With increased competition for available federal research grants, Hurt views the state funding as especially significant to Florida’s future. 

The Florida Legislature originally designated funds from the state’s 1997 settlement with the tobacco industry to be used to support biomedical research on the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and cure for tobacco-related diseases.

Current legislation, if enacted, would double the available funding to $18 million annually by the time Hurt attends her second meeting with the council. 

“I think it’s an extraordinary opportunity which I’ll take very seriously,’’ Hurt said. “I think this is a great time for Florida in terms of being able to build toward the future, hopefully build research infrastructure within our state and to be an advocate for biomed research, in general, which is something I spent basically my whole professional career doing.’’

Any university or institute in Florida may apply for grant funding based on scientific merit. The advisory council is charged with developing the program’s objectives and priorities, and with recommending which research proposals should be funded.

Hurt, a professor in the department of biomedical sciences, said the fund will have other tangible benefits for the state.

“Growing biomedical research and the technologies that can come from that, in our state, it makes it kind of a double bonus. Not only does it fund research, but secondarily it will help grow this kind of technology and hopefully businesses in our state, which will help the economy and help all of us.’’