Scientific Life
Series: Training the next generation
Preparing for a career in biopharma research Lawren C. Wu Department of Oncology, Amgen Inc., 1120 Veterans Boulevard, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
Many life sciences trainees in academia have limited exposure to how the biotechnology/pharmaceutical industry approaches drug discovery and development and what life is like in biopharma research. In this article, I will provide my perspectives on how to prepare for a successful career in biopharma research, focusing on technical background, an understanding of the drug discovery and development process, and personal and interpersonal keys to success. The biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry (biopharma) discovers and develops medicines to treat diseases and improve human health. In the field of immunology, biopharma has successfully developed numerous therapies for the treatment of autoimmune, allergic, and infectious diseases, as well as cancer. Indeed, five of the top ten prescription drugs by sales in 2013–2014 (http://www. webmd.com/news/20140805/top-10-drugs; http://www. theguardian.com/business/table/2014/mar/27/world-bestselling-prescription-drugs-pharmaceuticals-industry) are used to treat autoimmune, allergic, and infectious diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, and hepatitis C; and there is significant excitement regarding recently approved therapies that harness the immune system to treat cancer. Biopharma employs over 1 million people worldwide, in companies ranging in size from a few people to over 100 000 [1,2]. Employment in research and development in biopharma consists primarily of bench scientist and lab/group leader positions and offers substantial career opportunities for trainees in the life sciences. Although collaborations between biopharma and academia are increasing, life sciences trainees in academia often do not get significant exposure to how the biopharma industry approaches drug discovery and development and what life is like in biopharma research. Having been employed in biopharma for over 12 years, I would like to offer some perspectives on how to prepare for a successful career in biopharma research, broken down into three general areas: (1) scientific training and technical skills, (2) an understanding of the drug discovery and development process, and (3) personal and interpersonal skill sets.
Corresponding author: Wu, L.C. ([email protected]). 1471-4906/ ß 2015 Published by Elsevier Ltd. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.it.2015.03.002
290
Trends in Immunology, May 2015, Vol. 36, No. 5
Rigorous and broad scientific training is the foundation for success The foundation for a successful career in biopharma research is strong scientific training and broad technical skills. While a rigorous, critical, and thorough approach to science is important no matter whether a research position is in academia or industry, it nonetheless should be emphasized that a strong scientific background enables one to think broadly and creatively about scientific problems, which is essential to the successful development of new therapeutics. Drug discovery and development programs are complex projects that require the work of multiple scientists from different disciplines, including molecular and cellular biology, biochemistry and biophysics, chemistry, structural biology, and bioinformatics and computational biology. There are a variety of areas where research scientists can contribute to different aspects of a therapeutic program on a project team (Figure 1). In each area, bench scientists are needed to design and execute high quality experiments, whereas lab heads and group leaders may oversee the efforts across multiple programs and provide scientific and strategic guidance. Since the efforts of a project team are interconnected, it is important to be able to understand not only one’s own area of research, but also those of the other members of a project team. This is especially important for positions of broader responsibility, such as project team leaders who oversee and coordinate the activities of an entire project team. As such, multi-disciplinary training provides the ability to think about all aspects of a drug discovery program, ranging from understanding target biology and mechanism, to generating and optimizing a therapeutic candidate, to discovering disease- and therapy-associated biomarkers. Although most trainees in the life sciences, including those in the field of immunology, have good foundations in molecular biology, cellular biology, and biochemistry, there are some areas in which training could be strengthened when preparing for a career in biopharma research. First, few life sciences trainees have significant formal training in the computational approaches that are used to analyze large datasets, such as those encountered in human genetics and whole genome profiling studies (see also [3]). These types of studies are commonly used in biopharma research for the discovery and validation of new targets, as well as in the clinical development of new therapeutics. Thus, more training for biologists in the kinds of mathematical and statistical methods that are used in computational biology would provide better preparation to utilize these approaches. Second, most trainees in the life sciences, especially those in the field of immunology, have worked
Scientific Life
Trends in Immunology May 2015, Vol. 36, No. 5
Anbody generaon
Assay development and support
Protein chemistry
Bioinformacs and computaonal biology
Structural biology
In vivo pharmacology
Biology
Pathology
Pharmacokinecs
Toxicology / Safety assessment
Biomarkers
Diagnoscs
TRENDS in Immunology
Figure 1. Composition of a therapeutic drug discovery project team. Shown in the diagram are different groups that may participate in a drug discovery team for an antibody therapeutic. The diagram is meant to illustrate job opportunities for scientists from different disciplines in biopharma research, but the exact composition of project teams and the associated job opportunities will vary from company to company and will include different team members (e.g., chemists) for small molecule drug discovery project teams.
