Author: Emily Gautreaux

UL Lafayette Reveals its Role in the COVID-19 Vaccine Development

The University of Louisiana at Lafayette has had a hand in the development, effectiveness, and success of the world’s first fully tested COVID-19 immunization approved for emergency use, the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, according to a press release from the school.

The effectiveness of the vaccine was determined through nonhuman trials that involved primates at UL Lafayette’s New Iberia Research Center. Jane Fontenot, NIRC’s director of Contract Research commented on the opportunity saying, “We are so privileged to have been on the front lines of the fight against the pandemic. It’s very rewarding.”

Studies have shown that the vaccine is 95 percent effective at preventing COVID-19 after the administration of two doses. The United Kingdom was the first nation to issue an emergency authorization for the use of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine in December, with the United States, the European Union, and other countries following suit soon after.

Up until now, UL Lafayette has been unable to discuss their historic role in the vaccine’s development due to confidentiality agreements with Pfzier. A publication in the peer-reviewed journal Nature is the first public confirmation of the University’s participation in this astounding effort. Fontenot co-authored the publication announcing the involvement.

Rhesus Macaques at NIRC were immunized as early as last spring as part of nonhuman primate clinical trials of the vaccine. The process involved staff administering vaccines, collecting samples, and observing the animals “for any signs of problems,” Fontenot noted. “That included evidence of pain, elevated temperatures, loss of appetite – any symptoms that may have raised concern about tolerability.”

Afterwards, the NIRC staff helped to facilitate the transfer of the vaccinated animals to the Southwest National Primate Center, which is affiliated with the Texas Biomedical Research Institute. The San Antonio-located center includes abiosafety level 3 facility, meaning that it can securely handle love, airborne infectious august such as COVID-19. The New Iberia Research Center is a biosafety level 2 facility, though UL Lafayette is seeking funding to raise it up to level 3 status.

A month after first receiving the vaccinations at NIRA, the rhesus macaques underwent the challenge phase of the trial which involved them being exposed to COVID-19, and results showed that the vaccine offered protection from the virus. Then, the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was authorized by the federal Food and Drug Administration for emergency use in mid-December 2020, about one year after COVID-19 first emerged in the world.

The rapid pace with which the vaccine was developed had depended on pre-existing relationships that the biopharmaceutical giant had with research facilities such as NIRC. This was said by Dr. Ramesh Kolluru, UL Lafayette’s vice-president for Research, Innovation, and Economic development. 

Dr. Kolluru reportedly said, ““We were instrumental in Pfizer being able to work as quickly as they did.” He went on to cite both the vaccine’s development and the role that the University played as an “example of the power of public-private partnerships. NIRC’s long history of collaborations with biomedical research companies and others provided a baseline of expertise on which the center could rely on its role in the vaccine’s development. The relationships we’ve nurtured over the decades enabled us to be a part of this historic answer to a global challenge.”

UL Lafayette’s president, Dr. Joseph Savoie said that both the University and its researchers “were prepared to meet this moment. Few areas of life have escaped the pandemic’s effects, so to contribute to something that brings hope to the world is truly extraordinary.”

The New Iberia Research Center is the nation’s largest academically-affiliated, nonhuman primate research center, and it’s home to over 8,500 nonhuman primates.

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Southern Weekend Getaways

The Southern treasures of Atlanta, Georgia and Jacksonville, Florida have recently resurfaced as tempting travel destinations by way of Southern Living’s recommendation. Both Atlanta’s Midtown neighborhood and Jacksonville’s cosmopolitan beach scene have a lot to offer the traveler that craves excitement alongside relaxation. As always, be sure to travel safely and responsibly by checking local government restrictions and CDC guidelines.

The Midtown Neighborhood of Atlanta, Georgia

Midtown Atlanta is practically a new city altogether thanks to its burgeoning neighborhood with its inclusive array for hearty, stylish shops, museums, and restaurants to peruse. Everything about this locale invites you to indulge in this Georgia Peach just as you would the Big Apple.

This setting is absolutely perfect for anyone who self-identifies as a style-setter wanting a big-city southern weekend getaway. If that describes you, then begin your sojourn with the heart and height of Atlanta’s art scene, the High Museum of Art, or take in the experienced sights of the new-to-the-neighborhood Museum of Design Atlanta and its celebration of item design that includes items from handbags to graffitied skateboards.

Reinvigorate your style by shopping at Billy Reed’s new outpost in the Westside Provisions District, which emcompassess a collection of boutiques that are housed in a former meatpacking plant.

