The Texas Regional Excellence in Cancer: Pilot Study Award (TREC: PSA), administered by the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT), supports innovative, early-stage cancer research at TREC-eligible institutions located 100 miles or more from Texas’s NCI-designated cancer centers. This award, capped at $200,000 over two years, is intended to foster pilot projects that could generate preliminary data, helping investigators secure larger, peer-reviewed funding in the future.

Eligible applicants include TREC institutions such as Texas A&M, Texas Tech, and the University of Texas at El Paso, among others. Principal Investigators (PIs) must hold a doctoral degree, be Texas residents, and dedicate at least 5% of their time to the project. Only two applications are permitted per institution. Funds may cover salaries, supplies, and equipment but are not applicable for major travel or facility renovations. Additionally, indirect costs are limited to 5% of the total award.

The application deadline is December 10, 2024, with awards announced by May 2025 for projects starting June 1, 2025. Proposals are evaluated based on their innovation, significance to cancer research, potential impact, and relevance to the CPRIT's mission.