On Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2020, the Strauss Center and Clements Center welcome Dr. Julie Schafer for a discussion on governmental responses to pandemics. The emergence of the virus causing the COVID-19 epidemic in China (2019 novel coronavirus), with cases around the world, is the latest example of the significant human cost and destabilizing economic and social effects of infectious disease outbreaks. In an interconnected and interdependent world, outbreaks of influenza, Zika or Ebola in one area can quickly be felt everywhere. Please join this discussion on the tough decisions governments face in planning for, and responding to, emerging infectious diseases, what tools are available to respond, and what is still needed to prevent future pandemics. Professor Michele Malvesti of Texas Law and the National Counterterrorism Center will moderate the talk and audience Q&A.
Julie Schafer, Ph.D., MPH, is the chief technology officer for Flu Lab, seeking to stretch the boundaries of how technology is used toward defeating influenza. Julie has held a number of leadership positions in the U.S. government, including chief of staff, and later director of strategy, for the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Schafer served in the White House National Security Council and has led complex influenza vaccine, therapeutic and diagnostic advanced development programs.