From Big Pharma to Non-Profit
- Piper Trelstad's journey from a career in the pharmaceutical industry to her leadership role at the Bill & Melinda Gates Medical Research Institute highlights her commitment to global health issues, focusing on diseases like tuberculosis and dengue fever that are often overlooked by traditional pharma due to low return on investment.
- Throughout her career, Piper has transitioned from a research-focused role to one that emphasizes leadership and management, highlighting the importance of feedback and collaboration in effective leadership to create motivated and energized teams.
- At the Bill & Melinda Gates Medical Research Institute, Piper leads efforts to develop biomedical interventions, working with contract partners to ensure quality and regulatory compliance, while emphasizing diversity in leadership and advocating for the recognition of its value in scientific and organizational settings.
Join Our Newsletter
Get the latest news, updates, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
The Transformative Path of a Biotech Leader
Sitting down with Piper Trelstad, the head of Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls (CMC) at the Bill & Melinda Gates Medical Research Institute, is a testament to the dynamic and evolving landscape of biotechnology. From her early days in the pharmaceutical industry to her current role in a non-profit organization, Piper’s journey is a compelling narrative of dedication, leadership, and impact.
An Unexpected Start
Piper Trelstad’s career began with a PhD in chemical engineering from the University of California, Berkeley. Her academic background was complemented by an unexpected start in the pharmaceutical industry. After completing her PhD, she took a job as a process engineer at Merck in West Point, Pennsylvania. This role involved manufacturing vaccines, such as the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine that every child in the United States receives.
Transitioning Industries
Piper’s transition into industry was influenced by both personal and professional motivations. She recalls, "I didn’t want to move or travel a lot because I’d just had a child, so I took a job as a process engineer at Merck." This decision marked the beginning of a 14-year tenure at Merck, where she developed a passion for the business side of pharmaceuticals over the research side. The tangible impact of her work, particularly in vaccine manufacturing, became a driving force in her career.
Dengue Vaccines and Global Health
In 2014, Piper was offered a job at Takeda Pharmaceuticals in Cambridge, Massachusetts, to direct the development of dengue vaccines. This role had significant implications for low- and middle-income countries, where dengue fever poses a substantial public health threat. The diseases she now tackles at the Bill & Melinda Gates Medical Research Institute, such as tuberculosis, malaria, and diarrheal diseases, similarly disproportionately affect these regions. These conditions often go overlooked by industry due to lower return on investment, but from a public health perspective, the impact of treatments is immense.
Leadership and Management
Piper’s ascent to leadership positions was not without its challenges. She recounts early in her career receiving feedback from her boss that her team thought she was micromanaging them. This realization led her to change her management style, embracing a more collaborative approach. By being open to feedback and acknowledging her own vulnerabilities, Piper created an environment where her team felt energized and motivated. Her leadership philosophy is clear: "Leaders must be open to feedback and acknowledge that we are constantly learning and developing".
Current Role at the Bill & Melinda Gates Medical Research Institute
In 2022, Piper joined the Bill & Melinda Gates Medical Research Institute as its head of CMC. The institute is dedicated to developing biomedical interventions to address global health concerns. Unlike traditional pharmaceutical companies, it does not have its own labs or manufacturing capabilities. Instead, it collaborates with contract-development and manufacturing organizations to develop drugs and vaccines for various clinical trials.
Collaboration and Quality Assurance
Piper’s role involves guiding the activities of these collaborators by determining each step needed in the manufacturing process. She works closely with a quality team to ensure good manufacturing practices are followed, and with a regulatory-filing team to move clinical trials forward and secure approvals for their products. Currently, her team is working on a vaccine for tuberculosis, which has significant potential in reducing the approximately 1.5 million annual deaths caused by this disease.
Diversity in Leadership
The Bill & Melinda Gates Medical Research Institute is committed to diversity in leadership. The institute’s leadership team consists of 12 individuals, five of whom are women (42%). This dynamic not only provides a balanced perspective but also sets a positive example for future generations of scientists and leaders.
Advice for Early-Career Scientists
For early-career scientists interested in leadership roles in industry, Piper offers practical advice. She emphasizes the importance of recognizing the value diversity brings to organizations and suggests that women should not be discouraged from pursuing leadership positions. "Leadership positions are challenging, rewarding, and well paid," she says. Additionally, she advocates for leaders to be open to feedback and to continuously develop their skills.
Conclusion
Piper Trelstad’s journey from Big Pharma to the Bill & Melinda Gates Medical Research Institute is a testament to her dedication to global health and her commitment to effective leadership. Her career path offers valuable insights into the evolving landscape of biotechnology and the importance of collaboration, diversity, and continuous learning. As she continues to shape the future of biomedical interventions, her story inspires both current professionals and aspiring scientists to make a meaningful impact in their careers.
