In observance of International Women's Day (March 8), we celebrate the achievements of our Chief Scientific Officer, Dena Marrinucci, Ph.D. The theme for International Women’s Day 2015 is “Make It Happen.” Marrinucci's graduate work helped form the basis for what is now Epic Science's no cell left behind™ platform for detecting circulating tumor cells (CTCs). Read the Q&A below to learn more about Marrinucci and how she “makes it happen” at Epic Sciences.
How did your graduate work lead to the founding of Epic Sciences?
I came to graduate school at The Scripps Research Institute looking to spend the next years of my life working on a project that would change medicine. With an undergraduate degree in chemistry, I was an unconventional graduate student who wasn’t interested in pursuing an academic career or doing basic research. Instead, I sought out a translational laboratory that would allow me to bridge science, medicine, and business. I was very fortunate to meet Dr. Peter Kuhn and to be given the opportunity to focus my thesis work on the development of a rare cell detector for cancer. The research fascinated me, as did the potential to learn how science and business can work together on breakthroughs that can alter the lives of so many people. Although I am a co-founder of Epic Sciences, the company was launched as a result of the hard work and dedication of a talented and passionate team of people—people who sincerely wanted to make a difference and who brought a variety of experience and perspectives to the work. I’m extremely fortunate to have had brilliant mentors who coached me along the way and exceptional colleagues as partners and teachers.
What is a typical day like for you now at Epic Sciences?
The day starts really early and there’s definitely a lot of coffee involved! I currently set Epic’s scientific agenda, drive R&D, including assay development and genomics, and oversee all of our biopharma partnerships. I spend a great deal of time working with my team, reviewing data, and providing input, as well as meeting with our customers. There are also many internal and external meetings to attend and I travel quite a bit to visit with customers and attend and speak at conferences. No two days are alike, but that is what makes it fun and exciting!
What do you enjoy most about your job?
Almost everyone has been touched by cancer in some form, including my own family. Our mission here at Epic is deeply personal to me—it’s important work that has the potential to save lives. This opportunity to work with an incredible team who shares the same vision is an incredibly rewarding and humbling experience and I am truly grateful for the opportunity to do so.
What advice would you give to someone considering a career in biotech?
Find your passion and go for it because if you truly love what you do and you believe you’re making a difference, you’ll be successful. Progress can only be made in this field through great science. Integrity is critical in this business, so never hide behind “bad” data, but talk about it openly and work collaboratively on solutions. Understand and leverage your strengths, be open to feedback, and constantly learn new skills. Getting exposure to as many areas of the business as possible will enrich your experience and your career. I would also add that you should not be afraid to take risks. There will be many times when things just don’t work out—but don’t give up. Learn from these experiences and persevere. You will most likely experience many ups and downs in this business, so always maintain focus on the long-term vision and do not lose sight of the goals you want to achieve.