87S21520 BHH-D
 
  By: Dominguez H.R. No. 159
 
 
 
R E S O L U T I O N
         WHEREAS, Dr. Barney Graham has contributed significantly to
  the development of lifesaving COVID-19 vaccines, and he is indeed
  deserving of special recognition; and
         WHEREAS, A graduate of Rice University in 1975, Dr. Graham
  went on to earn his medical degree at the University of Kansas
  School of Medicine and to obtain a Ph.D. in microbiology and
  immunology from the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine; he
  then joined the faculty at Vanderbilt as a professor of medicine
  with a joint appointment in the department of microbiology and
  immunology; in 2000, he became a founding investigator for the
  Vaccine Research Center at the National Institute of Allergy and
  Infectious Diseases, and he currently serves as deputy director of
  the center and chief of the Viral Pathogenesis Laboratory and
  Translational Science Core; and
         WHEREAS, Over the course of his career, Dr. Graham has made
  invaluable advancements in vaccine science; his work on respiratory
  syncytial virus led to a breakthrough in the understanding of
  coronaviruses and made possible a rapid response to the COVID-19
  pandemic; and
         WHEREAS, During the race to provide COVID-19 vaccines,
  Dr. Graham frequently collaborated with his longtime friend and
  former colleague, Dr. Bill Gruber, who is senior vice president of
  vaccine clinical research and development at Pfizer; Dr. Graham's
  laboratory partnered with Moderna to develop a vaccine using a new,
  gene-based technology, while Dr. Gruber oversaw a similar project
  at Pfizer; the two communicated regularly to exchange information,
  and both vaccines were authorized for use by the Food and Drug
  Administration in late 2020; and
         WHEREAS, Through his monumental efforts, Barney Graham has
  helped alleviate suffering and save the lives of innumerable
  people, and in so doing, he has earned the deep respect and
  appreciation of all who are privileged to know him; now, therefore,
  be it
         RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas
  Legislature, 2nd Called Session, hereby honor Dr. Barney Graham for
  his contributions to the development of COVID-19 vaccines and
  extend to him sincere best wishes for continued success in his
  important work; and, be it further
         RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
  prepared for Dr. Graham as an expression of high regard by the Texas
  House of Representatives.