almost exclusively with inbred murine systems and transformed human cell lines. Few trainees have had significant exposure to human biology and its associated heterogeneity, or have done extensive work with primary human cells. As has been discussed with respect to human immunology [4,5], more training and more research in human biology is needed to help bridge preclinical murine research to human diseases, as well as to improve the clinical development of new therapeutics and to advance clinical practice. For example, it is increasingly recognized that although many human diseases are diagnosed based on common clinical and/or pathologic criteria, heterogeneous subsets of molecular pathogenesis can underlie these common features. The identification of discrete pathogenic subsets of human diseases and their associated diagnostic biomarkers in patients has been a major focus of recent biopharma research, and these efforts will be greatly aided by more advances in the field of human biology. Gaining an understanding of clinical practice and the process of drug discovery and development can ease the transition into a career in biopharma research Although the goal of biopharma research is to develop new medicines, many life sciences trainees lack a strong understanding of clinical practice, as well as the process of drug discovery and development. An understanding of how diseases are diagnosed and treated is needed in order to effectively identify new therapies that address unmet
medical needs and improve clinical outcomes. In addition, an understanding of the clinical development process for new therapeutics is necessary to conduct the most robust and effective drug discovery research to maximize the understanding of clinical trial data and the chances of clinical development success. While an understanding of these areas is typically learned after joining a company, exposure to medical school courses, medical conferences, and/or workshops on drug discovery and development during graduate training can strengthen the background of trainees and ease the transition into a career in biopharma research. In addition, specific courses geared towards providing research trainees with a focused and high-level understanding of the drug discovery and development process, as well as clinical practice, may need to be created. Finally, some companies offer internships and/or postdoctoral opportunities that are useful ways to learn more about research in drug discovery and development. It should be noted, however, that many internship and postdoctoral positions are not entry opportunities for full-time employment. Thus, while these positions provide good opportunities for exposure to biopharma research, they are neither sufficient nor necessary to obtain a full-time position in industry. Key interpersonal and personal skills distinguish the most successful employees Biopharma is a fast-moving and competitive industry, and research at both small and large companies can progress 291
Scientific Life quickly and can sometimes change focus suddenly. Flexibility and adaptability are key attributes for success, all the while maintaining a good balance of breadth and depth of knowledge. For example, a scientist in an immunology group in biopharma may work on projects that focus on T cell biology, B cell biology, and macrophage biology over the course of 5–10 years. In addition, drug discovery projects are multi-faceted, and multiple studies are typically conducted in parallel. The ability to multi-task and prioritize across studies, and to efficiently adjust and reprioritize experiments as data is acquired and analyzed, are valuable skills to develop. Accurate and timely record keeping is, of course, very important. Most importantly, good interpersonal skills are critical for success. Experiments are conducted across many groups, both within a company as well as with other companies or academic groups externally. Multiple individuals, including those with little direct exposure to a project, may need to be informed about project progress and key data. In addition, when moving a therapeutic program into clinical studies, government regulatory authorities will need to review key studies and data. Thus, clear communication skills (including informal communications, formal oral presentations, and written reports), as well as good collaborative skills, are essential. Finally, individuals in leadership positions, such as lab heads and project team leaders, need to develop good managerial skills that include the ability to work with a variety of different personalities, effective motivational skills, and the ability to manage and resolve conflicts. Developing these personal, interpersonal, and leadership skills is important for any career, but typically these skills are not ones that are a focus during life sciences training. There are, however, many books and courses that address these skills (for example, ‘At the Helm’ by Kathy Barker and ‘Crucial Conversations’ by Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan, and Al Switzler), and some companies offer training opportunities to their employees to help them develop in these areas.
