Noubar Afeyan talks about his company's COVID-19 vaccine at webinar held by Armenian organizations

Global mass medias have reported the good news about the first coronavirus vaccine developed by Moderna Therapeutics, a Cambridge-based biotech company. The company also became the first to start human trial testing of its novel vaccine. We are pleased to find a strong “Caucasian connection” at the very frontline of global struggle against COVID-19: Moderna’s founding father and chairman, Dr. Noubar Afeyan, is also co-founder of the Foundation for Armenian Science and Technology (FAST), and an active participant of other Armenian projects related to science.

On March 28 Dr. Noubar Afeyan participated in the online webinar “COVID-19: Challenging General Fear”. Caucasian Journal is pleased to present the video of his presentation. The webinar, moderated by well-known entrepreneur and venture philanthropist Ruben Vardanyan, was co-organized by a number of Armenia-based organizations including Armenia2041.org, IDeA Foundation, Aurora Humanitarian Initiative, UWC Dilijan College, Foundation for Armenian Science and Technology (FAST).



Below is the full version of webinar “COVID-19: Challenging General Fear”. The speakers include:

  • Dr. Noubar Afeyan, founder and CEO, Flagship Pioneering; co-author of the vision of At the Crossroads; co-founder of Aurora Humanitarian Initiative; board member of IDeA Foundation, UWC Dilijan and Foundation for Armenian Science and Technology (FAST); scientific innovator; professional entrepreneur; philanthropist;
  • Lord Ara Darzi, Director of the Institute of Global Health Innovation at Imperial College London; Chair of Aurora Prize Selection Committee; board member of  FAST;
  • Dr. Arsen Torosyan, Minister of Health of Armenia;
  • André Andonian,  Managing Partner Japan, McKinsey & Company, Inc.; board member of McKinsey & Company Inc Global;
  • Dr. David Nabarro, WHO special envoy for COVID-19;
  • Ruben Vardanyan, co-author of the discussion paper At the Crossroads; co-founder of IDeA Foundation, Aurora Humanitarian Initiative and UWC Dilijan, co-founder and member of the board FAST; entrepreneur; impact investor; venture philanthropist.


The moderated on-line panel discussion is a unique opportunity to plug in and learn first-hand what world renown and trusted experts, national and international officials dealing with COVID-19 on the daily bases have to say. The panelists share their understanding how the on-going pandemic affects various aspects of our present-day lives and discuss the unknown – the upcoming social, economic, political, demographic, behavioral changes we should anticipate and be ready to tackle together in the months and years to come.

Caucasian Journal thanks the co-organizers for permission to republish the video.


No comments:

Post a Comment