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ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
<br /> PROCLAMATION
<br /> HONORING DR . KIZZMEKIA S . CORBETT
<br /> WHEREAS , Kizzmekia S . Corbett , PhD , is currently a research fellow in the Viral Pathogenesis Laboratory
<br /> at the National Institutes of Health [ NIH ] , National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases [ NIAID ] ,
<br /> Vaccine Research Center; and
<br /> WHEREAS , Kizzmekia Corbett , raised in the Cedar Grove community of Orange County , North Carolina ,
<br /> attended Orange County Schools during which time she spent two summers in the Project SEED Summer
<br /> Intern program " at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill , thus becoming a testament to her innate
<br /> abilities and to the value of investing in the education of youth ; and
<br /> WHEREAS , Dr. Corbett received her Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences , with a secondary major in
<br /> Sociology , in 2008 from the University of Maryland - Baltimore County , where she was a Meyerhoff Scholar
<br /> and an NIH undergraduate scholar; and
<br /> WHEREAS , Dr . Corbett earned her Doctorate of Philosophy in Microbiology and Immunology at the
<br /> University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2014 ; and
<br /> WHEREAS , a viral immunologist by training , Dr. Corbett was appointed to the Viral Pathogenesis Laboratory
<br /> in 2014 , and has focused her work on developing novel coronavirus vaccines , in mRNX1273 , which
<br /> has become a primary vaccine against the virus that causes COVID - 19 ; and
<br /> WHEREAS , in response to the COVID- 19 pandemic , Dr. Corbett and her team designed the vaccine concept
<br /> incorporated in mRNA- 1273 from viral sequence and rapidly deployed to Moderna , Inc . , for FDA- approved
<br /> Phase 1 clinical trial , which began only 66 days from the viral sequence release , and was shown to be 94 . 1 %
<br /> effective in Phase 3 trial and received Emergency Use Authorization from the FDA ; and
<br /> WHEREAS , Dr. Corbett has received numerous honors , awards and fellowships , has been a keynote
<br /> speaker and invited lecturer at universities , medical schools and research centers across the nation , and has
<br /> published as a co - author, senior author and first author; and
<br /> WHEREAS , Dr. Corbett has been acknowledged by Dr. Anthony Fauci , NIAID Director, for her research and
<br /> successful results in the development of a vaccine for the novel coronavirus , and is now receiving national
<br /> acclaim ; and
<br /> WHEREAS , Dr. Corbett is an active member of the NIH Fellows Committee , an advocate of STEM education
<br /> and vaccine awareness , and a mentor , and engages in outreach to African American youth and adults ;
<br /> NOW , THEREFORE , the Orange County Board of County Commissioners , on behalf of the people of Orange
<br /> County , does hereby proclaim this day , Wednesday , January 20 , 2021 as
<br /> DR. KIZZMEKIA S . CORBETT DAY
<br /> in recognition of her remarkable accomplishments in the sciences and medicine , in acknowledgement of her
<br /> unprecedented research and success in thwarting a life4hreatening pandemic , and in honor of her
<br /> compassionate dedication to the health , safety and well - being of humanity .
<br /> This the 19th day of January , 2021 . C14 e.L
<br /> ,
<br /> Ren e Price , Chair
<br /> Orange County Board of Commissioners
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