If you’re hungry, definitely expect to order oysters on the half shell from chef Ford Fry’s latest seafood venture, The Optimist. Alternatively, taste southern decadence with a supper consisting of pork belly with sweet tea-jus at the lavish restaurant, The Lawrence. Then, top it all off with an unforgettable chocolate-chip cookie dough cheesecake from Café Intermezzo.

Take advantage of all that Atlanta’s Midtown neighborhood has to offer today by booking a stay in one of the comfortable rooms of The Artmore Hotel, which is nestled inside a classic, 1920’s building, rivaling the many chains of Atlanta.

 The Beachtown of Jacksonville, Florida

Located further down south, this cosmopolitan beach scene favors relaxation to luxury, but it avoids the tacky entirely, if done right. The key is sticking to the water, and in Jacksonville it’s simply everywhere. The city itself is perched against the Atlantic Ocean, and it’s split into two by the St. Johns River. Southern Living offers the following guide to the ideal Jacksonville Weekend stay.

Arrive on a Friday for a southern weekend getaway, unpack your bags after checking in to The Sea Turtle Inn, which is the lodging that also suits famed novelist John Grisham. The Sea Turtle is even still sparkling from its $6.5 million renovation, and its rates are affordable at an average of $109 in the off-season.

The hotel’s restaurant specializes in Floribbean cuisine, which is a combination of Caribbean spices and traditional freshly-caught fare.

On Saturday morning, an early riser can catch the unforgettable Florida sunrise and then head over to The Coffee Grinder, the cozy coffee shop located next to a local gift shop that’s full of souvenirs, standard postcards, and watercolors that you’re practically required to browse and purchase for your loved one back on the mainland.

Spend Saturday on the beach, in the sun, and around the water, but once you’re tired or looking for something different, be sure to take a walk over to a local book store like The Book Mark. Similarly, you could peruse the wares of Patina and purchase some niche home accents and furnishings that are comfortably vintage.

Depending on your energy levels, you’re free to head in for the night or explore the sights along the SS. Marine Taxi,The Jacksonville Landing, and/or The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens. All in all, Jacksonville has a little something for everyone, and you’d be delighted to find your favorite corner- whatever it may be.

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Houma-Thibodaux Live Entertainment Pivots Amidst Pandemic

One cultural casualty of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic is the loss of live entertainment, specifically the silencing of live music in the Houma-Thibodaux area.  Yet despite limited crowd sizes and venue restrictions, some have been able to host live acts again, as reported by Houma Today.

Since the pandemic struck in early 2020, many musicians and those that depend on regular occasions of live entertainment have had to endure long stretches off-stage and get reactive with how to supplement or replace the subsequently decreased income.

One such pivot-er is Casie Thibodeaux who makes up half of the popular husband-and-wife acoustic duo Casie and Jonny. The lively, loving pair has found success in their niche performances on Facebook Live where they use the online payment tool Venmo to allow viewers to pay whatever they want when viewing the show.

Thibodeaux said of the virtual concert series, “we tried it out one afternoon in the backyard. We live-streamed a four-hour show, and people tipped us, and we thought, OK, we can still make money. We picked up people from Canada, from Texas, from Arkansas, people who didn’t know us but were looking for live music streams.”

While Casie and Jonny are just starting to perform live again, they have continued their online performances on Wednesdays and Saturdays, weekly. Thibodeaux commented on the hesitation in getting back to performing live by saying, “I didn’t get back out into the public myself, since August. Slowly but surely, some of the smaller restaurants found ways to have patios, so we could play to people on the patio.”

That hesitation in the name of safety isn’t at all misplaced, as bars and restaurants are concerned about the possibility of virus transmission occurring at live music shows, even with the reduced patron capacities due to COVID-19. Such restrictions make it difficult for restaurants to host live entertainment, as bars and restaurants are restricted under the modified Phase 2 order of Gov. John Bel Edwards.

It’s all taken on a parish-by-parish basis with the indoor sales and consumption in bars that are located in parisheswith a positivity rate exceeding 5% being restricted. Though, they are able to open for outdoor consumption at tables only, as long as they are also at 25% capacity. All restaurants are thus limited to 50% of their indoor capacity and are encouraged to move as much dining as they are able outdoors. Recently, bars in neither Terrebonne or Lafourchecould open for indoor business, so the few places hosting live music were restaurants with suitable outdoor spaces.

Frank Ball, the famed Houma blues and rock guitarist, said that he had a bout of COVID-19 himself, which he suspects was passed to him while playing a private Christmas party. He uses this experience to inform his practices and be extra careful when he takes the stage.

He said of the learning opportunity, “I wasn’t too anxious to get back into clubs, given that we’re in a pandemic, but most of the gigs that I’m playing have outdoor stages; you’re not in an enclosed area. I played with a band the other day, and we were separated from the people, but I don’t feel they were social-distancing the way they should be. They just looked like nothing was going on, most of them weren’t wearing masks. I wouldn’t want to be down there mingling with the crowd like that.”

