Monthly Archives: June 2009

Risk is scary, even in academic research

By Lily | Published: June 30, 2009
A couple days ago I wrote about a recent article on how the grant process might be hindering cancer research. While money is critical to enabling experimental research, money isn’t the only reason a researcher might choose a less groundbreaking but safer path; there’s also fear of failure. Truly cutting-edge work is risky because it [...]
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Recent software ads target pharma

By Lily | Published: June 30, 2009
Yesterday I was at O’Hare Airport in Chicago and noticed a huge ad by Oracle targeting pharma. The ad was a one-line statment that roughly said, “Top 20 pharma companies use Oracle” and echoed the information in this brochure from the Oracle website: Oracle customers include • 20 of the top 20 communication service providers • 20 of [...]
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Taking risks in research: the NIH grant process

By Lily | Published: June 28, 2009
In an article published yesterday, Gina Kolata of the New York Times argued that the scientific grant system stifles innovation by funding only lower-risk projects. Although the article focuses on cancer research, many of the stories resonate with my time in academia.  One of the unwritten rules of writing a successful proposal: if you want [...]
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What determines the pace of commercialization?

By Lily | Published: June 8, 2009
Last week PharmaStrategyBlog linked to a Business Week article on “The Failed Promise of Innovation in the US”. The article argues that delayed technological innovation is partly to blame for the current economic downturn. I disagree, but found the article thought-provoking. Funnily enough, several of the examples of “failed” innovation fall in areas I’ve touched [...]
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The virtuous circle: technology enabling science

By Lily | Published: June 7, 2009
Yesterday I attended a talk by Rebecca Saxe on how the brain learns to conceptualize other people’s thoughts. Having dabbled in neuroscience, I love learning about new developments. During the talk, Rebecca mentioned that the experimental techniques she uses, fMRI (a way to measure brain activity) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (a way to affect brain [...]
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Healthcare X PRIZE: Competition timescale and the choice of finalists

By Lily | Published: June 3, 2009
Last week I blogged about the Healthcare X PRIZE, a contest designed to help improve the value of our healthcare system. Timelines in healthcare move slowly. Drug development is slow. Our personal health evolves slowly. And the culture of medicine can be reluctant to embrace change. The Healthcare X PRIZE, however, spans only three years. It [...]
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