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WestGrayGuy

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Posts posted by WestGrayGuy

  1. Texas A&M has been awarded a very large governmental grant to create one of three national bio defense centers.

    Quote
    From the Star Tribune:

    AUSTIN, Texas - The Texas A&M University System will be the home of one of three national biodefense centers to help the country quickly develop vaccines in the event of a pandemic and strategies for responding to bioterrorism. Texas A&M's Center for Innovation in Advanced Development and Manufacturing was one of three centers announced Monday by Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and Texas A&M System Chancellor John Sharp.

    A second center will be led by Emergent Manufacturing Operations Baltimore LLC in Maryland in partnership with Michigan State University, Kettering University in Michigan and the University of Maryland-Baltimore. A third center will be based in North Carolina, and led by Novartis, in partnership with North Carolina State University in Raleigh and Duke University in Durham.

    The biodefense centers will work to develop and manufacture vaccines to rapidly respond and protect against influenza pandemics and conduct research and training for responding to chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats.

    "The threats we face today as a nation are constantly evolving," Sebelius said, calling the centers a "dramatic step forward in ensuring that the United States can produce life-saving countermeasures quickly and nimbly.

    "They will improve our ability to protect Americans' health in an emergency," Sebelius said.

    The federal government will spent about $400 million on the initial contracts. Texas A&M will get about $176 million in federal money with another $109 million from its commercial and academic partners. The state of Texas already has committed about $ 40 million to the project.

    Texas A&M will partner with pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline's facility in Pennsylvania, Kalon Biotherapeutics in College Station and more than 20 other public and private researchers across the country.

    University system officials project a long-term investment in the billions and laud it as the biggest federal program to be awarded to the state of Texas since NASA.

    "It's a game-changer for us, and, we think, for Texas," Sharp said. "This is just another war: A war against natural pandemics and not-so-natural terrorism."

    In 2010, President Barack Obama said he wanted the country to develop a new plan for a better and quicker response to bioterrorism threats and attacks. The move came after the Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation gave the government a failing grade for its efforts to prepare for and respond to a biological attack.

    Sharp said Texas A&M was well-positioned to bid for the project, given its historical connection to the military and its ongoing research in the fields of engineering, life sciences and veterinary medicine.

    The system's flagship campus in College Station already built the National Center for Therapeutics Manufacturing and had developed a cheaper version of industrial "clean rooms" that could speed up vaccine testing to unprecedented rates.

    Sharp also projected spinoff research and development in fields such as cancer research, predicting the contract will results in the thousands of construction and professional jobs for the state.

    "This is a once-in-a-generation research grant that will profoundly enhance national security," Sharp said.

    Good news for Texas and Texas A&M

    http://onehealthplusbiocorridor.com/

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  2. I am as pro inner loop as they come. I personally don't get the appeal of the suburbs. However, the suburbs provide what the people want; a bigger house on its own piece of land. Add "better" schools with decent jobs and you have the American dream.

    I too think it is inevitable. The Katy prairie is flat, seems to drain pretty well, and ideal for the forthcoming sprawl of Houston. The area between 290 and I-10 is ripe for colonization.

    • Like 1
  3. Houston will stop growing outward when we run out of land, which is never. As long as people can buy a cheap house on a large piece of land with decent schools, sprawl continues.

    Also, with the price of oil hovering around $100, Houston will be the place to be for a long time. People come to Houston for a chance to get ahead. Our cost of living is ridiculously cheap compared to other parts of the country.

  4. I am glad to see this go up. There is a old house next to plot of land I believe. It is known for having the Eric Dick for City Council signs. I am wondering if it will come down anytime soon. This part of lower West Gray is filling in nicely. I christen it LoWeGray.

  5. I find it ironic that some people on this forum dub Houston the "tear down capital of the world" yet advocate tearing down Jones Hall. I agree that the facility is outdated with poor restroom facilities. I much prefer Hobby over Jones. But we need to be more mindful of our aging buildings. This mentality tore down the gems of the past. All buildings age. Jones is architecturally significant and, in my opinion, should be preserved.

  6. The homeless seem to be getting more aggresive. Not only with they offer to watch your car while you go eat at say BW3, now they want to wash your windows with their "squeegee" and "water". Anytime I may venture into the CVS in midtown, there always seems to be a homeless person waiting outside. I even heard a woman who lived nearby in Post Midtown say that they follow her home sometimes.

    Has anyone else noticed these more aggressive variety?

  7. I just found this thread. It is very fascinating to me as I grew up in Brazoria but practically lived in Lake Jackson during my formative years of the 70's and 80's. Unfortunately, I went to high school in West Columbia (poorest school in the county) although I lived closer to Brazoswood HS. I always resented that. I loved the root bear stand in Freeport. I used to go to Quintana beach all the time. It was nicer than Bryan beach but not as expensive as Surfside.

    I saw many a movie at the old Lake I and II theaters in Lake Jackson. Does anyone remember the old drive in between Angleton and Freeport on the old 288? I saw 9 to 5 there back in the day.

    My dad worked for Dow for 30 years before retiring. He stills lives down in Brazoria. Ever time I visit it seems nothing ever changes. I love living in Houston but my roots are in the love it or hate it little area known as Brazosport.

  8. Okay, so I finally went to what must be the fourth try for this location, the District 7 Grill. I had lunch there and I must say that it was pretty good. I had the District Burger with Swiss and Mushrooms. The kicker was the bread. It was amazing, crispy and slightly sweet. I am thinking that this incarnation of the grill might survive as it has other locations around town.

    I enjoyed the interior. It was not as small as I had imagined it would be. The booths are bright colors (turquoise and pink). Overall the service was friendly and prompt.

    Go check it out HAIFers!

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