SCIENCE science.orgIn retrospect, our project was successful
because we operated as a small biotech-
nology company would. We combined the
efforts of scientists and clinicians across
several laboratories, allowing everyone
to contribute their own expertise. We had
weekly meetings as a group to discuss data,
troubleshoot problems, and brainstorm,
where everyone’s opinions and ideas were
equally valued. We were fortunate to op-
erate in an academic climate that encour-
aged us to patent our intellectual property
by working closely with legal experts. As a
graduate student, I had the opportunity to
pitch our approach to biotechnology com-
panies and potential investors, who were
interested in translating our technology to
large-scale clinical adoption. More recently,
we established a start-up company to ad-
vance the technologies our group has devel-
oped into the clinical stage.
I am amazed how a simple concept has
blossomed into a detailed and optimized
pipeline for developing an innovative ap-
proach to treating cancer. Our environment
fostered teamwork and creativity, allow-
ing us to overcome seemingly impossible
challenges. As I look to the future, I am ex-
cited to see our work advance beyond the
academic realm—one step closer to the end
goal of providing new treatment options
for cancer patients and ultimately hope for
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10.1126/science.abo42378 APRIL 2022 • VOL 376 ISSUE 6589 147-B0408PrizeEssay_15347997.indd 151 4/1/22 4:36 PM