Thirty-seven juniors and high school seniors from Bexar County public schools are spending the summer connecting with scientists from the Texas Biomedical Research Institute.

Scientists in San Antonio are working on what could eventually be a new vaccine for avian flu, or bird flu. The research has been going on for years, but recent news about cattle flue outbreaks has perked their ears.

No, the DNA used in this vaccine does not come from people. It is produced in bacteria. The UK company chose Texas Biomed for their research because of it's high standards and proven track record.

The world's top health leaders are in San Antonio for the third annual Global Health Symposium.

KSAT got a special tour of the protocols at Texas Biomedical Research Institute, which studies and houses some of the most dangerous diseases in the world.

Despite vocal opposition from animal rights activists and others, city council voted Thursday to give $10 million to Texas Biomedical Research Institute for infrastructure improvements at its campus.

Texas Biomed had requested money from the $1.2 billion bond program to improve infrastructure at its aging campus. But a citizen committee charged with recommending which projects should get funding received numerous public comments opposing the institute’s request, based on Texas Biomed’s use of primates for animal testing.

Texas Biomedical Research Institute is a nonprofit infectious disease facility in San Antonio that has worked on life-saving sciences.

A partnership between UT Health San Antonio, University Health, and Texas Biomed is showing promising, if not remarkable, results from a new minimally invasive procedure aimed at improving the health of patients with Type 2 diabetes.

SAN ANTONIO – The early, yet incomplete results showing Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine was 90% effective in humans are similar to what Texas Biomed saw in macaque monkeys after being infected with the virus. “If we don’t use the vaccine, then what good is it?”Schlesinger said transparency is vital to help build the public’s trust. Pfizer announced the potential breakthrough a few days after the presidential election, during which talk of a vaccine became politically charged. “So, at face value, it’s coincidental that it’s happened around this time.”He said Pfizer had previously said it would have early results around this time. We need to have a cautionary tale here.”Related: Pfizer says COVID-19 vaccine is looking 90% effective

SAN ANTONIO Predictions by the White House that a COVID-19 vaccine could be ready by mid-October, and possibly distributed weeks later, are being called unrealistic by Dr. Larry Schlesinger, Texas Biomed CEO. He should know since Texas Biomed is testing many of the therapies and vaccines being developed for pharmaceutical companies, as well as developing its own vaccines. He said fully completing the Phase 3 trials would provide the first data whether the vaccine is safe and effective. So that the public can be confident and comfortable that the vaccine they put in their arm is going to work and its not going to cause problems, Schlesinger said. RELATED: News of potential COVID-19 vaccine met with optimism, caution