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| 3 | 4 | | |
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| 4 | 5 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
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| 5 | 6 | | WHEREAS, Dr. James P. Allison, chair of immunology at The |
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| 6 | 7 | | University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, was named the 2015 |
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| 7 | 8 | | winner of the Lasker-DeBakey Clinical Medical Research Award; and |
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| 8 | 9 | | WHEREAS, Presented by the Albert and Mary Lasker Foundation, |
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| 9 | 10 | | the Lasker Awards are considered among the most prestigious |
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| 10 | 11 | | scientific prizes in the world, and to date, 87 award recipients |
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| 11 | 12 | | have gone on to receive the Nobel Prize in their respective fields |
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| 12 | 13 | | of endeavor; and |
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| 13 | 14 | | WHEREAS, A highly acclaimed leader in cancer immunotherapy, |
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| 14 | 15 | | Dr. Jim Allison has conducted research into the biology of T-cells, |
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| 15 | 16 | | the white blood cells that play a key role in the body's immune |
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| 16 | 17 | | response; his work resulted in his discovery of an antibody that |
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| 17 | 18 | | stimulates the immune system to fight back against tumor cells; |
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| 18 | 19 | | recognized as a significant therapeutic breakthrough, this |
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| 19 | 20 | | achievement was instrumental in the development of the drug |
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| 20 | 21 | | Yervoy--the first treatment shown to extend the survival of |
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| 21 | 22 | | patients with late-stage, untreatable melanoma; and |
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| 22 | 23 | | WHEREAS, Dr. Allison earned his undergraduate and doctoral |
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| 23 | 24 | | degrees at The University of Texas at Austin, and he has been |
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| 24 | 25 | | affiliated with a number of respected research institutions over |
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| 25 | 26 | | the course of his career; since 2012, he has overseen the immunology |
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| 26 | 27 | | department at MD Anderson, where his accomplishments have included |
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| 27 | 28 | | the establishment of the cancer immunotherapy platform as part of |
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| 28 | 29 | | the Moon Shots Program, which brings together scientists and |
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| 29 | 30 | | clinicians to pursue new innovations in cancer treatment; he has |
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| 30 | 31 | | been honored with numerous professional accolades, including the |
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| 31 | 32 | | Science of Oncology Award from the American Society of Clinical |
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| 32 | 33 | | Oncology, the Paul Ehrlich and Ludwig Darmstaedter Prize, and the |
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| 33 | 34 | | International Award for Cancer Research from the Pezcoller |
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| 34 | 35 | | Foundation and American Association for Cancer Research; and |
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| 35 | 36 | | WHEREAS, The groundbreaking contributions of Dr. Jim Allison |
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| 36 | 37 | | have earned him a place at the forefront of a promising new field of |
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| 37 | 38 | | cancer research, and his efforts are inspiring other scientists in |
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| 38 | 39 | | the Lone Star State and beyond; now, therefore, be it |
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| 39 | 40 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
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| 40 | 41 | | Legislature hereby congratulate Dr. James P. Allison on his receipt |
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| 41 | 42 | | of the 2015 Lasker-DeBakey Clinical Medical Research Award and |
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| 42 | 43 | | extend to him sincere best wishes for continued success with his |
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| 43 | 44 | | important work; and, be it further |
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| 44 | 45 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 45 | 46 | | prepared for Dr. Allison as an expression of high regard by the |
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| 46 | 47 | | Texas House of Representatives. |
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