The COVID-19 pandemic is just the latest in a long line of pandemics that started with a virus spilling over from animals to humans. But what if we could make this pandemic the last – by identifying all of the world’s viruses before they pose a threat?

One project aims to do just that. The Global Virome Project, a global leader in pandemic research, has estimated that all future viral threats could be identified at a cost of around USD 4 billion. But where should this funding come from, and what else needs to be done, from international collaboration to the restructuring of health systems and the conservation of natural habitats and species?

In this episode, originally aired in December 2020, we spoke with Jonna Mazet, who co-leads the Global Virome Project, about the financial, scientific, governance and ecological measures needed to prevent the next pandemic.