Women's History Month Barb Brandhuber, PhD Senior Vice President and Distinguished Scientist Loxo@Lilly Why did you pursue a career in science? The simple answer is I wanted to work in the field I loved. Science is and has always been my passion. As far back as I can remember, I loved that science had known concepts that I could study but also so much unknown that could still be explored. What are you most proud of in your career? Building, leading, and inspiring scientific teams that played key roles in discovering and developing multiple medicines. Creating new medicines requires intense teamwork and determination, coupled with optimism that the team can and will figure out the science. Who is a woman/mentor you admire? Jane Goodall opened the world of primate research to woman through her trailblazing chimpanzee research. Over 60 years later she is still actively inspiring people to conserve the natural world we all share and to make it a better place for people, animals, and the environment. How are you accelerating research or transforming the treatment landscape to create a world immune to cancer? The research teams I lead are investigating cancer cells at the molecular level using cutting-edge techniques. We use our findings to identify new molecular targets, and work to build targeted medicines that attack cancer cells with minimal effects on normal cells. What advice do you have for women who are entering the field of science? Identify the areas you are naturally drawn to and dig deep into that science. At the same time, be curious, explore, and continuously learn. Recognize that scientific research takes teamwork, so working well with others will increase your chances of success and be more fun.
