Angela Kashuba named READDI interim CEO
The AIDS researcher and former UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy dean will guide READDI in identifying the most successful ways to develop effective antiviral drugs for prevention or treatment.
By READDI, April 27, 2026 — The READDI Board of Directors announces that Angela Kashuba, BScPhm, PharmD, DABCP, FCP, will serve as Interim CEO. Dr. Kashuba is the John A. and Margaret P. McNeill, Sr. Distinguished Professor and former Dean of the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy. During her tenure as dean, from 2019 to 2025, the school maintained its ranking as the nation’s No. 1 pharmacy school, and its research enterprise more than doubled, surpassing $99 million.
Dr. Kashuba has been on the UNC faculty since 1997 and served as the Chair of the Division of Pharmacotherapy and Experimental Therapeutics from 2015 to 2019. She serves as co-Principal Investigator of the UNC Center for AIDS Research and leads a research laboratory focused on optimizing antiretroviral pharmacology in the treatment, prevention and eradication of HIV infection. Her laboratory has authored more than 300 manuscripts and received over $30 million in research funding.
In addition, the READDI Board named Kelly Collins Interim Chief Strategy and Development Officer. Collins is a seasoned philanthropy and strategy leader with more than 20 years of experience advancing mission-driven organizations across higher education, healthcare and the nonprofit sector.
Most recently, Collins served as Associate Dean of External Affairs and Foundation President at the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, closing out the most successful pharmacy school fundraising campaign in U.S. history. Through her leadership role at the school’s translational science institute, Eshelman Innovation, Collins helped conceptualize the Rapidly Emerging Antiviral Drug Development Initiative (READDI) and played a critical role in raising more than $90 million in READDI research funding.
READDI launched in April 2020 to discover and develop drugs for clinical trial testing in anticipation of future viral pandemics. READDI has grown into a well-respected and influential force that has shaped and aligned global strategy around pandemic therapeutics.
A core implementation partner in the 100 Days Mission, the preparedness effort launched by the world’s G7 leaders, READDI was instrumental in developing the 100 Days Mission Therapeutics Roadmap, as well as helping to create the Therapeutics Development Coalition, slated to launch in 2026.
“Developing pandemic antivirals is as much a financial challenge as it is a science challenge,” says READDI Board Chair Dr. Lydia Ogden. “We are thrilled to have Angela and Kelly guiding our work to identify the most successful ways to develop effective antiviral drugs for prevention or treatment ahead of the next pandemic.”