Not all hope is lost during such uncertain times as a new local 3-piece house band, the Supersoakers, have gained a safe foothold in the local music scene, thus giving a semblance of hope in these haze times.

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Delicious Skillet Turkey Chili

Besides baking bread, quarantine cookies, and tacos becoming popular, habitual dishes to make and bake this past spring, many found comfort in perfecting the art of the hearty chili. One chef over at the Smitten Kitchen shared their experience with this skillet turkey chili recipe that will have your mouth watering and your table delighted.

This recipe is described as having “a more fitting yield for a weeknight” than it did in a previous incarnation. It also “adds ingredients in what” the chef considers to be “a better order, [and] only uses turkey and beans, the spices are more balanced, and by balanced, [they] mean, we no longer use 1/3 cup chili powder, thank heavens.” This chili recipe is perfect for that late February cold front, a quick weekday meal, or a hearty sunday afternoon slow-cook.

Ingredients for Skillet Chili

  • 2 tablespoons of olive oil
  • 1 large onion, chopped finely
  • 3 cloves of garlic, minced
  • 2 teaspoons of kosher salt
  • 1 to 3 teaspoons of ground chile powder
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 pound of ground turkey
  • 1 15-ounce can of black or small red beans, drained & rinsed
  • 1 15-ounce can diced tomatoes
  • 1 lime

To Serve:

Skillet Chili Recipe

  • Begin by taking your large skillet (ideally one that is 11 to 12 inches in diameter) and heat it over medium-high heat. Once hot, add in your olive oil, and let it warm up. Then, add your onion and cook it until it’s somewhat softened, about 4 minutes total. Add your garlic, salt, your first teaspoon of chile powder (maybe more, to taste), oregano, and cumin- cooking it all for 1 to 2 minutes.
  • Add your turkey next, and use your spatula to break it up and work the onion mixture through it. Cook until it’s all lightly brown at the edges and no pink remains, which is about 5 minutes total. Then, add your beans and tomatoes, refilling your empty tomato can with water, and set the can aside.
  • Bring the whole chili mixture to a simmer, and cook it for 25 to 30 minutes while stirring it regularly. Add the reserved can of water 1/3rd at a time whenever the mixture looks dry. Taste it for salt and spice, adjusting as needed and in accordance to your particular preference. The chef adds up to 2 additional teaspoons of a mild chili powder. If possible, allow your chilli to rest for 5 minutes off of the heat before serving, as it sets up the texture nicely. Finish it all off with juice of half a lime and any fixings you’d like.

Note: Chili Powder is a spice blend that’s intended for Tex-Mex chili, being made from ground chiles and dried hot peppers. Chili powders range a lot in heat, so anyone cooking ought to use their preferred level of heat when choosing a powder. Alternatively, or in addition (depending on preference) you can add 1 tablespoon puree from a can of chipotles en adobo to provide a powerful, flavorful kick when preparing this chile. For the turkey, the chef prefers a blend of both dark and light meat. Lastly, for the red pickled onions, a quick way to prepare it is to cut half of a small red onion into thin wedges, toss with juice from half a lime, two good pinches of salt, one pinch of sugar, and set it all aside while cooking the chili.

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Nicholls Farm Gets Donation For Coastal Restoration Efforts

For the fifth year in a row, the Nicholls Farm has received a sizable donation in order to advance their research into coastal restoration, as per a feature from the University’s press department.

Recently, The Port of South Louisiana once again displayed their support of Nicholls State University and their efforts towards coastal restoration by way of an $18,000 donation. The fund will reportedly be used to produce native coastal plant materials for restoration projects, to support student coastal research projects, and to help with all that is involved with actively maintaining and upkeep the Nicholls Farm.

Nicholls Farm is an educational research center located on a 277-acre farm three miles south of Nicholls’ campus. In addition to serving as an environmental research center, the property also serves as an education center for Nicholls and other partners. Labs, classrooms, greenhouses, shade houses, storage barns, and a 7.5 acre-pond for wetland plant production are all housed at the farm.

Coastal restoration efforts are spearheaded by Nicholls biology students and faculty, and together they have grown, harvested, and planted over 35,000 plants in coastal habitats in recent years.

Dr. Allyse Ferrara, a distinguished service professor and Jerry Ledet Endowed Professor of Environmental Biologysaid of the donations to the farm, “Support from organizations like the Port of South Louisiana is absolutely critical for our native coastal plant materials program. Without support from the Port, we would not have the ability to hire students to maintain the farm and produce plants for restoration projects, and we would lose an important source of supply funds for the farm. We very much appreciate the support we have received from the Port and look forward to continuing this valuable relationship.”

