July 29, 2025 • 36 mins
Anji Miller is Senior Partner for Academic Engagement at healthcare charity LifeArc. LifeArc help turn great research into real-world healthcare products – from bench to bedside.
Sarah and Anji talk about
- Trusting her instincts, even when others didn’t understand her career choice
- Embracing opportunities and making the next best move
- Why she is a passionate advocate for mentoring, EDI and STEM initiatives
- Seeing the impact of her work on patients and the people she has supported
Find out more
- Read the show notes and transcript on the podcast website
- Connect with Anji on LinkedIn
- Find out about LifeArc
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Anji Miller (00:01):
But the thing is, academia was, intellectual
challenge, academic freedom.
You do what you want, you publish,and then you've got someone
else talking to you about, okay,intellectual property, patents, you
don't disclose, and these terms thatthey're thinking like, what the hell?
But I never had a mentor formyself until early this year.
(00:21):
And it is fantastic.
I've always advocated for it, butyou help others and you just end
up not having one for yourself.
So regardless of socioeconomicbackground, your ethnic background,
anything, gender, anything, it iswhere you have the opportunity to
be the best version of yourself,and you are encouraged to do that.
Sarah McLusky (00:44):
Hello there.
I'm Sarah McLusky andthis is Research Adjacent.
Each episode I talk to amazing researchadjacent professionals about what
they do and why it makes a difference.
Keep listening to find out why wethink the research adjacent space
is where the real magic happens.
(01:06):
Hello there.
I'm your host, Sarah McLusky, andI'm delighted to introduce you
to my guest today, Anji Miller.
Anji is senior partner forAcademic Engagement at Tech
Transfer Charity LifeArc.
with the wonderfully concise taglinefrom bench to bedside LifeArc focus
on helping turn great research intoreal world healthcare products.
With a PhD in gene therapy and amaster's in intellectual property
(01:29):
law, Anji is perfectly placed forher role, which includes advising and
training researchers on things likeintellectual property and patents.
Anji didn't have the smoothest start.
Careers advisors and family memberswere bemused by her aspirations to
become a scientist, but she perseveredand found her stride at university.
This experience has made her a passionateadvocate for mentoring, EDI and STEM
(01:52):
initiatives, meaning that the nextgeneration will benefit from the role
models and support that she lacked.
We talk about self-belief even in theface of disappointments, making the
most of opportunities and seeing thereal world impact of her work, whether
that's on patients or the researchersthat she has trained and mentored.
Listen on to hear Anji's story.
(02:13):
Welcome along to the podcast,Anji, it is fantastic to meet you.
I wonder if we could start by tellingme and our guests a little bit
about who you are and what you do.
Anji Miller (02:24):
Okay.
So I'm Anji Miller.
My role, my current role, thetitle is Senior Partner for
Academic Engagement at LifeArc.
LifeArc is an independent UK-basedhealthcare charity that's just
focused on getting great academicresearch from bench to bedside.
(02:48):
So my role has transformed over the time.
So my background is I'm trainedas a scientist, so it is, and I,
for a long time I was a scientist.
And what I decided to do was use myscientific knowledge out of the lab.
So I helped get innovationfrom bench to bedside.
(03:09):
I'm that person that combines theIP aspect, the business aspect,
that goes beyond the publications.
So it is where I work at the intersectionof industry, academia, but also over
time, because I like working with othersand I like sharing knowledge with others
I also train others to do this as well.
(03:31):
So it's quite a nice, it's a nice role.
It's niche, but it, it's anice role and it's impactful.
Sarah McLusky (03:36):
Yeah, I bet it is impactful that, I love that story of from bench to
bedside, that's just such a lovely kindof catchphrase encapsulates what you do.
So you say your roleis academic engagement.
On a kind of day-to-daybasis, what does that mean?
What sorts of things are you doing?
Who are you working with?
Anji Miller (03:54):
Yeah, it varies a lot.
A lot is working with, because I do a lotof the training and now really setting up
programmmes and that's globally to ensurethat basically innovations, technology,
gets outta the lab and impacts society.
It could vary from, for example,yesterday I was on a panel talking about
(04:16):
STEM, talking about careers and thewide option that individuals who study
science have and this was to encourageindividuals of underrepresented groups.
