In this fascinating episode of Micro Journeys, host Daniel Marrujo sits down with Dr. Dan Jaines, a professor of bioinformatics and genomics at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and head of the Center for Computational Intelligence to Predict Environmental and Health Risks (CIPHER). From the picturesque setting in North Carolina, Dan shares his career journey—from a childhood fascination with animals, to studying starfish genomes in New York, to pioneering computational analysis at Ohio State Medical School, and now leading cutting-edge research on infectious diseases and AI-driven predictive models.
The conversation dives deeply into zoonotic diseases, the evolutionary pathways of viruses like coronaviruses and influenza, and why bats and birds serve as perfect reservoirs for these pathogens. Dan explains how computational biology and AI tools like AlphaFold are revolutionizing the speed at which researchers can predict viral structures and anticipate the impact of mutations on treatments and vaccines. They also explore the sobering realities of H5N1 avian influenza’s growing “promiscuity,” its increasing ability to infect diverse species—including humans—and the looming concern over drug resistance.
Despite the challenges, Dr. Jaines highlights a multi-layered approach to mitigating these threats: better biosecurity on farms, PPE for workers, vigilant computational tracking of mutations, and the push for improved vaccines. Through collaborative “team science,” state investment, and the new Research 1 designation at UNC Charlotte, his center is amplifying vital insights that not only shape academic research but also inform national preparedness against emerging biological risks.