Dr Kumudika (Kumi) de Silva is a senior immunologist developing vaccines for livestock and advocating for cultural diversity in higher education leadership.

Kumi shares thoughts on the need to fund the development of vaccines other than the mRNA vaccines that have become prominent during the Covid pandemic. Kumi is currently working on an oral vaccine delivery system (through food or water) and is developing vaccines to be stable at room temperature without a need for cold chain management (keeping vaccines frozen or refrigerated).

As a Chair of the Mosaic Network at the University of Sydney, Kumi promotes cultural diversity and inclusion and you’ll hear her perspective on some of the barriers to advancement for culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) women in academia.

You can find an extended version of the conversation via the Wide Open Air Exchange podcast.