Episode 19 of onAIRR features a lively and insightful conversation with three outstanding scientists committed to advancing pandemic preparedness. Dr. Lauren Williamson and Dr. Robert Carnahan, both from Vanderbilt University Medical Center, and Dr. Matthew Vogt, from the University of North Carolina, share their passion for viral immunology and the art of discovering and developing therapeutic antibodies.

onAIRR’s guests provide a behind-the-scenes look at how collaborative research is shaping the future of global health. They introduce the Research and Development of Vaccines and Monoclonal Antibodies for Pandemic Preparedness (ReVAMPP) research network, a major NIH-funded initiative aimed at strengthening pandemic readiness. The conversation explores the use of prototype pathogen approaches to identifying broadly neutralizing antibodies against high-priority viral families, the challenges of balancing breadth versus potency in therapeutic antibodies, and innovative screening methodologies that could transform our ability to respond to future pandemics.

Comments are welcome to the inbox of onairr@airr-community.org or on social media under the tag #onAIRR. Further information can be found here: https://www.antibodysociety.org/the-airr-community/airr-c-podcast.

The episode is hosted by Dr. Ulrik Stervbo and Dr. Zhaoqing Ding.

Announcements and links

• Lauren Williamson https://www.vumc.org/crowe-lab/person/lauren-williamson-phd
• Robert Carnahan https://www.vumc.org/crowe-lab/person/robert-carnahan-phd
• Matthew Vogt https://www.vogtviruslab.com
• ReVAMPP https://revampp.org
• ReVAMPP https://www.niaid.nih.gov/news-events/nih-awards-establish-pandemic-preparedness-research-network
• "Prototype Pathogen Approach for Vaccine and Monoclonal Antibody Development: A Critical Component of the NIAID Plan for Pandemic Preparedness” https://doi.org/10.1093/infdis/jiac296
• Adaptive Immune Receptor Repertoire Community (AIRR-C) https://www.airr-community.org
• The Antibody Society (TAbS) https://www.antibodysociety.org
• AIRR-C Seminar Series https://www.antibodysociety.org/the-airr-community/airr-community-seminar-series