making sense out of science

MAKING SENSEOUT OF SCIENCE

April 17, 2007

WHERE HAVE I COME FROM -ACADEMICALLY SPEAKING!

• Honours BSc Guelph

• Accelerated PhD (4.5 years)

– Department of Medical Biophysics U of T

– Drug metabolism

• Post-Doctoral Fellowship (3 years)

– p53 with David Lane, University of Dundee, Scotland

• Post-Doctoral Fellowship (2 years)

– Telomerase with Silvia Bacchetti, McMaster University

DECISION POINTS

• BSc to where?

– Enjoyed the lab, natural leader(poor follower)

– Encouraged to do PhD

– Accepted at OCI

PhD to where?

– Enjoyed the lab

– Managed the lab

– President of Student Executive

– Held NCI studentships

– Become a PI - future likely Pharma

ACADEMIA IN CANADA IS NOT FOR ME

WHERE TO NEXT?

DECISION POINT

BIOTECHNOLOGY in 2000

• Industry booming

• Young and dynamic –fun

• Excellent growth opportunities

• Good money, stock options, bonuses

• Like academia – but with lots of $$$

• No grant applications

MDS Proteomics

Scientist

!

Manager Molecular Biology

!

Liaison to CSO/ IP Licensing/Bioinformatics/Scientist Special Projects

DECISION POINT

• Industry busting

• Everyone’s position uncertain- mood dark – money tight

WHERE TO NEXT?

• Biotech? Pharma? Service Industry?

• Bench Scientist? Clinical? Regulatory? Communications?

acne

eczema

skin barrier

cleansers

skin infections

skin infestations

moisturizers

ingredients matter

BONNIE KUEHL – SCIENTIST/CONSULTANT

! Research to address biological questions

! Write white papers

! Write scientific articles

! Assist with writing consumer information

! Assist with writing physician information

BONNIE KUEHL – SCIENTIST/CONSULTANT

• Network

• Ask questions of industry people

– MBA?

– Biotech?

– Pharma?

• Business Course

! Lack of affiliation " lack of credibility

BONNIE KUEHL – SCIENTIST/CONSULTANT

SKILLS

– PhD

– Excellent communicator

– Outgoing

– Like to NETWORK

– Stubborn – don’t give up

– Understanding of businessdevelopment

– Understanding of IP

– Understanding of management mindset

– Understanding of marketing

Scientific Insights Consulting Group

• Scientific Consultant to ServiceIndustry and Pharma

– August 2002

UPSIDE

• Mine

• I’m the boss

• Follow personal objectives/goals

• Business skills – growthopportunity

• Experience

• Choices

Scientific Insights Consulting Group

• DOWNSIDE

• Age

• Scientific experience (only 10 years post-BSc)

• No longer a scientist

• Business experience (minimal)

• Limited connections outside of Biotech

• Lack of Focus – Jack of all Trades

• Every project a learning experience

• No $ safety net

WHAT DOES

SCIENTIFIC INSIGHTS®

DO?

Transdermal Drug DeliveryStratum Corneum/Skin Barrier

• fluid interaction: corneocytes, lipids and naturalmoisturizing factors.

• corneocytes cluster togetherin groups of 2-10 cells

• lipids fill the spaces between the cells forming lamellarbilayers

• Three routes: transcellular, lipid partitioning, transappendageal

WHAT WE CAN’T SHOW YOU!

• White papers

• Industry reports

• FDA submissions

• Clinical reports

• Training material for sales and marketing groups

• Professional slide kits

• Newsletters

• Advisory Board Reports

• And more…….

WHAT DOES SCIENTIFIC INSIGHTS® DO?

COMMUNICATES

TEACHES

EDUCATES

TRANSLATES

DIRECTS/GUIDES

CONNECTS

WHAT HAVE I/ WE LEARNED

ABOUT BUSINESS?

Believe it or NOT

• IT is all about NETWORKING

Who you know

Who you know

Who you know knows

Life/Work/Business is all about

MARKETING yourself and your skills

STARTING UP!

• Branding

– Name

– Logo

• Office

– Telephone/fax/ e-mail

– Paper/ files

• Marketing materials

– Website

– Business cards

– Pamphlets

• Visibility

– Networking

– Word of mouth

– Referrals

– Cold calls

YOU CAN’T DO IT ALONE -TEAMWORK

• Friends and Family

• Bookkeeping

• Administration

• Child care

• Graphic Design

• Marketing

• Web support

• Bank

• Cleaning

MENTORS - EXPERIENCED VOICES

• Identify your weaknesses

• Ask questions

• Every encounter is a learning opportunity

• Ask questions

• Admit you don’t have a clue

• Be open to trying and learning different things

• Learn to ask for help

• Ask questions

!LEARN TO STRECH YOURSELF

YOU CAN’T DO IT ALONE -TEAMWORK

Scientific Insights® Consulting Group Inc.

• Partner

• Friends and Family

• Lawyer

• Bookkeeper

• Accountant

• Administration

• Child care

• Graphic Design

• Marketing

• Web support

• Bank – investment

• Insurance

• Cleaning

Scientific Insights®

I OWN IT!!!

GREATEST CHALLENGES

• What to charge?

• Asking for the project –closing the sale

• Invoicing and collecting money

• Prioritizing jobs

• Getting the work done – wearing too many hats

• Juggling projects

GREATEST CHALLENGES

• Client / project strategy and objectives– Understanding where they are going

– Persuading on best next steps

• CHOICES

– Family

– Clients

– Networking

– Volunteering

GROWTH

• More brains – more projects

• More hands on deck

• Good turnaround

• Greater diversity

– Team

– Projects

• Larger client base

EVERY ENCOUNTER IS A

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY

PLACES TO BE SEEN