The Mindfulness of Medicine Development: The First Steps of Scientific Innovation

At Pfizer, we know that breakthroughs aren’t created in a vacuum. Every new discovery, every new medicine and vaccine, is the result of the collaboration of many members of our community, each with their own unique experiences, expertise, and insights. The human element cannot be separated from our work any more than the patient experience can be removed from the outcome.

“The Mindfulness of Medicine Development” series showcases the journeys, experiences, and inspirations of our colleagues, highlighting the key qualities that drive success in pharmaceutical R&D, from discovery through to approval and beyond.

Early discovery is central to Pfizer’s research engine, driving projects across Internal Medicine, Inflammation & Immunology, Vaccines, and Oncology. In the first installment of “The Mindfulness of Medicine Development,” we spotlight Jaimeen, a chemical biologist on the frontlines of drug discovery, as he shares his role in the early stages of developing potential new medicines to help treat challenging diseases.

Jaimeen's fascination with the power of chemistry and biology was sparked at a young age, marveling at the differences a single neutron or electron could make in the properties of elements or pondering why certain herbs were thought to alleviate common cold symptoms. This curiosity about the fundamental building blocks of life led him to pursue a career in scientific research, driven by a desire to expand the boundaries of human knowledge and, ultimately, improve patient outcomes.

At Pfizer, Jaimeen and his team work to unravel the complexities of disease-causing proteins, seeking to understand their intricate webs of interactions and identify small molecules that can disrupt their harmful activities. As he explains, "It's really becoming a detective, being a sleuth, bringing all the tools of the trade, bringing in colleagues with different backgrounds, diversity of thought, all of that pours in."

This collaborative and cross-functional approach fuels Jaimeen's passion for his work. He finds inspiration in the shared commitment to helping patients, even at the earliest discovery stages, by pushing the boundaries of scientific understanding.

"It's really the uncertainty and the excitement of what new thing will I learn today? What will I know that I didn't know yesterday?" he says.

Learn more about Jaimeen in the first installment of “The Mindfulness of Medicine Development”:

Tune in to the full series to hear stories from colleagues across the R&D continuum.