The Texas Legislature has established the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (DPRIT) with an unprecedented $3 billion investment to advance research on dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and related disorders. This represents one of the largest state investments in biomedical research in U.S. history, with annual funding capacity of up to $300 million for competitive grants to Texas institutions.

DPRIT will support research across the full spectrum, from basic science and drug development to clinical trials, prevention programs, and health services research. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build transformative research programs that advance scientific knowledge while serving our communities. 

This spring the bill to create DPRIT, Senate Bill 5, by Sen. Joan Huffman, and the companion House Bill 5, authored by Rep. Tom Craddick and 119 co-sponsors, passed both the Senate and the House. Senate and House Joint Resolution 3 also passed by the Legislature would fund it with $3 billion in surplus revenue. 

On May 25, 2025, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed DPRIT into law. 

DPRIT was approved by two-thirds of voters on November 4, 2025, which authorizes $3 billion in state surplus funds to be awarded over 10 years to Texas-based researchers for work in Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and other diseases. 

This initiative aligns perfectly with UTRGV's mission and regional impact priority of “Health”:

• Health Leadership: The Rio Grande Valley has one of the largest populations in the U.S. that face disproportionate dementia risk. UTRGV is uniquely positioned to lead research addressing these disparities.
• Research Excellence: DPRIT funding can accelerate our journey toward building a Tier-One Research (R1) culture and research infrastructure, recruiting exceptional faculty, and dramatically expanding our research expenditures.
• Community Impact: This research will directly benefit our region by improving dementia prevention, diagnosis, and care for Valley residents.
• Economic Development: DPRIT investments will create high-quality jobs, attract industry partnerships, and position the Valley as a hub for neuroscience research and innovation. 

To maximize our competitiveness, we are launching a proactive institutional effort to identify research opportunities, build collaborative teams, and develop compelling proposals before the official Request for Proposals is released (anticipated after March 2026) by DPRIT.

We invite you to submit a brief “white paper” if you are interested in pursuing DPRIT funding

Faculty from diverse disciplines can contribute to dementia research:

• Basic scientists (neuroscience, biology, chemistry, genetics)
• Clinical researchers (medicine, nursing, pharmacy, rehabilitation sciences)
• Behavioral and social scientists (psychology, social work, public health)
• Engineers and computer scientists (biomedical engineering, AI, medical devices)
• Health services researchers (health policy, economics, implementation science)
• Community engagement specialists (community health, education) 

You do NOT need to be a dementia expert to participate. DPRIT values interdisciplinary teams, innovative approaches, and diverse perspectives. If you have relevant expertise in research methods, technology, population health, or clinical care that could advance dementia-related research, we want to hear from you. 

DPRIT supports a wide range of research activities, including:

• Basic mechanisms of neurodegeneration
• Drug discovery and therapeutics development
• Biomarker discovery and diagnostic tools
• Clinical trials and translational research
• Epidemiology and risk factor research
• Prevention programs and interventions
• Health disparities and community-based research
• Care delivery and health services research
• Technology and artificial intelligence applications
• Caregiver support and quality of life research 

 Download DPRIT research areas as PDF

Please reach out to your UTRGV colleagues, form your teams, and submit a brief White Paper if you are interested in developing a full DPRIT proposal. This white paper will help us:

• Provide early feedback on concept viability and competitiveness
• Identify collaboration opportunities among UTRGV faculty
• Connect you with potential partners
• Allocate proposal development resources strategically
• Plan for matching fund requirements (50% match required)
• Ensure appropriate institutional support 

Submission Deadline: 5:00pm Wednesday, February 25, 2026

To help you learn more about this opportunity, Dr. Megan Keniry, Assistant Vice President for Research Enhancement, will host several information sessions. These sessions will cover the DPRIT program, UTRGV's strategic approach, the pre-proposal process, and opportunities for collaboration. Sessions will be announced in the first week of January 2026. Even if you're uncertain whether your research fits, I encourage you to attend an information session or reach out to Dr. Keniry for a conversation. DPRIT's scope is intentionally broad, and you may be surprised by how your expertise could contribute to advancing dementia research. 

UTRGV is committed to supporting competitive DPRIT proposals. We will provide:

• Grant writing consultation and internal review
• Budget development assistance
• Matching fund strategy and commitment letters
• Partnership development support
• Research compliance guidance
• Letters of institutional support
• Pilot funding opportunities for preliminary data 

This is a high-priority institutional initiative, and we will invest significant resources to ensure UTRGV is positioned for success. When DPRIT announces their proposal submission timeline, a selection committee will determine which pre-proposal ideas will move forward to the full proposal phase.