News & Analysis on the Clinical Development and Manufacture of Large Molecule Drugs
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Jennifer’s background spans academia, Contract Research Organisations (CRO) and Pharma: with a proven track record in leading the development and implementation of customer-centric digital solutions, including AI and data science, within the industry.
Her career began in proteomics research and has since evolved to include clinical drug development and pharmaceutical applications, where she bridges the gap between scientific knowledge and the practical implementation of technical solutions.
BPR: Could you give us an overview of your work?
JB: At Coronado Research, a key aim is to utilise different technologies to optimise the clinical development process. Those technologies include artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), statistics and other analytical tools. My own day-to-day work as VP, Head of Data Science, is quite varied. I get the opportunity to collaborate with different experts, both within the company and in client organisations.
My role is to understand the pain points of people or organisations in the clinical development domain and identify how digital or technical solutions can help overcome them. That might be pairing them with existing solutions or the implementation of novel or bespoke solutions.
A deep understanding of the pharmaceutical domain, particularly the data and technology, including AI, is crucial in my role. I act as a translator between clinical teams and technical teams, simplifying complex requirements to help people make the most out of their data.
When did you realise you were interested in science?
During my degree, a realisation hit that I could combine all the things that I’d been interested in as a younger person. As a teenager, I had an interest in healthcare and helping people, and an interest in science and how things worked. At home, my dad was really into computing. I’d get involved with that and I could see the benefits of computing but at that time there was only a handful of computers for the entire school.
When I went to university I did Biomedical Sciences, which was that combination of science and healthcare. We did a module on something called bioinformatics and that’s where the computers came in. I think it was that eureka moment for me where I could apply healthcare, science and computing together.
Could you describe your personal journey bringing us to where you are now?
I was really lucky because I completed my degree around the time of the human genome project and so there were a lot of opportunities to do further education in bioinformatics.
I went on to do a master’s and PhD in computational biology. We were exploring how proteins aggregate, stick together and cause various diseases. I was using ML methods then and it was all about being able to apply those technologies to the data and generate those insights.
I stayed in academia in a postdoc position, which I found enjoyable, but after time as a researcher I started to feel quite removed from the patients and so I moved into pharma. It was very similar in that it was still about using technology to generate insights from data, but the data shifted to clinical data, so more at the patient level. I also had the opportunity to work with larger and more diverse teams, including technical development teams, statistical experts and clinicians. It was in that role that I realised I really enjoyed bridging the gap between the scientific teams and the technical teams. Because I had a background in both science and technology I could translate between the two successfully.
Since then, I’ve had several different roles, both in and outside of pharma. One particularly impactful role was working very closely with an oncology clinical trials unit. I got to work with patients and staff there and that was brilliant. Being so close to the patients was amazing, really rewarding, but very emotional as well. I found that aspect quite challenging.
I have spent a lot of time looking to demonstrate to non-technical teams how technology and digital solutions can really add value to them. I think right now, we’re at a turning point and, as part of my role in Coronado Research, it’s really exciting to be able to work with companies that maybe don’t have that technical expertise and start to introduce them to what’s possible.
What challenges did you face – as a woman or otherwise- along the way; and what is the most valuable lesson you have learned?
I don’t think being female ever really had an impact on my career. I know people experience it in other industries, but I haven’t really seen it. I think the hardest thing is being able to balance work and home after having children. My husband’s brilliant and takes on his share, but you never quite feel like you are winning at either.
I remember listening to a podcast from some very senior female leaders and they had the same sort of challenges and one of them said: “You can’t do everything, and that’s okay, but decide what you can do and really be present when you’re doing it.” That really stuck with me. I think it’s about, if I’m doing something with the children, be present. If I’m doing something at work, be present. Don’t try and do everything.
What ignites your passion in your current role?
What drives me is helping people. I get to help people in their day-to-day job and the biggest reward is when I create or implement a solution which makes a difference to someone or a team and I know ultimately it will benefit patients. That’s what drives me.
Given I’ve been working in the field of ML and AI for quite a long time now, it’s amazing that it’s really gained traction. People now, when I say what I do, they understand it. For so many years they looked at me as though they had no idea. It’s a really exciting time to be in the field and I can’t wait to see what happens in the next couple of years.
What is your current work ethos/style?
I’m detail orientated and organised which is needed because I work across lots of projects and data. But I think the biggest thing is my role has always been about problem-solving through innovation and new ideas. It is vital to be able to discuss things and work collaboratively with other experts. I think when you can work as a team, leveraging everyone’s strengths, that is where the best solutions come from.
Could you share some advice for young women starting to develop an interest in science or wanting to pursue a career like yours?
I always worried that I didn’t know what I wanted to be when I grew up. When I was in school and at university, the job I do today didn’t exist and so I think it’s important to follow what you enjoy, what you’re passionate about as things will change over time. Even within an organisation, you can often move around different roles. It’s about talking to people, building a network, understanding what opportunities are out there. As well as being set on your destination, it is what you do along the way that matters.
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