The UT Tower will shine with burnt orange lights Wednesday, October 13 to honor the researchers who helped create the COVID-19 vaccines.
As part of the Vaccine Celebration, the Tower lighting honors UT Austin’s own Jason McLellan and special guest Barney Graham, two scientists behind the COVID-19 vaccines.
An on-campus event featuring live music, science demonstrations, a COVID-19 vaccine pop-up station, giveaways and more was originally scheduled to take place earlier in the day, but it has been postponed due to inclement weather in the forecast. It will be rescheduled for another date and time.
McLellan, a professor in the Department of Molecular Biosciences, collaborated with researchers at the National Institutes of Health’s Vaccine Research Center to develop a stabilized spike protein now used as an antigen in many leading vaccines to fight the current coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2.
“These dedicated academic researchers and their colleagues provided the vital foundation that was necessary for many of the vaccines and treatments that hold great promise for humanity today,” said Paul Goldbart, former dean of UT Austin’s College of Natural Sciences. “It is fortunate for us all that, not only was the seed corn of basic research planted long ago, here at The University of Texas at Austin and beyond, but that these scientists have worked tirelessly all year to ensure the arrival of vaccines, treatments and knowledge to curb the coronavirus crisis.”
Learn more about McLellan and his work:
