Robert Magnusson: How a Tier One school can strengthen the Texas economy
Dallas Morning News - 23-Oct-2009
Voters now have the opportunity to consider investment in advancing technology that will create jobs for the long term. That hinges on Proposition 4 on the Nov. 3 ballot. This initiative would transfer about $500 million from an inactive state fund to a new National Research University Fund and provide incentives for seven emerging Texas research universities to ramp up research, innovation and private support for technological advances. See complete article.
Eliot Shapleigh: Vote for Prop 4 to help Texas be competitive
El Paso Times - 23-Oct-2009
Have you ever wished you had more control over the state budget set by Texas’ Legislature? Do you wish you had a direct role in ensuring that your vision of Texas’ future becomes a reality? Well, on Nov. 3, every voting Texan will have an opportunity to chart a path to a better state: increased investment in our children’s future, more competitive institutions of higher education, and long-lasting gains in the state’s ability to compete globally. Voting yes on Proposition 4 on the Nov. 3 ballot will help increase the number of Texas’ tier-one universities – schools that are nationally recognized for their research. See complete article.
Powers & Loftin: On Proposition 4: University leaders support it
Dallas Morning News - 23-Oct-2009
We, the leaders of Texas’ only Tier One universities, are proud that Texans will have the opportunity to vote on Proposition 4 on Nov. 3. Proposition 4 converts a now-dormant state fund into the National Research University Fund that will be available to any of seven Texas universities that meet high standards set by the Legislature: Texas Tech University, the University of Houston, the University of North Texas, the University of Texas at Arlington, the University of Texas at Dallas, the University of Texas at El Paso and the University of Texas at San Antonio. Proposition 4 does not require any new taxes or bonds. See complete article.
Austin medical device company receives $3 million tech fund grant
Austin American-Statesman- 23-Oct-2009
Austin-based Patton Surgical Corp. will announce today that it has received $3 million from the Texas Emerging Technology Fund to commercialize its devices, which are used in minimally invasive surgery. For the past two years, Patton, which has 10 employees, has teamed with the University of Texas biomedical engineering department and the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston for development and commercialization of the device. See complete article.
UT system sweetens the pot for Tier 1
Dallas Business Journal 21-Oct-2009
The University of Texas System’s Board of Regents recently authorized creation of a $10 million fund to improve the infrastructure at four of its universities considered to be among the state’s emerging research institutions. See complete article.
Dallas-area business groups back amendment to develop more top research universities
Dallas Morning News - 20-Oct-2009
Several North Texas business groups announced support Tuesday for a constitutional amendment that would provide money to help the state grow more top-notch research universities. The chambers of commerce for Dallas, Arlington and Fort Worth, along with the Dallas Citizens Council, declared support for Proposition 4, which would provide millions of dollars for more “Tier One” universities that conduct extensive scientific research. See complete article.
Perryman: Texas needs more tier-one research universities
Waco Tribune - 18-Oct-2009
Texas will always be a “state of mind.” As a “state of minds,” however, it is characterized by much greater prosperity and competitiveness on a sustainable basis. The importance of Proposition 4 as an initial catalyst to this outcome cannot be overemphasized. See complete article.
Editorial: A vote for Proposition 4 is a vote for education and economy
Austin American-Statesman 18-Oct-2009
Does Texas need more tier-one research universities? Are we willing to spend money on them? The answers to those question are in your hands, with your vote, starting Monday when early voting begins on 11 proposed amendments to the state constitution. Election day is Nov. 3. Proposition 4, would set aside $500 million to help launch seven public research universities to tier-one status. We recommend support of Proposition 4. It’s important to note that the money will come from an existing higher education fund, which has been dormant for several years. Therefore, this is not a vote to raise taxes. See complete article.
Voters to consider research university money
Austin American-Statesman - 18-Oct-2009
Texas lawmakers took the first steps earlier this year toward a goal that could take two or three decades to reach: increasing the number of tier-one research universities. Now the state’s voters will get to weigh in on an important element of the plan. Proposition 4 on the Nov. 3 ballot would free up about $500 million from a dormant higher education fund to help seven public emerging research universities strive for a place on the national stage. Early voting begins Monday on this and 10 other constitutional amendments. See complete article.
$2.7 million grant to create future materials science research center at UTPA
Texas Border Business - 15 - Oct - 2009
Establishing a future materials science research center at The University of Texas-Pan American is the main objective of a recent $2.7 million grant UTPA received from the National Science Foundation Partnerships for Research and Education in Materials (PREM). The five-year grant, which provides $1 million for the first two years, partners UTPA with the University of Minnesota (UMN) Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC), which will focus on the development of polymeric and nanoparticle-based materials and devices. See complete article.
New program could put UTEP in line to share research money
El Paso Times - 14-Oct-2009
In its attempt to become a research powerhouse, the University of Texas at El Paso may benefit from a new pool of millions of state dollars. A $10 million fund started on Tuesday matches philanthropic donations intended for research at four schools in the University of Texas System, including UTEP. The UT Board of Regents authorized the creation of the $10 million UT System Research Incentive Program. It would provide additional money to UT Arlington, UT Dallas, UT San Antonio and UTEP when they receive research-oriented private donations. See complete article. See complete article.
State cancer research fund sees big requests
Houston Chronicle - 13-Oct-2009
Cancer researchers are asking for six times more money in grants than will be available in the first year of funding for a $3 billion state program approved by Texas voters in 2007. The Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas received 881 grant applications last week for $195 million that will be available in 2010. After a peer review process, the grants will be awarded in late January or early February, agency Executive Director Bill Gimson said Tuesday. See complete article.
$26 Million Federal Stimulus Grant For Biomedical Research Received By UT’s Eric Boerwinkle
Medical News Today - 12-Oct-2009
Eric Boerwinkle, Ph.D., a professor at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, has received a $26 million federal stimulus grant to lead an effort to pinpoint genetic factors affecting the risk of heart, lung and blood diseases. See complete article.
M.D. Anderson receives $8.3 million to study genetic relationships to cancer
Houston Business Journal - 8 - Oct - 2009
The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center has received a five-year, $8.3 million grant from The Cancer Genome Atlas to study how genetic pathways fuel more than 20 types of cancer. The M.D. Anderson group is a new Genome Data Analysis Center of the TCGA, which is a joint enterprise of the National Cancer Institute and the National Human Genome Research Institute. See complete article.
4 companies linked to UTA win technology startup grants from state
Fort Worth Star-Telegram - 7 - Oct - 2009
Four area high-tech companies with links to the University of Texas at Arlington are receiving a total of $3.5 million from the state to help move their projects to the marketplace. The grants are part of $10.4 million in funding announced Wednesday by the Texas Emerging Technology Fund. Nine North Texas recipients were named. See complete article.
