Fueling Bold Approaches
Flu Lab's mission is to eliminate the threat of influenza, a highly contagious virus that causes annual epidemics of disease and poses an ever-present risk of a catastrophic pandemic. To achieve this, Flu Lab finds and supports efforts that approach persistent problems in new and dynamic ways, with actionable results.
Through grantmaking, investing, and partner collaborations, Flu Lab seeks to help grantees and early-stage companies develop innovations that will help accelerate the availability of new solutions for global influenza challenges.
Flu Lab's Philosphy and Approach
We can dramatically change the human relationship to epidemic and pandemic influenza. Blocking transmission of influenza is central to this change, and will require layered and varied tools to identify, treat, and prevent infections. Flu Lab funds approaches and interventions that will make this objective attainable.
Flu Lab supports organizations and leaders that share our sense of urgency for new ideas and action and are willing to explore and experiment. We evaluate prospective grants and investments based on their potential to create actionable knowledge and advance solutions to pressing influenza challenges. We value building sustainable capacity and capabilities.
Flu Lab's Team
Flu Lab was established by Lucy Southworth in 2018 to fuel bold approaches to defeat influenza.
Casey Wright, CEO
Casey Wright, ScM, is the chief executive of Flu Lab. Prior to creating Flu Lab, Casey established a philanthropic program to increase school-aged influenza vaccine coverage rates and launched new research and innovation initiatives for universal influenza vaccine development. Her public health experience includes over a decade of public service at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), working in the areas of infectious respiratory diseases and national plan and policy development for pandemic influenza preparedness.
Julie Schafer, CTO
Julie Schafer, PhD, 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 US 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). Julie served in the White House National Security Council and has led complex influenza vaccine, therapeutic, and diagnostic advanced development programs.