Ava Vargason is READDI’s Scientific Program Manager. She supports all aspects of READDI’s scientific operations and leads the project management team. Ava is involved in strategic planning, data management, and stakeholder engagement to drive the impact of READDI’s antiviral therapeutics projects.
Vargason earned her PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences with a focus on pharmacoengineering and molecular pharmaceutics from UNC Chapel Hill and holds a BS in Chemical Engineering from the University of Kentucky. She is also a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) through the Project Management Institute.
Under the advisement of Dr. Aaron Anselmo, Vargason’s dissertation research focused on advancing the understanding and development of innovative delivery strategies for live therapeutic bacteria. Specifically, she demonstrated that non-genetic surface modifications can enhance microbial adhesion to the skin and intestinal tract, improving the therapeutic potential of probiotic and symbiotic microbes.