Off Script

In this bonus episode of Off Script , we examine the evolving state of global pandemic preparedness. In 2025, World Health Organization Member States adopted the first-ever Pandemic Agreement. However, a critical component — the Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing (PABS) system — remains unresolved, with negotiations ongoing. With next week’s World Health Assembly in Geneva set to focus on these i...

In the final episode of this five-part series, we imagine the pandemic future we could have if we start preparing now. With therapeutic drugs ready before the next pandemic hits, we could keep more people out of hospital, help economies stay resilient, and make better-informed decisions about public health measures. This episode brings together Australia's leading health economists, policymak...

The COVID-19 pandemic hit many developing countries especially hard, overwhelming already stretched health systems while devastating tourism-dependent economies. Looking ahead, widely available therapeutics could be game-changers – keeping people out of hospitals, easing pressure on health systems, and helping keep economies open. This episode explores the global collaboration needed to ensure pan...

mRNA technology isn't just about vaccines – it's a platform that could revolutionise pandemic therapeutics. Discover how Melbourne has become a global leader in mRNA research, from the government strategy positioning Victoria as a biotech powerhouse to the cutting-edge science happening in our labs. Learn how this technology works, why it was ready for COVID-19, and how it's being a...

Australia has a history of punching above its weight in medical research – from the cervical cancer vaccine to the bionic ear. Now we’re on the brink of our next breakthrough: pandemic therapeutics. Go behind the scenes with the politicians backing this moonshot and the scientists making it happen in Melbourne’s world-class biomedical precinct. What You'll Learn: The political perspective - W...

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 D...

A small taste of what's to come.