CPRIT Announces General Counsel

Kristen Pauling Doyle has been named general counsel of the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT).

"I am so pleased to welcome someone of Kristen’s caliber and experience to the Institute,” said William “Bill” Gimson, CPRIT executive director. “She not only has the skills for the job but also the passion!”

Ms. Doyle will direct all legal activities related to CPRIT, strengthening the Institute’s ability to execute its mission. Her responsibilities will range from providing legal advice and counsel to preparing guidelines, procedures and rules for the new agency.

“I am excited to be a part of this groundbreaking effort,” said Ms. Doyle. “As a cancer survivor, I feel fortunate to have the opportunity to contribute professionally and personally to finding a cure for this disease that affects so many Texans.”

Ms. Doyle has spent the majority of her legal career practicing administrative law with an emphasis in the field of energy and regulatory law. For nine years, she has represented political subdivisions before the Texas Legislature, the Public Utility Commission of Texas and the Texas Railroad Commission. Most recently, Ms. Doyle was a principal attorney at an Austin-based law firm. Prior to private practice, she was an assistant public counsel for the Texas Office of Public Utility Counsel.

Ms. Doyle joins the CPRIT leadership team including Gimson, former chief operating officer of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Chief Scientific Officer Alfred G. Gilman, M.D., Ph.D., scientist and Nobel laureate; and Chief Prevention Officer Rebecca Garcia, Ph.D., former Vice President of Health Sciences for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

CPRIT received an appropriation of $450 million dollars from the 81st Texas Legislature for the next two years to fund grants for cancer research and prevention to expedite innovation in cancer treatment and to expand cancer prevention and treatment capabilities. The first RFAs could be announced as soon as August 2009 and awards announced as soon as January 2010.

Ms. Doyle has been named a “Super Lawyers Texas Rising Star” by Texas Monthly for 2004, 2005, 2008, and 2009. Only 2.5% of the up and coming lawyers who are 40 years of age and under or who have practiced law 10 years or less in Texas receive this honor. She is a frequent speaker on administrative law and legislative policy issues. She is a member of the Administrative Law Section of the State Bar of Texas and the Austin Bar Association.

Ms. Doyle holds a bachelor’s degree in public policy (magna cum laude) from Indiana University and a doctorate of jurisprudence from the University of Texas School of Law at Austin. While in law school, she was elected to the National Order of the Barristers and was awarded the Wilson Endowed Presidential Scholarship for Excellence in Trial Advocacy.

Ms. Doyle is a four-year cancer survivor. She has served as Vice President of the Board of Directors for the Central Texas Chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and as a member of the Board of Representatives for the national organization. Her husband, Trek Doyle, is also an Austin attorney. Their son, Cason, will be a fourth grader at St. Andrews Episcopal School.

Ms. Doyle assumes her duties on July 20, 2009.