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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Dr. Barney Graham has contributed significantly to |
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the development of lifesaving COVID-19 vaccines, and he is indeed |
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deserving of special recognition; and |
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WHEREAS, A graduate of Rice University in 1975, Dr. Graham |
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went on to earn his medical degree at the University of Kansas |
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School of Medicine and to obtain a Ph.D. in microbiology and |
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immunology from the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine; he |
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then joined the faculty at Vanderbilt as a professor of medicine |
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with a joint appointment in the department of microbiology and |
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immunology; in 2000, he became a founding investigator for the |
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Vaccine Research Center at the National Institute of Allergy and |
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Infectious Diseases, and he currently serves as deputy director of |
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the center and chief of the Viral Pathogenesis Laboratory and |
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Translational Science Core; and |
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WHEREAS, Over the course of his career, Dr. Graham has made |
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invaluable advancements in vaccine science; his work on respiratory |
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syncytial virus led to a breakthrough in the understanding of |
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coronaviruses and made possible a rapid response to the COVID-19 |
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pandemic; and |
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WHEREAS, During the race to provide COVID-19 vaccines, |
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Dr. Graham frequently collaborated with his longtime friend and |
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former colleague, Dr. Bill Gruber, who is senior vice president of |
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vaccine clinical research and development at Pfizer; Dr. Graham's |
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laboratory partnered with Moderna to develop a vaccine using a new, |
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gene-based technology, while Dr. Gruber oversaw a similar project |
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at Pfizer; the two communicated regularly to exchange information, |
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and both vaccines were authorized for use by the Food and Drug |
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Administration in late 2020; and |
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WHEREAS, Through his monumental efforts, Barney Graham has |
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helped alleviate suffering and save the lives of innumerable |
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people, and in so doing, he has earned the deep respect and |
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appreciation of all who are privileged to know him; now, therefore, |
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be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas |
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Legislature, 2nd Called Session, hereby honor Dr. Barney Graham for |
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his contributions to the development of COVID-19 vaccines and |
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extend to him sincere best wishes for continued success in his |
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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 Dr. Graham as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |