Dolly Parton dies aged 80 – researchers celebrate her contributions to science

909 points by The_Weekend_Baker a day ago on reddit | 8 comments

[OP] The_Weekend_Baker | a day ago

>One of Parton’s longest-lasting influences on science is her part in creating one of the major vaccines against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. In March 2020, Parton gave US$1 million to Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC), in Nashville, Tennessee, which created the Dolly Parton COVID-19 Research Fund.

>According to Mark Denison, a Vanderbilt paediatrician and researcher in infectious diseases, the money helped to fund the “critical” early stages of research into a then experimental mRNA vaccine eventually produced by Moderna, a biotechnology firm based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The fund is acknowledged in the first published report of a phase I trial of the vaccine, which appeared in the New England Journal of Medicine in July 20201.

>At least 37 research papers credit the Dolly Parton COVID-19 Research Fund with support, according to a Nature analysis of the Dimensions database (part of Digital Science, a firm operated by the Holtzbrinck Publishing Group, which has a share in Nature’s publisher, Springer Nature).

LaSage | 23 hours ago

This is the Way.

[OP] The_Weekend_Baker | 19 hours ago

At a time when the current administration is trying to destroy public health, she was the anti-RFK.

Own_Ad6901 | 18 hours ago

Dolly is legend. Everything about her was just amazing. She was truly a gift to all in so many ways.

Izawwlgood | 16 hours ago

What an absolute legend. Every time she laughed her wonderful giggle laugh, an angel got a wig.

Absolutely an entry in the saints of admirable human beings up there with Mr Rogers and Steve Irwin. Just tirelessly pursuing their dream of making the world a better place with action and positivity. We lost another great one, and while the world is a little dimmer for the loss, it was made so much brighter for her work.

Her memory will be a blessing.

[OP] The_Weekend_Baker | 14 hours ago

I'm just glad the mods let this stand (thought it might get deleted when I posted it). She wasn't a scientist herself, but she was a huge science advocate. That Nature recognized her only cements her status as an overwhelming force for good.

costafilh0 | 5 hours ago

Missed immortality by just a couple of decades. Sad.

grilledcheesy11 | 4 hours ago

What a badass, helped cure covid amongst all the other amazing things shes done.