For millions of patients around the world, the development of a new treatment or vaccine can be life-changing. But the journey from promising drug candidate to approved product isn’t easy. It's a long and arduous process, with an average timeline lasting more than 10 years.

Behind the scenes of these life-changing medical breakthroughs are the scientists whose dedication, expertise, and remarkable problem-solving skills are driving progress forward. Though their training could have prepared them for careers in a number of fields, they are uniquely drawn to the complexities and possibilities of pharmaceutical research.

"I come to work every day inspired that I get to stand at the horizon of human knowledge," explains Jaimeen, a chemical biologist at Pfizer. "Progress can be slow, but I’m driven by those small discoveries that, inch by inch, are leading us toward something meaningful, something that can have an impact on millions of patients’ lives.”

From the earliest stages of drug discovery all the way through to approval and beyond, these colleagues offer a glimpse into the world of pharmaceutical R&D and the qualities that have been key to their success.

To Jaimeen, early discovery is the place where all the action starts.  It’s where he and his colleagues take an idea and transform it into a target that might, one day, help treat disease. Learn more about Jaimeen:

Brett and his team aim to incorporate patient input at every stage of drug discovery with the goal of helping health agencies, practitioners, policymakers, and others make decisions that reflect patient values. Learn more about Brett:

Drawing on his experience as a physician, John’s ultimate goal is to develop new and better treatments that can improve outcomes for patients struggling with cardiometabolic diseases. Learn more about John:

As an experienced immunologist, Isis applies new data and technologies to next-generation vaccines research, aiming to protect more populations, further reduce disease strains, and elicit even stronger immune responses. Learn more about Isis: