Dr. Ying Kai Chan, a Blavatnik Fellow in Life Science Entrepreneurship at Harvard Business School, reflects on his path from academic immunology to co-founding Cirrus Therapeutics, a biotechnology company focused on developing new treatments for chronic blinding diseases. In a recent HBS interview, he describes how the Fellowship’s combination of scientific rigor, business training, and close mentorship helped him bridge the gap between discovery and application, equipping him to translate vision science into therapies with the potential to improve patients’ lives. Chan highlights the importance of interdisciplinary learning, trusted advisors, and a clear sense of purpose, noting that the Fellowship provided both the skills and the community needed to pursue innovation grounded in real human need. Read the interview here.
Q&A: A Blavatnik Fellow’s Journey: Ying Kai Chan on Vision Science, Innovation, and Cirrus Therapeutics
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