The UNC-READDI Leadership Team

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

Christopher Clemens, PhD

Executive Vice Chancellor, UNC-Chapel Hill​

Dr. Christopher Clemens serves as the Provost and Chief Academic Officer of the university. He has a passion for collaboration and building things with others.

John Bamforth, PhD

Director, 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.

Penny Gordon-Larsen, PhD

Interim UNC Vice Chancellor for Research

Dr. Gordon-Larsen provides intellectual and strategic leadership and vision for research programs at the UNC Gillings School of Public Health.

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.

Ralph Baric, PhD
(Founder)

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.

Nat Moorman, PhD
(Founder)

Associate Professor, UNC School of Microbiology and Immunology​

Dr. Nat Moorman is a founding member of READDI. His research includes studying how viruses hijack cellular machinery to facilitate their replication.

Mark Heise, PhD
(Founder)

Professor, Department of Genetics at the UNC School of Medicine

Dr. Mark Heise is a founding member of READDI. He researches how viral and host genetic factors interact to influence the pathogenesis of virus-induced disease.

The UNC-READDI Staff

John Bamforth, PhD
Interim Executive Director

Roy Zwahlen, JD
Interim Associate Director of Operations

Kelly Collins
Interim Lead Development Officer

Bob Dieterle
Interim Chief Technology Officer

Sumitra Pati, PhD
Interim Strategic and Competitive Intelligence

Ryan McDaniel
Interim Website Administrator

Ashlie Thomas
Interim Project Manager

Alexandra Oak
Interim Program Manager

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.