CPRIT Announces Chief Prevention Officer

AUSTIN, Texas--(Business Wire)--
Rebecca Garcia, Ph.D., has been named chief prevention officer of the Cancer
Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT).

"We are very excited that Dr. Garcia is joining our leadership team," said
William "Bill" Gimson, CPRIT executive director. "Under her direction our
prevention efforts will begin to touch the lives of every Texan and bring hope
to many."

Dr. Garcia will provide strategic direction and oversight to the prevention
division of the agency with the goal of awarding grants that lead to early
detection of cancer and a decrease in cancer related deaths. Her
responsibilities will include spearheading the request for prevention
applications, coordinating the review of proposals, monitoring grant progress,
and fostering collaboration among the cancer and disease prevention community to
maximize CPRIT`s impact.

"I am very excited to join the stellar team at CPRIT," said Dr. Garcia. "Through
professional and personal experience, I know how devastating cancer can be for
individuals and their families. It is such a privilege to be a part of a program
that will have a direct impact on improving the health and saving the lives of
Texans."

Dr. Garcia has worked in healthcare and medical education for over 20 years. Her
current role is Vice President, Continuing Professional Development, for
Physicians` Education Resource (PER), a medical education and communications
company dedicated to advancing health care through professional oncology
education.

Prior to joining PER, Dr. Garcia was Vice President of Health Sciences for the
Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation where she was responsible for the
development and implementation of scientific and outreach strategies. In
addition, Dr. Garcia managed the Komen Foundation`s grant-making and education
and outreach activities conducted through the research grants, education and
helpline departments.

Dr. Garcia holds a bachelor`s degree in medical technology and a master`s degree
in biomedical communications from the University of Texas Health Science Center
at Dallas although the majority of her undergraduate course work was completed
at the University of Texas at Austin. She also holds a doctorate in adult
education from the University of North Texas.

Dr. Garcia joins the CPRIT leadership team including Gimson, former chief
operating officer of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Alfred
G. Gilman, M.D., Ph.D., scientist and Nobel Laureate (named chief scientific
officer last month). Other key positions of the CPRIT leadership team are being
formalized along with policies and processes that will enable CPRIT to receive
and review project proposals, make awards to the highest quality projects and
properly monitor the progress of each grant recipient.

CPRIT received an appropriation of $450 million dollars from the 81st Texas
Legislature for the next two years to fund grants for cancer research and
prevention to expedite innovation in cancer treatment and expand cancer
prevention and treatment capabilities. Up to ten percent of these funds will be
used for CPRIT`s prevention program. The first RFAs could be announced as soon
as August 2009 and awards announced as soon as January 2010.

CPRIT will host a webinar later this month, to be led by Dr. Garcia, focusing on
CPRIT`s prevention grants program. Details will be announced on CPRIT`s website
at www.cprit.state.tx.us.

Dr. Garcia assumes her duties on August 10, 2009.

Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT)
Sandra Balderrama, 512-305-8417

Copyright Business Wire 2009