CPRIT Presentation at the Non-Dilutive Funding Summit

The 21st Non-Dilutive Funding Summit brought together hundreds of life science industry leaders with representatives from some of the leading funding agencies including ARPA-H, BARDA, CPRIT, CIRM, Breakthrough T1D and more, giving attendees the opportunity to learn more in-depth about what non-dilutive funding opportunities are available and relevant for their R&D directly from the funding agencies.

Additionally, the 2025 FreeMind Elite honorees took to the stage to present about their companies research and pipelines and their journey to securing non-dilutive funding.

This free summit is hosted by the FreeMind Group. FreeMind helps companies secure non-dilutive funding for life science R&D and wins over $100 million each year for clients. Follow us on LinkedIn or get our newsletter for news about non-dilutive funding opportunities, announcements about conferences with the best partnering, and discounts for those conferences. 

CPRIT

Texans voted in 2007 to create the Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) and to invest $3 billion in the state’s unprecedented fight against cancer. On November 5, 2019, Texas voters overwhelmingly approved a constitutional amendment to continue CPRIT’s work and invest an additional $3 billion for finding and funding the best cancer research and prevention opportunities in the state. CPRIT is now a $6 billion initiative – the largest state cancer research investment in the history of the United States and the second largest cancer research and prevention program in the world.
G. Kenneth (Ken) Smith, Ph.D

Ken Smith, Ph.D., is the Chief Product Development Officer for the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT).  Created by the Texas Legislature and approved by a statewide vote in 2007, CPRIT leads the state’s unprecedented $6 billion investment initiative in cancer research and prevention. To date, the agency has awarded $4 billion in grants to Texas research institutions, community organizations, and companies through its academic research, product development, and cancer prevention programs. CPRIT has recruited 340 distinguished researchers to Texas, supported the establishment, expansion, or relocation of 72 companies, and funded the delivery of more than 11 million prevention services reaching all 254 Texas counties.  

  

After serving as CPRIT’s outside counsel for ten years, Dr. Smith joined the agency as its inaugural Chief Due Diligence and Patent Officer in September 2021. He was appointed Chief Product Development Officer in 2022.  In this role, Dr. Smith introduced improvements to CPRIT’s application review process that has led to a dramatic increase in the number of companies applying and receiving CPRIT grants.  He brings more than 30 years of experience in the life science industry across a broad range of business and legal sectors, including cofounding biotech companies and working as patent counsel for major pharmaceutical companies. Prior to joining CPRIT, he advised life science companies at all stages of development. Dr. Smith received his J.D. and Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of Houston. He also holds an MBA and a master’s degree in Biochemistry.