The UNC-READDI Leadership Team

​Our team of leaders brings an unparalleled range of scientific knowledge and experience to the initiative’s efforts. 

Bob Blouin, PharmD

Executive Vice Chancellor, UNC-Chapel Hill​

Dr. Robert A. “Bob” Blouin serves as the provost, Chief Academic Officer and Chief Operating Officer of the university.

John Bamforth, PhD

Director of Eshelman Institute for Innovation at UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, UNC-Chapel Hill

Dr. John Bamforth oversees efforts to accelerate the creation and development of new medicines and technologies.

Angela Kashuba, PharmD

Dean, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, John and Deborah McNeill, Jr. Distinguished Professor

Dr. Angela Kashuba serves as director of the UNC Center for AIDS Research Clinical Pharmacology and Analytical Chemistry Core.

Barbara Rimer, DrPH, MPH

Dean and Alumni Distinguished Professor, UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health 

Dr. Barbara K. Rimer is the first woman and behavioral scientist to chair the National Cancer Institute's National Cancer Advisory Board.

Blossom Damania, PhD​

Vice Dean for Research, UNC School of Medicine, Boshamer Distinguished Professor, Microbiology and Immunology

Dr. Blossom Damania oversees the research enterprise at the UNC School of Medicine, which brings in over $500 million in annual research funding.

Terry Magnuson, PhD​

Kay M. & Van L. Weatherspoon Eminent Distinguished Professor, UNC Department of Genetics, UNC Vice Chancellor for Research

​Dr. Terry Magnuson is the founding chair of the UNC Department of Genetics. He oversees, develops and supports UNC-Chapel Hill’s $1 billion research enterprise.

Ralph Baric, PhD

William R. Kenan, Jr. Distinguished Professor, Department of Epidemiology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, UNC-Chapel Hill

Dr. Ralph S. Baric has spent the past three decades as a world leader in the study of coronaviruses and is responsible for UNC-Chapel Hill’s world leadership in coronavirus research.

The UNC-READDI Staff

John Bamforth, PhD
Interim Executive Director

Roy Zwahlen, JD
Interim Associate Director of Operations

Kelly Collins
Interim Lead Development Officer

Sumitra Pati, PhD
Interim Strategic and Competitive Intelligence

Ashlie Thomas
Interim Project Manager

Ryan McDaniel
Interim Website Administrator

The UNC-READDI Scientific Advisory Board

Ralph Baric, PhD (Chair)

William R. Kenan, Jr. Distinguished Professor, Department of Epidemiology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, UNC-Chapel Hill

Dr. Ralph S. Baric has spent the past three decades as a world leader in the study of coronaviruses and is responsible for UNC-Chapel Hill’s world leadership in coronavirus research.