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.
Dominguez
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 159 was adopted by the House on
September 2, 2021, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House