And, that was lovely.
But also what I do is I'll beengaging with groups and really
researchers from Sub-SaharaAfrica through another fellowship.
(04:37):
And it will be adding that translationalpiece so that they understand the
business side of running theirown group and their own project
to ensure it gets beyond the lab.
The currency of academia is publication.
But you need, there's another side toreally ensure that it truly is impactful.
(04:58):
And that's that side really looking.
Can I protect anything?
Who can take it to market?
And how can they do it?
And how can I feed in?
Sarah McLusky (05:07):
Yeah.
Yeah.
And how do you go about findingthese projects that you work on?
Do you go out and find themor do they come to you?
Anji Miller (05:16):
Most of the time it's where they come to me.
And it, it is where they may be, itmay be a programmme that LifeArc is
a key player for, and it is wherea key supporter of the programmme
and there's that translationalpiece that needs to be brought in.
So that's where they will come to ourteam and say, we want to ensure that
(05:38):
these researchers understand how theycan translate their science, but also
having a look what infrastructureis required within wherever
they are that, that supports it.
So it is very much a collaborativeaspect, but also a lot of the time it
could be researchers who are lookingand thinking, what do I do next?
I'm here, I enjoy what I'mdoing, but I want to have a look.
(06:00):
How can my career move along or howcan I feed into doing something to
really ensure that those, those whoneed it, get the science that I have.
Yeah.
Sarah McLusky (06:14):
Yeah.
Anji Miller (06:14):
And it could be talking about career paths.
It could be talking about just skills.
It could be just providing thatadditional voice that support, that
mentorship that's required for someoneto really explore their passions.
Sarah McLusky (06:27):
Yeah.
Yeah.
And actually figure out, as yousay, I think there's some people
get into research because theyjust love the research and they
love the kind of discovery of it.
But some people very definitely go intoresearch 'cause they think I want to help,
Anji Miller (06:41):
Yes.
Sarah McLusky (06:41):
With this medical condition, or, actually do something
that makes a difference in the world.
But that journey can be areal mental shift, can't it?
To go from being in a university and maybeyou're trying to get grants for funding
and for research and things like that, tothen suddenly producing something that you
can get accredited and sell to customers.
(07:03):
It's a real shift, isn't it?
Anji Miller (07:05):
And I think life throws so many curve balls at you that you
do change, you transform over time.
And we live in a day and age where.
A career is not just one thing and youdo that one thing until you retire.
Sarah McLusky (07:21):
Yeah.
Anji Miller (07:22):
You will mature and your skills will develop.
We are living in day and agewhere, gene therapy, which is my
background it was science fiction.
Not that long ago.
Now it's a reality, but we have to ensurethat everyone can have access to it.
So I think as individuals developtheir career and they mature, they
have different responsibilities.
(07:43):
Their drivers and their passionsshift slightly, they, things that
happen and individuals impactedin different ways will really
shape what their ambitions are.
So sometimes they'll think okay,I'm really interested in this
and I'd like to combine it with.
Is that a thing?
Half are quite scared to ask the question.
(08:05):
Others are fearful on howeveryone will perceive it.
And what I do a lot of the timeis help those individuals to
realize it's not just a pipe dream.
It's something that can become a reality.
And just because you don't seeit doesn't mean it doesn't exist.
Or you shouldn't pave the way for it.
Sarah McLusky (08:23):
Yeah.
Yeah, definitely helping people tojust see the possibilities, I think
so often as well, that, and just partof what this whole podcast is about is
helping people to see the possibilities.
Because particularly, you, whenyou're at school, it's really hard to
know what's out there in the world.
And then even when you go to universityand you start to get a bit more of
a sense, but it's still you're verymuch shaped by the people that you
(08:47):
see, the role models that you see, thesituations that you find yourself in.
And so it can sometimes be reallyhard to conceive of something
different and that's why thatmentorship and advice is so valuable.
Anji Miller (08:59):
Absolutely.
And school visits are one of my favoritesbecause children, there's no filter.
You get you get everythingraw, and they are clever.
They feed in, they see every aspect.
They tap into your passions.
They can see that you are fired up whenyou're talking about whatever subject.
(09:21):
But also they will come in and theywill ask you the questions that
even their colleagues didn't knowthat they were into this thing.
