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Biotech

4,246 Views | 25 Replies | Last: 7 yr ago by JetSet05
aggieaviator
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AG
Any fellow biotech guys on this forum? Any capacity (R&D, executive, sales)?

OregonAggie
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AG
I work for a pharma company that has some biologic products.
aggieaviator
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AG
I have a BS in Molecular and Cell Biology and 10+ years of science and technology development experience and just relocated to the Houston area due to my wife taking a new position with a great company. I own my own company (non-technical) but it runs itself at this point and I would like to get back into science and technology if possible. I have a ton of experience in writing winning grant proposals and doing dry/wet lab bench work. Most of my R&D focused on biosensor development for medical and environmental applications. Leading small teams of scientists and engineers to develop prototypes for proof-of-concept demonstration. I have some limited management experience outside of starting and growing my own business.

Is biotech an option in Houston? Seems most of the biotechs have concentrated on the east and west coasts over the past decade or so. At one point Houston was planning and possibly tried to develop a "biotech corridor" but I'm not really seeing much opportunity around. At any rate, just putting my thumb to the wind to see how things are looking in the biotech / R&D industry these days.

My contact info is my username at gmail dot com.
rhoswen
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AG
Aviator, there's Opexa, Repros, and VGXI in The Woodlands. Lonza & Celltex in southwest Houston, plus the medical colleges (baylor, utmb, etc) in the med district. There's also two in college station.
millertyme
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AG
I have worked for both large pharma and one of the largest CROs (current job). Unfortunately, both of those jobs are outside of Texas so not sure if I will be much help in Houston.
OregonAggie
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AG
My company is based in PA/Jersey so I won't be much help unfortunately. I would definitely try to make some contacts in the medical district, given your interests and background.

Good luck on your search!
cisgenderedAggie
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I'm in biopharma; live in NC but have wanted to move back to Texas for a long time. Unfortunately I've always found the private sector in Texas to be terribly anemic and inhibitory to coming back. I've become convinced that the politics and economic climate in Texas are not conducive to the high R&D costs and long development cycles that are required (energy and IT are easier to stomach without public support).

That said, most of what I've seen when I look, apart from CROs, are device and diagnostics companies, so You may have better luck. Being in the area will probably help a lot as well. Good luck, I'll be watching for suggestions as well.
JetSet05
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AG
I currently work in the biotech world (but focused on more academia/tech transfer). I actually travel the world talking with pharma and biotech's on their R&D. Houston is trying to become a hub for biotech's with BioHouston. A lot of companies that get CPRIT grants chose to move to Houston due the the Texas medical center. A CPRIT grant requires a company to have a footprint somewhere in Texas, it is a very competitive grant. In the years I have ahead my job, their has been a migration towards Texas, primarily Houston. Small startups can not afford to be in San Fran or Boston anymore. And as time evolves, with increasing technologies, companies no longer need to be in San Fran or Boston to become successful. It is so much cheaper to be in Houston, that many companies are moving this way even without CPRIT grants.
Ranger222
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I recently completed my PhD at the University of Florida with a concentration in Microbiology / Immunology. I specialize as a bacteriologist with considerable knowledge in genome editing/cloning, advanced RNA sequencing technologies (RNA-Seq, ribosomal profiling, Tn-Seq), as well as protein purification/isolation/identification. I am currently staying on as a postdoctoral fellow within my same department I completed my PhD in. I am not actively seeking new opportunities but I am watching to see if anything catches my eye and would jump if the right opportunity presented itself. If anyone knows of anything that would fit my area of expertise, I would love to discuss. Current email is jkaspar@dental.ufl.edu
aggieaviator
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AG
As someone pointed out earlier, biotech is a very high risk, long-term play with very low success rates. The regulatory hurdles /risk and other high-cost activities make it unattractive to most investors. These early stage startups are largely subsidized through govt grants. They are typically 1-3 person companies with many founders wisely keeping their day jobs often in academia. The very few that are a success are very lucrative. It's equal parts hard work, good timing and luck. Nothing wrong with it just not exactly a lot of job opportunities for graduates.
cisgenderedAggie
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Aviator, check this out...

http://www.tmc.edu/innovation/innovation-programs/biodesign\


Ranger, you should look into CROs. Great and broad experience for a new graduate. If you're willing to move to NC, check out Q2 Solutions in RTP. They do a lot of genomics and are rapidly growing.
millertyme
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AG
cisgenderedAggie said:

Aviator, check this out...

http://www.tmc.edu/innovation/innovation-programs/biodesign\


Ranger, you should look into CROs. Great and broad experience for a new graduate. If you're willing to move to NC, check out Q2 Solutions in RTP. They do a lot of genomics and are rapidly growing.
That is who I work for, but not in NC. Let me know if you have questions or need an internal referral.
Bob_Ag
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AG
I don't work in biotech per se, but I do work for a very large lab instrument and consumables provider and we routinely sell into biopharma. My PhD was in biochemistry and definitely thought my career path was in biotech, but I found a great gig on the product management/marketing side of science.

