April 1, 2025, Shenzhen – The inaugural SMART Lecture -- jointly organized by Shenzhen Medical Academy of Research and Translation (SMART) and Shenzhen Bay Laboratory (SZBL) -- was held at SMART's Weiguang Campus. The lecture featured a keynote speech by Professor Harvey Lodish, a distinguished member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, Professor of Biology and Bioengineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and a founding member of the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research.

Professor Lodish delivered an inspiring talk titled "New Technologies and Building Successful Biotechnology Companies to Treat Disease: A Personal History." Professor Nieng Yan, President of SMART and Director of SZBL, moderated this inaugural lecture.

A towering figure in the international life sciences community, Professor Harvey Lodish has achieved remarkable success in both scientific research and industrial translation, while earning worldwide acclaim for his profound influence in education. Over the course of his illustrious half-century academic career, Prof. Lodish pioneered breakthroughs in the mechanisms of blood cell differentiation and lipid metabolism regulation, laying the groundwork for new therapeutic approaches to major diseases such as anemia and cancer.

Two of his postdoctoral fellows have gone on to win the Nobel Prize, and six of his trainees have been elected to the U.S. National Academy of Sciences and National Academy of Medicine – cementing his reputation as "a mentor of academic luminaries."His textbook Molecular Cell Biology, which he co-authored and edited, is widely regarded as an authoritative reference in life science education in over 100 countries, shaping generations of life scientists worldwide. Key lecture highlights based on notes recorded by SMART staff on site.

Scholarship and Entrepreneurship: A Dual Pursuit

In his lecture, Professor Lodish emphasized that the integration of academic research and industrial application is a key driving force behind the biotechnology revolution. He provided a systematic overview of the origins and evolution of the biotech industry, highlighting how breakthroughs in recombinant DNA technology in the 1970s laid the foundation for its emergence. He also noted how higher-educational institutions like MIT fostered a thriving biotech ecosystem in the Boston-Cambridge area by encouraging faculty members to engage in entrepreneurship. As an academic entrepreneur himself, Professor Lodish co-founded several biotechnology companies—including Genzyme, Tevard, and Cerberus Therapeutics—spanning areas such as rare disease treatment, gene therapy, and autoimmune disorders.

Breakthroughs and Insights in Rare Disease Treatment

Professor Lodish presented Genzyme as a landmark case study to illustrate the development of the world's first rare disease therapy—the enzyme replacement treatment for Gaucher disease. By harnessing recombinant protein technology and glycosylation modifications, Genzyme successfully engineered a macrophage-targeted enzyme therapy, saving tens of thousands of lives worldwide. The company's eventual $20 billion acquisition by Sanofi stands as one of the most celebrated stories in the biopharmaceutical industry.

Prof. Lodish emphasized the rare disease paradox -- while individually "rare," these conditions collectively affect massive populations (approximately 50 to 80 million patients in China alone), creating urgent need for effective treatments. In the United States, legislative protections and supportive policies have incentivized companies to invest in rare disease drug development.

Lessons from Setbacks: Scientific Excellence ≠ Commercial Success

Professor Lodish candidly shared lessons from failure, citing his experience with Allozyne, a company he co-founded that leveraged Nobel laureate K. Barry Sharpless's click chemistry to develop site-specific PEGylated interferons. Despite its scientific elegance, the venture folded due to insufficient market demand—a stark reminder that "even the most flawless science cannot guarantee commercial success without proper market validation."

This hard-won insight now serves as a cautionary tale for entrepreneurs to take into account both scientific excellence and commercial feasibility.

"The Boston Model": Industry-Academia-Research Synergistic Innovation

Professor Lodish emphasized that the success of Boston's biotechnology cluster lies in both geographic proximity and multi-stakeholder collaboration: Universities deliver cutting-edge research; government agencies provide tax incentives and substantial funding (e.g. Massachusetts Life Sciences Center's $1 billion investment); venture capital firms (e.g. Flagship Ventures) take on risks; and incubators such as Lab Central help reduce operational costs for startups. He noted that this model offers valuable lessons for rapidly developing young cities like Shenzhen.

Cultivating Interdisciplinary Talent: The Science & Business of Biotechnology Program at MIT

To bridge the cognitive gap between scientists and business professionals, Professor Lodish co-developed the MITx course The Science and Business of Biotechnology in collaboration with the MIT Sloan School of Management. The course brings together scientists, engineers, and MBA students, helping them develop a shared language across disciplines. Through teamwork, students create business plans for early-stage biotech ventures and present them in simulated investor pitch sessions reviewed by real-world venture capitalists.

Career Advice for Young Scientists

In response to questions from early-career researchers in the audience, Professor Lodish offered the following advice: "Before committing to science as a vocation or venturing into entrepreneurship, take the time to first envision where exactly you want to be in a decade." He encouraged young students to consider taking a "gap year" to gain industry experience and broaden their horizons. "Whether it's treating patients, working at the bench, or joining a startup, the key is to find a career you're truly passionate about," Professor Lodish emphasized.