They just wanna know becausethey, they're learning.
This is when they absorbeverything that you say.
So when I go in, I usually have a roughidea of what I'm gonna talk about, but
the minute I go in there and I starttalking, I know that I'm gonna have
(09:44):
questions coming from every direction.
And it's fantastic because I know evenfrom my experience, one good teacher
can really set you on a path for life.
Yeah.
And it really, or it can break you down.
And you will have so many challengesthat, it's in your head that they were
(10:04):
told, you were told, you can never dothis, or you are, that's not for you.
Yeah.
Rather than go for it.
Sarah McLusky (10:12):
Yeah.
Anji Miller (10:12):
And I think with young minds it's more of what you do and
what they see than what you say.
Sarah McLusky (10:19):
Yeah.
Yeah.
And so is that your story then?
Was there a particular teacher thateither encouraged you or perhaps
Anji Miller (10:27):
Oh gosh,
Sarah McLusky (10:27):
formed you in some other way?
Anji Miller (10:29):
I, coming from first generation British Jamaican um,
family, so I'm one, the firstgeneration that was born in the uk.
My parents, they were verybig on education and it was
where they just told me.
Do not, never set alimit on your ambitions.
So I, that was instilled in me andit was really where education is key.
(10:52):
That was, and I still carry that.
Education is key.
But even when they, they would ask,and you get these aunts and uncles
always asking, what do you want to do?
What do you wanna be?
And you say, scientists, you cansee it clouds over where they're
thinking scientists, that's not quitedoctor, it's not quite lawyer and
it, as it is with these backgrounds.
(11:12):
But my parents always, don'tset the, don't limit yourself.
But I do remember, I, and this is why it'sso important that we are very careful by
what we say to our young minds around us.
I do remember that when I mentionedthat I wanted to be a scientist.
I do remember like having.
(11:33):
Like a careers teacher who was verydismissive about that ambition.
And it was almost as though one, now whenI look back, it was that this individual
obviously didn't know anything aboutthe career path, but also it, there was
nothing supported, nothing encouraging.
(11:55):
But I've spoken to so many.
Since then, and they've hadthe same experience and decades
younger than me, and they're stillhaving those sort of experiences.
For me it was really where I think I'mthe type of person because I've had so
many disappointments and knock backs.
It really, it does hurt.
And you do stay therenursing your wounds, but.
(12:19):
It does also cause something in me to riseeven stronger and even more determined
to just, okay, this is what I'm goingto do and I'm gonna find a way to do it.
I don't care what this personsaid or what they think.
I know what I want to do and I thinkit's best that I go down trying.
(12:43):
Rather than sitting there thinking, okay.
No don't go for it.
And it's always in hindsight, people saythat, oh, why did you choose this path?
Why did you do these things?
Sometimes it's really where you took theopportunities that were there at the time.
It looks as though it's a carefullycurated halfway, but it really was.
(13:09):
You were in the position thatthose were the best options.
Yeah.
So you made the most of them.
They turned out to be the bestoptions, but at the time you
were really trying to navigate towhatever goal or whatever target.
Yeah.
So I would encourage anyone,when you have your dreams and
ambitions, don't hide them.
(13:30):
But also when someone is not supportive.
Do not take it personally, use that asthe fuel to, to really carry on because
you know yourself better than anyone else.
And school, yes, you do spend most ofyour time there and you would hope the
individuals in charge of you see that.
But someone that you meet in a snapshotwho's supposed to advise you on
(13:53):
something that they're ill-informed onis not gonna give you the best advice.
Yeah.
So it's really rememberingthat, and I think it's really.
We should always encourage eachother to, to really just try.
Yeah, just go for it.
Yeah.
And I think that's the messagethat I try to give to others.
And I think one of the nicest thingsis when you see that you've spoken
(14:14):
to someone and they really do takeit on board and you see them soaring,
you see them going from, one heightto another, and they pay it forward
because they remember the generositythat, the advice that you gave them.
Sarah McLusky (14:30):
Yeah.
Absolutely.
And I think that leads us really nicelyonto the path that you took then.
So you had this vision that maybeconfused your family and the careers
advisor was a bit like, okay.
And you went and did it.
