READDI Advances in RTI Forethought Challenge

READDI is among eight projects selected to advance from 136 proposals initially submitted.

by WRAL TechWire — August 2, 2021


RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK – RTI International has selected eight teams to advance in its $5 million Forethought challenge from 136 interested groups.
The RTI University Research Collaboration Committee will receive detailed proposals from the eight groups by Sept. 8.


The eight and RTI principal investigators are:

• Maureen Black, RTI: “North Carolina Consortium to Eliminate Early Childhood Health Disparities”
• Ebony Boulware, Duke University: “Health Equity Solutions Laboratory: A Multi-modal and Multi-level Platform to Accelerate the Elimination of Health Inequities in North Carolina and Beyond”
• Michael Daniele, NCSU: “NC-VIRRAL: An Academic-Industrial Partnership in the Research Triangle to Forge the Next-Generation Biomanufacturing of Gene Therapy Products”
• Theo Dingemans, UNC-CH: “Center for Water Resources and Health”
• Eric Ghysels, UNC-CH: “Quantum Future for the Triangle”
• Nat Moorman, UNC-CH: “READDI: Rapidly Emerging Drug Development Initiative”
• Arcot Rajasekar, UNC-CH: “Carolina Exposomics Hub”
• Jared Woollacott, RTI: “CARDD Lab: Climate Action Research, Development and Deployment: Actual Research on Climate Adaption and Resilience”

“Given robust job growth and the arrival of Apple and Google to the region, there is no better time for a project like Forethought, which incentivizes our top-tier research institutions to deepen their collaborations,” said Dr. Christy Shaffer, URCC chair and RTI Board of Governors member. “We are thrilled to get the opportunity to see how teams flesh out their proposals and explain how their proposals will invest here in the region at this critical juncture in our region’s development.”

Teams were evaluated based on five criteria: Regional Collaboration, Impactful, Innovative, Achievable, and finally Enduring and Nationally Recognizable.

“After confronting the challenges of the past year, we are ready to take on the challenges of the future — together,” said Dr. Jacqueline M. Olich, Vice President of University Collaborations at RTI.