292
Trends in Immunology May 2015, Vol. 36, No. 5
Concluding remarks In conclusion, a job in biopharma research can be an exciting and rewarding career, offering the opportunity to work on medicines that can have a significant impact on the treatment of human diseases and to grow as a scientist and leader. In my own career as an immunologist in biopharma research, I have had the opportunity to conduct research that has increased our understanding of the mechanisms of allergic inflammation, defined distinct pathogenic subsets of severe asthma patients, and given rise to therapeutics that have shown the potential in clinical trials to significantly improve the treatment of severe asthma. It has been rewarding to be able to work together with many talented scientists and physicians who share a passion for applying their expertise towards improving medicine, and to see how my scientific research has not only increased our understanding of the mechanisms and pathogenesis of asthma, but also directly impacted the health of severe asthma patients. As I have learned and grown in my career, I have taken on new scientific and leadership challenges and am now developing and leading a broad array of efforts to better understand how to harness the immune system to treat cancer. Trainees interested in pursuing such a career should develop a strong scientific and technical foundation, gain an understanding of the field of medicine and clinical practice, as well as the process of drug discovery and development, and hone their personal, interpersonal, and leadership skills for working in a fast-paced and highly collaborative environment. References 1 Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (2013) 2013 Biopharmaceutical Research Industry Profile 2 European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (2014) The Pharmaceutical Industry in Figures 3 Guillemin, K. (2015).[article in the same series] 4 Davis, M.M. (2008) A prescription for human immunology. Immunity 29, 835–838 5 Davis, M.M. (2015).[article in the same series]
Series: Training the next generation
Preparing for a career in biopharma research Lawren C. Wu Department of Oncology, Amgen Inc., 1120 Veterans Boulevard, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
Many life sciences trainees in academia have limited exposure to how the biotechnology/pharmaceutical industry approaches drug discovery and development and what life is like in biopharma research. In this article, I will provide my perspectives on how to prepare for a successful career in biopharma research, focusing on technical background, an understanding of the drug discovery and development process, and personal and interpersonal keys to success. The biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry (biopharma) discovers and develops medicines to treat diseases and improve human health. In the field of immunology, biopharma has successfully developed numerous therapies for the treatment of autoimmune, allergic, and infectious diseases, as well as cancer. Indeed, five of the top ten prescription drugs by sales in 2013–2014 (http://www. webmd.com/news/20140805/top-10-drugs; http://www. theguardian.com/business/table/2014/mar/27/world-bestselling-prescription-drugs-pharmaceuticals-industry) are used to treat autoimmune, allergic, and infectious diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, and hepatitis C; and there is significant excitement regarding recently approved therapies that harness the immune system to treat cancer. Biopharma employs over 1 million people worldwide, in companies ranging in size from a few people to over 100 000 [1,2]. Employment in research and development in biopharma consists primarily of bench scientist and lab/group leader positions and offers substantial career opportunities for trainees in the life sciences. Although collaborations between biopharma and academia are increasing, life sciences trainees in academia often do not get significant exposure to how the biopharma industry approaches drug discovery and development and what life is like in biopharma research. Having been employed in biopharma for over 12 years, I would like to offer some perspectives on how to prepare for a successful career in biopharma research, broken down into three general areas: (1) scientific training and technical skills, (2) an understanding of the drug discovery and development process, and (3) personal and interpersonal skill sets.