Aviator, with your background I wonder if you couldn't look at opportunities in tech transfer, especially with the number of schools in and around Houston. All of those institutions will have a commercialization office.

Ranger, not sure if you are open to travel but look into roles like field applications scientist, field specialist, etc. Those positions seem to be much more willing to hire straight out of school than others. One of my buddies is an FAS, makes very good money, but does travel a bit. Good entry level position.
JetSet05
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Tech Transfer offices are some of the hardest jobs to get. Once people get into a tech transfer office, they rarely leave. Check out JLABS Houston. In March they will be adding space for 8-10 more companies.
aggieaviator
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Really appreciate the feedback so far.

Tech transfer would be ideal. I probably would qualify for many roles in an office of technology commercialization with my background as is; however, I always thought an MBA specializing in tech transfer would do wonders for my career given my lack up PhD. Lots of $$ invested but some valuable skills and knowledge gained in the process along with a degree that might open doors that are otherwise closed. Going back to school for a PhD is not something I want to do.
Bob_Ag
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The problem I saw with tech transfer, at least at A&M, those guys make pretty lousy salaries given their qualifications.

Regardless it seems like a cool gig job wise.

aggieaviator
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Bob_Ag said:

The problem I saw with tech transfer, at least at A&M, those guys make pretty lousy salaries given their qualifications.

Regardless it seems like a cool gig job wise.




Sounds pretty typical of the B/CS area in general.
cisgenderedAggie
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aggieaviator said:

Going back to school for a PhD is not something I want to do.



And please don't ever change that unless you're independently wealthy and just need a ****ty hobby. PhD will close many more doors than it opens.
JetSet05
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The tech transfer jobs in Houston pay well. Starting around 80k for tech analysts up to 150k ish for management positions.
Harry Stone
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A small team of scientists, my friend and I have founded 3 companies in 2016. All 3 have very unique, distinguishable platforms but are centered around RNA technologies. I just spent last week in SanFran presenting a unique method of rejuvenating CAR Ts. Two of our companies have short plays while one will be going through the standard IND long-term process
cisgenderedAggie
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That's really awesome. You wouldn't, by any chance, be looking for help on a clinical development and regulatory strategy front?
akaggie05
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AG
Harry, have you worked at all with dendritic cell-based vaccines (Provenge, DCVax, or similar)? Seems to be a bit of a competition brewing between CAR-T therapies and dendritic, would be interested in hearing your thoughts.
Harry Stone
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cisgenderedAggie said:

That's really awesome. You wouldn't, by any chance, be looking for help on a clinical development and regulatory strategy front?


I wish we were at that stage.
Harry Stone
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AG
akaggie05 said:

Harry, have you worked at all with dendritic cell-based vaccines (Provenge, DCVax, or similar)? Seems to be a bit of a competition brewing between CAR-T therapies and dendritic, would be interested in hearing your thoughts.


I have not. There probably is a competition brewing and one I dont want to get in. Our objective is using mRNA encoded hTERT extend telomeres of CAR t cells post adding and populating CAR and pre infusion to increase length of remission to a 4 yr survival from 57% to 90%. BUT we are not wanting to get into the market unless its too good to pass. We are looking to license the technology to companies like Kite, Juno, novartis or Bellicum for their ability to enhance their cell therapies.
cisgenderedAggie
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Harry Stone said:

cisgenderedAggie said:

That's really awesome. You wouldn't, by any chance, be looking for help on a clinical development and regulatory strategy front?


I wish we were at that stage.


Don't know where you're at exactly, but be careful not to underestimate importance of good early development strategy. If you are already thinking about IND enabling nonclinical development the time to be planning regulatory strategy is now. Could save you years and serious cash to start a plan very early.

I have done some consulting in this area and would be happy to chat (off the clock of course) if you'd want to talk some more about what's up ahead...one Ag to another.
Bob_Ag
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Harry, that's awesome. Did my dissertation on telomeres and telomerase accessory proteins.

JetSet05
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cisgenderedAggie said:




be careful not to underestimate importance of good early development strategy. If you are already thinking about IND enabling nonclinical development the time to be planning regulatory strategy is now
I do a lot of work in the CAR T space, and I couldn't agree more with this statement! Part of my job at MD Anderson is to develop relationships and Alliances up to 3-4 year before IND filing. We are trying to move the needle on science/drug development, and bridge the work between Academia and Industry. I have seen great companies fail due to the lack of early development.

I assuming that when you say you were in San Fran, that you were at JP Morgan? The weather was terrible, that was a long week for us!
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