An Introduction to CIPHER

de-CIPHERing Infectious Disease

Episode 1

In this conversation, Co-Directors Dr. Dan Janies and Dr. Adam Reitzel introduce us to CIPHER and the incredible interdisciplinary team that makes it work. You'll learn about how computer scientists, biologists, social scientists, mathematicians, and public health officials work together to unlock the secrets of infectious diseases, to engineer solutions, and to predict future outbreaks. You won't want to miss this fascinating conversation.

Find out more at cipher.charlotte.edu.

Key Takeaways

• CIPHER is a computational and empirical center focused on studying zoonotic diseases and their impact on public health.
• The center brings together experts in genomics, microscopy, and various fields of biology to understand the interactions between pathogens, animals, and the environment.
• CIPHER's work goes beyond pandemic response and includes research on vector-borne diseases and pathogens affecting non-human animals and agricultural plants.
• The use of artificial intelligence, such as the AlphaFold program, has revolutionized structural biology and enhanced the prediction of protein structures.
• Interdisciplinary collaboration is essential in addressing complex challenges in fields like infectious diseases and environmental risks.
• Effective communication and engagement with the public are crucial for building trust in science and medicine.
• The CIPHER team consists of scientists, postdocs, graduate students, and technical staff, working together to advance research and civic engagement.
• CIPHER aims to monitor and respond to infectious diseases and environmental risks through functional molecular epidemiology.
• Lessons learned from the pandemic highlight the need for continuous monitoring and proactive response to emerging pathogens.

This podcast was produced and edited by Zack Jackson
CIPHER is a proud part of UNC Charlotte who holds all rights to the content created by this podcast