Corresponding author: Wu, L.C. ([email protected]). 1471-4906/ ß 2015 Published by Elsevier Ltd. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.it.2015.03.002
290
Trends in Immunology, May 2015, Vol. 36, No. 5
Rigorous and broad scientific training is the foundation for success The foundation for a successful career in biopharma research is strong scientific training and broad technical skills. While a rigorous, critical, and thorough approach to science is important no matter whether a research position is in academia or industry, it nonetheless should be emphasized that a strong scientific background enables one to think broadly and creatively about scientific problems, which is essential to the successful development of new therapeutics. Drug discovery and development programs are complex projects that require the work of multiple scientists from different disciplines, including molecular and cellular biology, biochemistry and biophysics, chemistry, structural biology, and bioinformatics and computational biology. There are a variety of areas where research scientists can contribute to different aspects of a therapeutic program on a project team (Figure 1). In each area, bench scientists are needed to design and execute high quality experiments, whereas lab heads and group leaders may oversee the efforts across multiple programs and provide scientific and strategic guidance. Since the efforts of a project team are interconnected, it is important to be able to understand not only one’s own area of research, but also those of the other members of a project team. This is especially important for positions of broader responsibility, such as project team leaders who oversee and coordinate the activities of an entire project team. As such, multi-disciplinary training provides the ability to think about all aspects of a drug discovery program, ranging from understanding target biology and mechanism, to generating and optimizing a therapeutic candidate, to discovering disease- and therapy-associated biomarkers. Although most trainees in the life sciences, including those in the field of immunology, have good foundations in molecular biology, cellular biology, and biochemistry, there are some areas in which training could be strengthened when preparing for a career in biopharma research. First, few life sciences trainees have significant formal training in the computational approaches that are used to analyze large datasets, such as those encountered in human genetics and whole genome profiling studies (see also [3]). These types of studies are commonly used in biopharma research for the discovery and validation of new targets, as well as in the clinical development of new therapeutics. Thus, more training for biologists in the kinds of mathematical and statistical methods that are used in computational biology would provide better preparation to utilize these approaches. Second, most trainees in the life sciences, especially those in the field of immunology, have worked
Scientific Life
Trends in Immunology May 2015, Vol. 36, No. 5
Anbody generaon
Assay development and support
Protein chemistry
Bioinformacs and computaonal biology
Structural biology
In vivo pharmacology
Biology
Pathology
Pharmacokinecs
Toxicology / Safety assessment
Biomarkers
Diagnoscs
TRENDS in Immunology
Figure 1. Composition of a therapeutic drug discovery project team. Shown in the diagram are different groups that may participate in a drug discovery team for an antibody therapeutic. The diagram is meant to illustrate job opportunities for scientists from different disciplines in biopharma research, but the exact composition of project teams and the associated job opportunities will vary from company to company and will include different team members (e.g., chemists) for small molecule drug discovery project teams.
almost exclusively with inbred murine systems and transformed human cell lines. Few trainees have had significant exposure to human biology and its associated heterogeneity, or have done extensive work with primary human cells. As has been discussed with respect to human immunology [4,5], more training and more research in human biology is needed to help bridge preclinical murine research to human diseases, as well as to improve the clinical development of new therapeutics and to advance clinical practice. For example, it is increasingly recognized that although many human diseases are diagnosed based on common clinical and/or pathologic criteria, heterogeneous subsets of molecular pathogenesis can underlie these common features. The identification of discrete pathogenic subsets of human diseases and their associated diagnostic biomarkers in patients has been a major focus of recent biopharma research, and these efforts will be greatly aided by more advances in the field of human biology. Gaining an understanding of clinical practice and the process of drug discovery and development can ease the transition into a career in biopharma research Although the goal of biopharma research is to develop new medicines, many life sciences trainees lack a strong understanding of clinical practice, as well as the process of drug discovery and development. An understanding of how diseases are diagnosed and treated is needed in order to effectively identify new therapies that address unmet
