7 resign in protest from cancer agency

AUSTIN (AP) — At least seven scientific reviewers have resigned in protest from the state's embattled $3 billion cancer-fighting effort over allegations that the agency is charting a new "politically-driven" path.

The scientists, who include a Nobel laureate, resigned in letters sent to the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas this week. It's the latest fallout within a young agency shaken by internal accusations that officials are funding lucrative projects that don't pass scientific muster.

Among those resigning are Dr. Brian Dynlacht of the NYU School of Medicine. He accused agency leaders of pursuing a "new, politically-driven, commercialization-based mission."

The agency says in a statement that the accusations are false and misinformed.

The institute uses taxpayer dollars to award some of the most lucrative grants given by any state agency.