Open Texas Cancer-Research Recruitment Funding
The Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) is accepting FY 2027 applications for Recruitment of First-Time, Tenure-Track Faculty Members (RFA R-27.1-RFT). The mechanism is intended to help Texas academic institutions recruit highly promising emerging investigators pursuing their first faculty appointment and capable of making significant contributions to cancer research.
Funding
Current CPRIT guidance lists an award of up to $2,000,000 over a maximum five-year period. CPRIT’s FY27 instructions identify a $1,000,000 amount for emerging research institutions seeking separate consideration under the recruitment framework.
Who Can Nominate
Nominations are submitted on behalf of a specific investigator by the president, provost, vice president for research, or appropriate dean of a Texas-based public or private institution of higher education, including academic health institutions. The nominator completes the institutional application workflow and the Authorized Signing Official performs final submission.
Current Review-Cycle Timing
The overall FY27 recruitment receipt period runs from June 23, 2026 through June 21, 2027, subject to available funding. CPRIT reviews recruitment nominations in recurring cycles. For the review cycle currently open in September 2026, applications are due October 20, 2026 at 11:59 PM Central Time. CPRIT states that it will not extend the submission deadline.
Submission Controls
The candidate and institutional team should treat this as a true recruitment mechanism rather than a general early-career research grant. The PI provides the scientific and supporting material, the institutional nominator completes the application in CPRIT’s recruitment system, and the Authorized Signing Official reviews and submits the final package. Required uploads must be PDFs and must follow CPRIT’s formatting and template rules.
Atlas Fit Analysis
Atlas Opportunity Score: 90/100. This is a major Texas cancer-research workforce opportunity for institutions building future research capacity through first-time tenure-track recruitment. Fit is narrow because the recruitment and candidate-status requirements are central eligibility gates.
N9+ Direct Vendor Fit: 0/100. The mechanism funds academic recruitment rather than a clinical-technology deployment.
QC Healthcare Fit: 0/100. The mechanism is not a general physician staffing or clinical coverage program.
Required Next Action
Confirm the candidate is appropriate for the first-time tenure-track mechanism under the current RFA, designate the authorized institutional nominator, assemble the candidate and institutional materials, and submit through the nominator and Authorized Signing Official workflow by October 20, 2026 at 11:59 PM CT for the current review cycle. If that deadline is missed, confirm funding remains available before using a later FY27 cycle.
Official sources: CPRIT Funding Opportunities and FY 2027 Recruitment Instructions for Applicants.