Off Script is brought to you by the Cumming Global Centre for Pandemic Therapeutics. 

Episode Summary: 

While Australia's COVID-19 response was among the world's best, there was one critical gap in our pandemic toolkit: therapeutics. In this eye-opening first episode, we explore the missing piece that could have saved millions of lives and discover why we're racing to fill this gap before the next pandemic hits.

What You'll Learn: 

The breakthrough that started it all - How the Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity made history as the first lab outside China to map the genomic sequence of SARS-CoV-2, and the crucial decision to share it with the world immediately. 

Therapeutics vs. vaccines explained - The key difference between preventing illness and treating it once you're infected (spoiler: we need both!)

The staggering investment gap - Why $190 billion went to vaccine development while only $7 billion was invested in therapeutics by 2021. 

The global perspective - World Health Organization's Sir Jeremy Farrar reveals why therapeutic development lagged behind and what it means for pandemic preparedness.

The speed problem - Why current drug development takes too long for pandemic response and the innovative technologies being developed to change that.

Featured Experts

Professor Sharon Lewin - Director of the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, internationally renowned HIV researcher, and Director of the Cumming Global Centre for Pandemic Therapeutics.

Sir Jeremy Farrar - Assistant Director General at the World Health Organization, former Director of the Wellcome Trust, and author of "Spike".

What's Coming Next

Episode 2 dives into Australia's moonshot goal to develop pandemic therapeutics for the whole world. Discover the incredible medical research capability being built right here in Melbourne's biomedical precinct.

Subscribe now so you don't miss what might be the most important podcast series you hear all year. Because when it comes to pandemics, preparation isn't just smart policy - it's a matter of life and death.

Off Script is hosted by Dr. Matt Agnew and produced by the Cumming Global Centre for Pandemic Therapeutics, part of the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity.