ATLANTA – State Representative Calvin Smyre (D-Columbus), Dean of the Georgia House of Representatives, was recently honored by Governor Brian Kemp and chosen as the namesake of the Georgia Research Alliance’s (GRA) collaborative sickle cell research position. Currently the longest-serving member in the Georgia General Assembly, Rep. Smyre was honored for his professional and civic contributions to the state.
“I want to thank Governor Kemp, Lt. Governor Geoff Duncan, Speaker David Ralston, the GRA and its partners for creating this position in my name,” said Rep. Smyre. “I also thank the Senate and House Appropriations chairmen, Senator Blake Tillery and Representative Terry England, along with my House and Senate colleagues who have strongly advocated for sickle cell funding in the budgetary process, namely Representative Gloria Frazier, who has led these legislative efforts at the Capitol for many years. I am also thankful for Chairman Butch Parrish, who leads the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Health, Representatives Carolyn Hugley, Al Williams, House Minority Leader James Beverly, Senate Minority Leader Gloria Butler, Senator Ed Harbison and Senator Tonya Anderson, chairwoman of the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus.”
The Calvin Smyre GRA Eminent Chair will partner with Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM), Emory University and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta (CHOA) during this five-year $15.85 million initiative to advance research for sickle cell disease (SCD). The Calvin Smyre GRA Eminent Scholar Chair is endowed with public and private funds, and MSM, Emory and CHOA will help recruit a national leader in sickle cell research to fill the position.
“When you first decide to run for public office, you just hope to leave some sort of imprint on your community and state, but you never expect to be honored like this along the way,” added Rep. Smyre. “I’ve learned in my many years that collaboration is key for getting anything worthwhile done, so I’m excited that the GRA is joining forces with our universities and medical experts to lay new ground in sickle cell research. This new initiative will definitely leave a lasting impact on the 8,000 Georgians living with this disease, and I wish Godspeed to the GRA on this new endeavor.”
In addition to the creation of this position, the GRA’s sick cell research initiative will work to secure funding for lab equipment and additional researchers at MSM and Emory. The initiative will also identify resources that will drive university lab research into clinics and markets. This GRA initiative will also support Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta’s pediatric SCD program.
The Georgia Research Alliance (GRA) helps Georgia’s university scientists do research and start more companies. By expanding research and entrepreneurship capacity at public and private universities, GRA seeks to grow the Georgia economy by driving more investment in the state, developing a high-tech workforce and strengthening Georgia’s reputation for innovation. For 30 years, GRA has worked in partnership with the University System of Georgia and the Georgia Department of Economic Development to create the companies and jobs of Georgia’s future. The GRA’s member universities include Augusta University, Clark Atlanta University, Emory University, Georgia Institute of Technology, Georgia State University, Mercer University, Morehouse School of Medicine and University of Georgia.
Rep. Smyre, a retired Synovus executive vice president, is currently a trustee for the Morehouse School of Medicine and chairs the Fort Valley State University Foundation.
For more information, please visit www.GRA.org.
Representative Calvin Smyre represents the citizens of District 135, which includes portions of Muscogee County. He was elected to the House of Representatives in 1974 and currently serves on the Special Committee on Access to Quality Health Care, Special Committee on Access to the Civil Justice System, and Special Committee on Election Integrity. He also serves as a member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Higher Education and the Transportation, Higher Education and Rules committees.
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