During the recording of Episode 19, the conversation about the challenges and importance of sample collection was so compelling that we felt it deserved its own spotlight. After all, good samples are the foundation of good data—and without them, even the most sophisticated science can’t move forward. 

That’s why, in Episode 20 of On AIRR, Dr. Lauren Williamson and Dr. Robert Carnahan of Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Dr. Matthew Vogt of the University of North Carolina are back to share some of the most extraordinary sample‑collection stories from their careers. 

From securing the very first U.S. donor samples in the chaotic early days of the COVID‑19 pandemic, to tracking down misplaced samples in airport corridors, to navigating international political hurdles, the episode highlights just how much determination and collaboration go into obtaining the right samples.

If Episode 19 offers a strategic view of how initiatives like the Research and Development of Vaccines and Monoclonal Antibodies for Pandemic Preparedness (ReVAMPP) network strengthen our pandemic preparedness, Episode 20 brings you directly into the field, where timing, logistics, and human relationships can make all the difference.

Listen now via your favorite podcast platform or here: http://onairr.airr-community.org. New episodes will be released monthly.

In this episode, we explore ReVAMPP (Research and Development of Vaccines and Monoclonal Antibodies for Pandemic Preparedness), an NIH-funded initiative focused on pathogens that pose significant public health risks, including emerging viruses with pandemic potential.

Together with Dr. Lauren Williamson and Dr. Robert Carnahan (Vanderbilt University Medical Center) and Dr. Matthew Vogt (University of North Carolina), we discuss how ReVAMPP enhances the development of effective vaccines and monoclonal antibodies. We dive into prototype pathogen strategies for identifying broadly neutralizing antibodies, the challenge of balancing breadth and potency in therapeutics, and innovative screening methods that could transform our ability to respond to future outbreaks.

Tune in for a behind-the-scenes look at how collaborative science is shaping the future of global health!

Listen now via your favorite podcast platform or here: http://onairr.airr-community.org. New episodes will be released monthly.

In this episode of On AIRR, we welcome Dr. Paul Thomas, of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Dr. Thomas shares his journey from immunoparasitology to pioneering TCR repertoire sequencing. The discussion covers the evolution from single-chain TCR sequencing to the development of high-throughput paired sequencing methods, culminating in the TIRTL-seq approach. Dr. Thomas explains the technical and computational challenges in TCR pairing, the innovations that made large-scale studies possible, and the importance of data quality and curation in the field. The episode highlights the impact of these advances on understanding immune responses and the future of AIRR-based diagnostics.

Listen now via your favorite podcast platform or here: http://onairr.airr-community.org. New episodes will be released monthly.

In this episode of On AIRR, we welcome Dr. Bjoern Peters, Professor at the La Jolla Institute for Immunology, to discuss the crucial role of high-quality data in AI-driven immunological predictions and diagnostics.

Dr. Peters shares his journey from theoretical physics to MHC-binding prediction, leading to his work on the Immune Epitope Database (IEDB) — the world’s largest resource for immune epitope data. He highlights how good data often outcompete algorithmic improvements and discusses the challenges of data standardization in immunology. The conversation also delves into epitope prediction, AIRR sequencing for diagnostics, and the need for rigorous model validation in clinical applications.

Listen now via your favorite podcast platform or here: http://onairr.airr-community.org. New episodes will be released monthly.

We’re thrilled to announce the launch of Season 3 of On AIRR, the official podcast of the AIRR Community. This season kicks off with an insightful discussion featuring Dr. Thierry Mora and Dr. Aleksandra Walczak —  co-leaders of the Statistical Biophysics Group at Laboratoire de physique de l’ENS (LPENS) in Paris, France.

Dr. Mora and Dr. Walczak, physicists by training, have been pioneers in applying biophysics, neuroscience, and information theory methods to the analysis of the adaptive immune system, particularly in the context of V(D)J recombination. In this episode, they discuss the challenges of quantifying diversity within the immune repertoire and provide an overview of the powerful software tools developed by their group.

Listen now via your favorite podcast platform or here: http://onairr.airr-community.org. New episodes will be released monthly.