To highlight the evolving understanding of new and emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants, the Harvard Medical School-led Massachusetts Consortium on Pathogen Readiness (MassCPR) convened on Feb. 24 a panel of virologists, vaccinologists, immunologists, infectious disease physicians and other experts to discuss what the new variants mean for efforts to contain the pandemic, to optimize vaccines, and to enhance physicians′ therapeutic arsenals.