UNC's Baric to Retire, Ending a Pioneering COVID-19 Era

Renowned UNC-Chapel Hill coronavirus researcher Ralph Baric will retire in June. His work helped advance COVID-19 vaccines and related diagnostics, contributing to the Moderna vaccine and other treatments, but also drew scrutiny over the virus’s origins and gain-of-function research. The retirement was announced by Gillings School leaders via email, with no reason given, as Baric’s career–including debates about Wuhan Institute of Virology connections and past funding concerns–continues to be reassessed.