Meet Jay Harper: Director of Oncology R&D
When Jay Harper began his career journey, he aspired to be a Marine Biologist, and he maintained this goal throughout his undergraduate studies at Long Island University. After an enjoyable experience taking a class in Marine Pharmacology, his career path seemed to be clear. However, while Jay had a strong passion for wildlife study, he was equally interested in benefiting mankind too. When scientist Robert Langer and his team based out of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) published an article detailing how proteins from shark cartilage can inhibit blood vessel growth and may thus inhibit tumor growth, Jay became enthralled with the process and eager to learn more.
After reading the article, Jay eagerly seized the chance to intern with Langer and other MIT researchers. Participating as a lab assistant was a dream come true for an aspiring Marine Biologist, however, through the work he was doing on sharks, he realized that he had fallen in love less with marine biology, and more so with cancer research.
Pursuing New Passions
We got great results; however, I wanted to do more to benefit mankind. So, I made my transition over, and I never looked back.
Once Jay discovered his newfound passion for cancer research, it was full steam ahead. After graduating from Long Island University, he received his PhD from Harvard Medical School. He returned to tumor angiogenesis research as a postdoc, studying the mechanisms by which tumors induce blood vessel growth. The research yielded interesting findings, but none of which could be druggable. It was then that he realized he wanted to gain industry experience to try and help bring medicines to patients. He joined Genzyme in 2006, and he began his career working on antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). After a 20-year tenure in Massachusetts, he moved to Gaithersburg, Maryland and continued his career in developing ADCs at MedImmune and eventually AstraZeneca where he’s currently a director in the newly formed Oncology Targeted Discovery department.
Initially, Jay’s role focused solely on leading portfolio teams, moving ADCs up the pipeline. In recent years, however, his responsibilities have expanded to include supporting and developing ADC platform initiatives. This new focus involves the creation and integration of drug prototypes, identifying biomarkers of sensitivity and resistance, and finding optimal combinations, subsequently relaying these findings to the portfolio team. When discussing his current duties as the director of his team, Jay noted that even though he’s not in the lab anymore, he loves his role of providing strategic oversight and being responsible for evaluating the relevance of the data collected and assessing its applicability to both the portfolio and platform teams.
Being out of the lab, he relies heavily on his team and more specifically on the relationship he has cultivated with them. He’s been very lucky to have been blessed with great managers and mentors throughout his career and he prides himself on the rapport he develops with everyone he works with. His team includes both new hires and seasoned employees, and he takes pride in fostering their personal and professional growth, whether by advancing scientific achievements, enhancing scientific skills, or honing critical thinking abilities. Discussing recent findings and figuring out how they will impact the delivery of their goals is one of Jay’s favorite parts of the role.
The Importance of Unplugging
I tell my team; I want to make you better. You must love what you do, and it's my job to get you there.
While Jay is profoundly committed to advancing his and his team’s research efforts in oncology, he also recognizes the importance of mental and physical rest. During the COVID-19 pandemic, when remote work led to constant online engagement, Jay found it challenging to discern when to disconnect. One of his cherished activities is solving puzzles with his daughter, a pastime he likens to his professional work. Sometimes you just get stuck, and you need periodic breaks to regroup, recharge and refocus, and often that allows you to see the problem in a different way and perhaps see the solution that was staring you in the face the whole time.
From his experiences during the pandemic, Jay has learned to not neglect his personal life and overall well-being, taking family vacations and making sure to get some relaxation in on the weekends. An enthusiastic Star Wars aficionado, Jay participates in Saber Guild, where he reenacts scenes and battles from the franchise for fun and charitable activities. He also plays the drums, which serves both as a creative outlet and a surprisingly beneficial physical activity.
Moreover, Jay maintains his fitness by regularly attending the gym and benefits from a schedule that allows quality time with his wife, a teacher, and their children. This balance is particularly significant as their children grow older and the family values their time together more than ever.
