe it's 73 awards," the prevention lead noted earlier in the meeting as staff reviewed program milestones. The prevention presentation highlighted colorectal cancer screening expansions led by the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, lung cancer screening and smoking-cessation projects from Baylor College of Medicine, a hepatitis C and breast cancer screening campaign at the City of Laredo health department, and a proposed Young Women's Christian Association of San Antonio project expanding breast and cervical screening and HPV vaccination in Bexar County.

Members discussed whether prevention RFAs should target emerging priorities such as pediatric vaping and obesity-related cancer risk; presenters said they had not yet received applications for liquid‑biopsy screening tests but expected interest in the coming years. The committee approved the slate as a package by voice vote, after staff certified that award processes complied with statute and administrative rules. The committee also delegated contract negotiation authority to the CEO and staff to finalize awards.

Next steps: CPRIT staff will negotiate contract terms, execute awards and report back to the oversight committee on implementation milestones and any requests to consider awards separately.