For decades, scientists warned of the potential for a global coronavirus outbreak. But when SARS-CoV-2 emerged, no therapeutics, drugs, or vaccines were readily available. The Rapidly Emerging Antiviral Drug Development Initiative (READDI) — founded by researchers at UNC and the Structural Genomics Consortium — is not only finding solutions to the COVID-19 pandemic, but also drugs and therapeutics for future viral outbreaks.

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John Bamforth oversees the Rapidly Emerging Antiviral Drug Discovery Initiative, a non-profit drug research and development organization that is part of the Eshelman Institute for Innovation.

The mission: to find treatments for COVID-19 and to anticipate what treatments may be needed in future pandemics.

Tech Transfer Central's University-Industry Engagement Advisor highlights READDI's strategic approach to planning for future pandemics.

John Bamforth, director, Eshelman Institute for Innovation, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, discusses with University/Industry Demonstration Partnership (UIDP) what it takes to bring together the world's top pharmaceutical researchers and industry leaders to ensure we're ready for future pandemics.