Texas Biomed shares critical work in development of Pfizer COVID vaccine Virtual Global Health Symposium April 29-30, 2021 will highlight role of preclinical research in vaccine development News provided by Share this article Share this article SAN ANTONIO, April 27, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- When the world was coming to grips with an emerging global pandemic a year ago, scientists at Texas Biomedical Research Institute sprang into action. The rhesus macaques at the Southwest National Primate Research Center (SNPRC) at Texas Biomed were quickly validated as models for studying vaccines designed to protect humans against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine was tested in this model at the Institute and has now been given to millions of people around the world.