HomeMy WebLinkAboutPRO-2021-002 Proclamation Honoring Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
PROCLAMATION
HONORING DR . KIZZMEKIA S . CORBETT
WHEREAS , Kizzmekia S . Corbett , PhD , is currently a research fellow in the Viral Pathogenesis Laboratory
at the National Institutes of Health [ NIH ] , National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases [ NIAID ] ,
Vaccine Research Center; and
WHEREAS , Kizzmekia Corbett , raised in the Cedar Grove community of Orange County , North Carolina ,
attended Orange County Schools during which time she spent two summers in the Project SEED Summer
Intern program " at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill , thus becoming a testament to her innate
abilities and to the value of investing in the education of youth ; and
WHEREAS , Dr. Corbett received her Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences , with a secondary major in
Sociology , in 2008 from the University of Maryland - Baltimore County , where she was a Meyerhoff Scholar
and an NIH undergraduate scholar; and
WHEREAS , Dr . Corbett earned her Doctorate of Philosophy in Microbiology and Immunology at the
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2014 ; and
WHEREAS , a viral immunologist by training , Dr. Corbett was appointed to the Viral Pathogenesis Laboratory
in 2014 , and has focused her work on developing novel coronavirus vaccines , in mRNX1273 , which
has become a primary vaccine against the virus that causes COVID - 19 ; and
WHEREAS , in response to the COVID- 19 pandemic , Dr. Corbett and her team designed the vaccine concept
incorporated in mRNA- 1273 from viral sequence and rapidly deployed to Moderna , Inc . , for FDA- approved
Phase 1 clinical trial , which began only 66 days from the viral sequence release , and was shown to be 94 . 1 %
effective in Phase 3 trial and received Emergency Use Authorization from the FDA ; and
WHEREAS , Dr. Corbett has received numerous honors , awards and fellowships , has been a keynote
speaker and invited lecturer at universities , medical schools and research centers across the nation , and has
published as a co - author, senior author and first author; and
WHEREAS , Dr. Corbett has been acknowledged by Dr. Anthony Fauci , NIAID Director, for her research and
successful results in the development of a vaccine for the novel coronavirus , and is now receiving national
acclaim ; and
WHEREAS , Dr. Corbett is an active member of the NIH Fellows Committee , an advocate of STEM education
and vaccine awareness , and a mentor , and engages in outreach to African American youth and adults ;
NOW , THEREFORE , the Orange County Board of County Commissioners , on behalf of the people of Orange
County , does hereby proclaim this day , Wednesday , January 20 , 2021 as
DR. KIZZMEKIA S . CORBETT DAY
in recognition of her remarkable accomplishments in the sciences and medicine , in acknowledgement of her
unprecedented research and success in thwarting a life4hreatening pandemic , and in honor of her
compassionate dedication to the health , safety and well - being of humanity .
This the 19th day of January , 2021 . C14 e.L
,
Ren e Price , Chair
Orange County Board of Commissioners