By: Varun Kumar
December 1 2020
Singer Dolly Parton has acknowledged her $1 million contribution towards COVID-19 research at Vanderbilt University.
Singer Dolly Parton has acknowledged her $1 million contribution towards COVID-19 research at Vanderbilt University.Announcing her donation on Instagram in April 2020, Dolly Parton said her longtime friend Dr. Naji Abumrad, who is involved in research at Vanderbilt for many years, informed her that they were making some exciting advancements towards COVID-19 vaccine research. Parton donated $1 million to Vanderbilt towards that research. While speaking on BBC One's The One Show on November 17, Parton said she was excited to hear the news about the Moderna vaccine's nearly 95 percent effectiveness. Following Parton's contribution, a Vanderbilt spokesperson said Parton's generous donation helped numerous promising research initiatives. A portion of the singer's money went towards funding an early-stage trial of the Moderna vaccine. Jeff Balser, Vanderbilt's president and CEO said these funds would help them achieve promising research that could benefit millions in their battle with the virus. The Dolly Parton COVID-19 Research Fund was listed among the funders in a preliminary report on the Moderna vaccine published in the New England Journal of Medicine. The COVID-19 pandemic has given rise to a lot of potentially dangerous misinformation. For reliable advice on COVID-19 including symptoms, prevention and available treatment, please refer to the World Health Organisation or your national healthcare authority.