medical needs and improve clinical outcomes. In addition, an understanding of the clinical development process for new therapeutics is necessary to conduct the most robust and effective drug discovery research to maximize the understanding of clinical trial data and the chances of clinical development success. While an understanding of these areas is typically learned after joining a company, exposure to medical school courses, medical conferences, and/or workshops on drug discovery and development during graduate training can strengthen the background of trainees and ease the transition into a career in biopharma research. In addition, specific courses geared towards providing research trainees with a focused and high-level understanding of the drug discovery and development process, as well as clinical practice, may need to be created. Finally, some companies offer internships and/or postdoctoral opportunities that are useful ways to learn more about research in drug discovery and development. It should be noted, however, that many internship and postdoctoral positions are not entry opportunities for full-time employment. Thus, while these positions provide good opportunities for exposure to biopharma research, they are neither sufficient nor necessary to obtain a full-time position in industry. Key interpersonal and personal skills distinguish the most successful employees Biopharma is a fast-moving and competitive industry, and research at both small and large companies can progress 291
Scientific Life quickly and can sometimes change focus suddenly. Flexibility and adaptability are key attributes for success, all the while maintaining a good balance of breadth and depth of knowledge. For example, a scientist in an immunology group in biopharma may work on projects that focus on T cell biology, B cell biology, and macrophage biology over the course of 5–10 years. In addition, drug discovery projects are multi-faceted, and multiple studies are typically conducted in parallel. The ability to multi-task and prioritize across studies, and to efficiently adjust and reprioritize experiments as data is acquired and analyzed, are valuable skills to develop. Accurate and timely record keeping is, of course, very important. Most importantly, good interpersonal skills are critical for success. Experiments are conducted across many groups, both within a company as well as with other companies or academic groups externally. Multiple individuals, including those with little direct exposure to a project, may need to be informed about project progress and key data. In addition, when moving a therapeutic program into clinical studies, government regulatory authorities will need to review key studies and data. Thus, clear communication skills (including informal communications, formal oral presentations, and written reports), as well as good collaborative skills, are essential. Finally, individuals in leadership positions, such as lab heads and project team leaders, need to develop good managerial skills that include the ability to work with a variety of different personalities, effective motivational skills, and the ability to manage and resolve conflicts. Developing these personal, interpersonal, and leadership skills is important for any career, but typically these skills are not ones that are a focus during life sciences training. There are, however, many books and courses that address these skills (for example, ‘At the Helm’ by Kathy Barker and ‘Crucial Conversations’ by Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan, and Al Switzler), and some companies offer training opportunities to their employees to help them develop in these areas.
292
Trends in Immunology May 2015, Vol. 36, No. 5
Concluding remarks In conclusion, a job in biopharma research can be an exciting and rewarding career, offering the opportunity to work on medicines that can have a significant impact on the treatment of human diseases and to grow as a scientist and leader. In my own career as an immunologist in biopharma research, I have had the opportunity to conduct research that has increased our understanding of the mechanisms of allergic inflammation, defined distinct pathogenic subsets of severe asthma patients, and given rise to therapeutics that have shown the potential in clinical trials to significantly improve the treatment of severe asthma. It has been rewarding to be able to work together with many talented scientists and physicians who share a passion for applying their expertise towards improving medicine, and to see how my scientific research has not only increased our understanding of the mechanisms and pathogenesis of asthma, but also directly impacted the health of severe asthma patients. As I have learned and grown in my career, I have taken on new scientific and leadership challenges and am now developing and leading a broad array of efforts to better understand how to harness the immune system to treat cancer. Trainees interested in pursuing such a career should develop a strong scientific and technical foundation, gain an understanding of the field of medicine and clinical practice, as well as the process of drug discovery and development, and hone their personal, interpersonal, and leadership skills for working in a fast-paced and highly collaborative environment. References 1 Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (2013) 2013 Biopharmaceutical Research Industry Profile 2 European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (2014) The Pharmaceutical Industry in Figures 3 Guillemin, K. (2015).[article in the same series] 4 Davis, M.M. (2008) A prescription for human immunology. Immunity 29, 835–838 5 Davis, M.M. (2015).[article in the same series]
