1. (a) Communication regarding the substance of a pending application between the applicant and an Oversight Committee member, the Executive Director, or a Scientific Research and Prevention Program committee member is prohibited, except for communication with an applicant for the purpose of resolving a question raised by the grant application.
2. (b) The prohibition on communication begins on the first day that applications for the particular funding award are accepted by the Institute and extends until the applicant receives notice regarding a final decision on the application. The prohibition on communication does not apply to the time period when pre-applications or letters of interest are accepted.
3. (c) Intentional, serious, or frequent violations of this rule may result in the disqualification of the applicant from further consideration for a CPRIT funding award. An inadvertent violation of this rule will not affect the applicant's eligibility to receive a CPRIT funding award.
4. (d) This rule is not intended to prohibit open dialogue between the public and the Executive Director or a member of the Oversight Committee regarding the general status or nature of pending applications.
5. (e) The Executive Director may grant a waiver from the general prohibition on communication upon finding that the waiver is in the interest of promoting the objectives of the Institute and is not intended to give one or more applicants an unfair advantage.

Source Note:The provisions of this §702.19 adopted to be effective February 11, 2010, 35 TexReg 872.