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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Texas |
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Tech University Health Sciences Center at Amarillo has played an |
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integral role in the global campaign to advance understanding of |
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the disease, to develop lifesaving treatments and therapies, and to |
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provide essential medical care and vaccination services to the |
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Amarillo community; and |
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WHEREAS, In April 2020, TTUHSC was selected to be part of a |
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U.S. government-sponsored, FDA-approved study conducted by Mayo |
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Clinic to evaluate the use of convalescent plasma in treating |
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patients with severe COVID-19; working in partnership with other |
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institutions, the health sciences center swiftly mobilized to |
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implement the project, and its participation provided patients in |
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Amarillo with a treatment option that was difficult to attain at the |
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time; and |
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WHEREAS, Continuing to investigate the viability of new |
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methods of treating COVID-19, TTUHSC entered into an agreement with |
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Amarillo's PharmaTex Research to assist in a clinical trial of |
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Regeneron's novel antiviral antibody cocktail in late summer of |
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2020; at the time, the health sciences center was one of only 150 |
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sites internationally and the only location in West Texas with |
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access to the medications; and |
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WHEREAS, In addition to facilitating studies and clinical |
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trials, TTUHSC has helped increase Texas' testing capacity by |
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producing viral transport media, a critical component of COVID-19 |
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tests; at its peak, the health sciences center was generating |
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between 15,000 and 20,000 vials of VTM per week, for a total of more |
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than 450,000 vials, and the university went on to be recognized for |
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its production of VTM in The Governor's Report to Open Texas |
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publication issued by Governor Greg Abbott; the VTM project was led |
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by a team from the TTUHSC Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy and the |
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School of Medicine, and the schools shared information about their |
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effective methods with other universities and laboratories across |
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the state; and |
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WHEREAS, Another important initiative carried out by TTUHSC |
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was the establishment of the Amarillo Center for Excellence for |
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COVID-19 Research & Pandemics, which encompasses a range of efforts |
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that are focused on the goal of predicting and preparing for future |
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pandemics; special thanks is also owed to the many TTUHSC medical |
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and pharmaceutical faculty members who have been on the front lines |
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providing high-quality care to patients in area medical centers; in |
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addition, the health sciences center has administered a total of |
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more than 11,000 COVID-19 vaccinations on the Amarillo campus; and |
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WHEREAS, The faculty, research staff, students, support |
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staff, and administration of the Texas Tech University Health |
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Sciences Center at Amarillo have lent their time, expertise, and |
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resources to expedite critical research and treatment in the |
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world's battle against COVID-19, and they are deserving of our |
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lasting gratitude for their tireless dedication to this endeavor; |
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now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas |
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Legislature hereby commend the faculty, research staff, students, |
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support staff, and administration of the Texas Tech University |
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Health Sciences Center at Amarillo for their exceptional |
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contributions in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic and extend to |
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all those associated with the effort sincere best wishes for |
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continued success in their important work; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the health sciences center as an expression of high |
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regard by the Texas House of Representatives. |