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6 <br /> WHEREAS, Dr. Corbett received her Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences, with a <br /> secondary major in Sociology, in 2008 from the University of Maryland-Baltimore County, where <br /> she was a Meyerhoff Scholar and an NIH undergraduate scholar; and <br /> WHEREAS, Dr. Corbett earned her Doctorate of Philosophy in Microbiology and Immunology at <br /> the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2014; and <br /> WHEREAS, a viral immunologist by training, Dr. Corbett was appointed to the Viral <br /> Pathogenesis Laboratory in 2014, and has focused her work on developing novel coronavirus <br /> vaccines, including mRNA-1273, which has become a primary vaccine against the virus that <br /> causes COVID-19; and <br /> WHEREAS, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Corbett and her team designed the <br /> vaccine concept incorporated in mRNA-1273 from viral sequence and rapidly deployed to <br /> Moderna, Inc., for FDA-approved Phase 1 clinical trial, which began only 66 days from the viral <br /> sequence release, and was shown to be 94.1% effective in Phase 3 trial and received <br /> Emergency Use Authorization from the FDA; and <br /> WHEREAS, Dr. Corbett has received numerous honors, awards and fellowships, has been a <br /> keynote speaker and invited lecturer at universities, medical schools and research centers <br /> across the nation, and has 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 <br /> research and successful results in the development of a vaccine for the novel coronavirus, and <br /> is now receiving national acclaim; and <br /> WHEREAS, Dr. Corbett is an active member of the NIH Fellows Committee, an advocate of <br /> STEM education and vaccine awareness, and a mentor, and engages in outreach to African <br /> American youth and adults; <br /> NOW, THEREFORE, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners, on behalf of the <br /> people of Orange 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 <br /> acknowledgement of her unprecedented research and success in thwarting a life-threatening <br /> pandemic, and in honor of her compassionate dedication to the health, safety and well-being of <br /> humanity. <br /> This the 19th day of January, 2021. <br /> Renee Price, Chair <br /> Orange County Board of Commissioners <br /> A motion was made by Chair Price, seconded by Commissioner Dorosin to approve the <br /> Proclamation honoring Dr. Kizzmekia S. Corbett for her role in the development of a vaccine to <br /> address the COVID-19 pandemic and authorize the Chair to sign the proclamation. <br /> Roll call ensued <br />