The Nicolls Farm will continue to play an important, key role in the University’s growing commitment to restoring coastal Louisiana. The university is helped in these efforts by public-private partnerships. One such effort is to rebuild a bridge that will expand faculty access to farmland which can be used to plant rare and native Louisiana plants; additionally there are plans to expand research as well as educational capabilities at the farm. There are also plans for the site to partner with the planned Nicholls Coastal Center for conducting coastal research.

These donations are greatly needed and thus appreciated, as they show support for the restoration to one of the most vital aspects of Southern Louisiana’s culture and environmental landscape. The Port of South Louisiana is the premier sea gateway for U.S. export and import traffic, and it stands within American’s largest tonnage Port district.

The Port of South Louisiana has its headquarters located in LaPlace, Louisiana, and it stretches 54 miles along theMississippi River, making it the largest tonnage port in the entire Western Hemisphere. This single stretch of river contains 67 industries, thus supporting over 30,000 jobs.

With these statistics, the need for coastal restoration cannot be understated, so it is imperative that institutions take direction from Nicholls State University’s Nicholls Farm in order to rebuild the Louisiana Coast. Thus, with donations annually coming in from The Port of South Louisiana, strides are appreciated made in these efforts.

Paul Sucoin, the executive director of the Port commented on such importance by saying, “it’s important for everyone to get involved in coastal protection and coastal restoration. Our future depends on it, and this contribution is our small way of contributing to that effort. I we don’t do this, we will lose our coast. We will lose Thibodaux. We will lose Louisiana,” Aucoin said. “We are not in the business of coastal restoration. So we help by contributing to programs like Nicholls State University that are.”

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Smartly Booking a Home Rental in 2021

Ever since last spring, many have been looking for an escape from their all-too-familiar environment, and as a result, the market for private home rentals and lodging has predictably increased. Luckily Travel and Leisure offers the following advice so that your next vacation can be booked at a satisfying price and location.

Travelers searching for stand-alone villas, condos, and cabins that allow for social distancing, CDC compliance and ample space for relaxation may need to change up their vacation-booking rulebook in 2021. The normal rules for choosing the right vacation location won’t apply as they have in the past, so keep in mind the following new rules.

When you Should Travel

This year peak seasons will most likely not follow the conventional calendar, and in fact, peak seasons may not even occur at all. This is due to the fact that so many people are now willing to work from home in order to supervise and be near their children enrolled in hybrid or virtual classes.

Alison Kwong, who is a spokesperson for Vrbo, a company that specializes in making informed decisions when booking vacations, said that this year “travel won’t be as closely tied to the school calendar, and many families now have the freedom to start their long weekends early.” Kwong recommended to start any preliminary search for a destination with only a destination, omitting any specific dates. This way, the number of results shown will be absolutely maximized, thus giving you more options.

Being supplied with this unique sense of flexibility when booking will also result in certain destinations offering deals in place of their typical expensive price tags. CEO of Overseas Leisure Group, offers similar predictions, and he is keeping a watchful eye on the coast of Southern California from October to February, Palm Springs from November to January, and Arizona in May.

Where you Should Travel

This year data suggests that more and more people are opting to stay closer to home rather than book a far-away trip. Last year, Airbnb’s top cities for Americans to travel to included London, Rome, and Paris, but this year it’s homes that are near United States National Parks, ski towns, and beaches that are most popular. Specific popularized locations include rentals in the Great Smoky Mountains; Breckenridge, Colorado; Davenport, Florida; and Palm Springs, California.

Additionally, Airbnb reported an increase in searches for lodgings that are private home rentals that are one-of-a-kind , such as their collections oftree houses, geodesic domes, yurts, and tiny houses.  Also, while rentals in Europe are often searched for on similar sites, fewer and fewer have thus far been booked, as hesitation to travel particularly far from home is still quite strong.

How Far Ahead you Should Book

In a “normal year,” guests would book a vacation an average of 142 days ahead of a trip, according to Vacasa’s Josh Viner. However, in fall 2020, that window had shrunken to an average of just 40 days due to travel restrictions often changing and the spur-of-the-moment flexibility that working from home can provide.

That being said, you’re always more likely to find the best selection of rental properties and prices the further ahead you plan. The real trick is to double-check all cancellation policies on any property you consider. Companies like Airbnb and Vrbo allow users to filter their search results by which listings are fully refundable. Kwong remarked on these benefits by saying, “booking early gives you peace of mind, but this way you’ll have the freedom to cancel penalty-free if your travel plans end up changing.” In 2021, make a commitment to travel smart and safely whenever you can.

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