H.R. No. 800
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Dr. Huda Zoghbi was awarded the 2022 Kavli Prize in
Neuroscience by the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters; and
WHEREAS, The Kavli Prize honors scientists for breakthroughs
in the fields of astrophysics, nanoscience, and neuroscience, and
Dr. Zoghbi and her co-recipients were awarded the 2022 Kavli Prize
in Neuroscience for pioneering the discovery of genes underlying a
range of serious brain disorders and developing strategies for
diagnosis and treatment; and
WHEREAS, A world-renowned clinician-scientist, Dr. Zoghbi
received the award for her independent work identifying the
mutations in the MECP2 gene that cause Rett syndrome, which
develops in young girls and results in devastating motor and
cognitive symptoms; the award also recognizes her collaboration
with fellow award recipient Harry T. Orr on their work discovering
ATAXIN1, the gene underlying the neurodegenerative disease
spinocerebellar ataxia type 1; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Zoghbi is a professor of pediatrics, neurology,
neuroscience, and molecular and human genetics at Baylor College of
Medicine; she also serves as the founding director of the Jan and
Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children's
Hospital and as a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator;
moreover, she is a trustee emerita at Rice University and an elected
member of the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy
of Inventors; she has received numerous honors for her myriad
achievements, including the Vilcek Prize in Biomedical Research,
the Gruber Prize in Neuroscience, the Breakthrough Prize in Life
Sciences, and the Brain Prize; and
WHEREAS, Born in Lebanon, Dr. Zoghbi attended the American
University of Beirut; she moved to the United States after the
Lebanese Civil War broke out to continue medical school, and in
1979, she graduated from Meharry Medical College in Nashville; she
went on to complete her training in pediatric neurology and receive
a postdoctoral fellowship in molecular genetics at Baylor College
of Medicine in Houston; and
WHEREAS, The groundbreaking contributions of Dr. Huda Zoghbi
have placed her at the forefront of the field of neuroscience, and
her efforts are inspiring other scientists in the Lone Star State
and beyond; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas
Legislature hereby congratulate Dr. Huda Zoghbi on her receipt of
the 2022 Kavli Prize in Neuroscience and extend to her sincere best
wishes for continued success in her important work; and, be it
further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Dr. Zoghbi as an expression of high regard by the Texas
House of Representatives.
A. Johnson of Harris
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 800 was adopted by the House on April
5, 2023, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House