Tell us a bit about how youdid it, what the steps were.
Anji Miller (14:49):
Yeah, the thing is, I loved school.
I come from a big family, so I'm usedto being around individuals and I, I.
When I tell people this, they're quitesurprised that I was painfully shy.
And it is sometimes I do, Italk a lot, but the thing is
sometimes I do go very quiet.
I love studying other people . ButI loved being at school.
I loved learning from that earlyage, but also I enjoyed science.
(15:13):
At school, I, I enjoyed thelessons and everything, but I think
academically, when I look back theexams and how they, the exams were
set were not the easiest things.
I, when I really started to flourishwas when I was at university.
And I, my first degree is in appliedbiology and it was a modular degree and I
(15:33):
remember thinking, wow, my parents were sohappy 'cause I was going to university and
this is something I'd been talking aboutall the time on track to be a scientist.
And for them I think it was just reallypleased that out of the kids, there's
only two girls and there's six boys,and it is where the, I'm going to
university and I'm gonna have a career.
(15:54):
I, for me, it was reallywhere I started to come alive.
And I think it is where also I,that's when I started to have my own
voice, because you have to speak out.
There's no one else there talkingfor you, but I'm, I did an industrial
year, so a year in industry.
Six months in France and six months inItaly, and then working in the labs.
And I found that I had a naturalability of working in the labs.
(16:17):
I loved it.
Designing my experiments, having amain hypothesis that you're going
to prove and working towards that.
I did amazingly and I came back withrenewed energy for my final year,
which I did very well in as well.
But I also realized that I likedthe molecular side of things.
And I always, as a scientist, I wantedto, it was for me, the natural thing.
(16:40):
I'm gonna complete a PhD, butI was very ambitious in knowing
what I wanted it to be in.
And that was in gene therapy.
And at the time, gene therapywas very hot and you wouldn't
have PhD placements or anything.
So when I spoke to a lecturer, theydid advise me and they said, this
is great that you know that you havea strength for it, but apply for a
(17:02):
master's as well as a backup, right?
Just in case you need more time.
And it worked out really well.
Cut a long story short, itis where I did find a lab.
We, and we applied for funding.
And I managed to do my PhD in cancer genetherapy at Imperial, but I had to take
a master's in human molecular genetics.
During the time when I was lookingand sending out and turning down.
(17:25):
Also, at some point I didthink, what was I doing?
Turning down PhD offers.
Sarah McLusky (17:30):
Wow.
Anji Miller (17:30):
Because I was going for the subject that I wanted to, by the
time I completed my PhD. I'd been inthe lab for something like seven years.
And I knew that I did notwant to stay in the lab.
I wanted to go further.
Yeah.
And it was an exposure to some of thetechnology that was protected in the lab
that I had, oh, what's this technologytransfer innovation, what is that?
(17:56):
Because I knew I wanted to use what I had.
And continue building on it.
And essentially that's what I did afterthree Degrees, I went back and did a
Master's in intellectual property law.
Sarah McLusky (18:07):
Oh goodness.
Anji Miller (18:08):
And it was really one of the best things that I'd done that
everyone thought I was crazy for.
There was a laughter, there was ajoke at home, the perpetual student.
But the thing is, it was reallywhere it was amazing to, to
apply the way I approach things.
Bring in that legal aspect and ever sincethen it's, I haven't looked back really.
(18:30):
It's been working towards and rolesinvolving, curating great translational
research to really ensure that theymove further along that development
pathway to interventions thatwill be the next diagnostics and
therapeutics that we have today.
Sarah McLusky (18:47):
I can see why that combination of both the PhD in
the biological side of things.
Yes.
And then the masters in the intellectualproperty would make you a very
employable person in the knowledgetransfer environment because certainly,
although there's another podcastseries that I do called Academic
(19:07):
Adventures, and that's all about spinouts and startups and things like that.
And this intellectual property thing Yes.
Just comes up again and again.
Yes.
And again as one of the mostchallenging things about
getting things up and running.
Yeah, having that knowledge.
Anji Miller (19:23):
It's almost as though it's seen as the arch enemy to publication.
But you can have both.
If the strategy and timing is right.
Yeah.
So it, it does mean workingvery closely with the teams
and really gaining that trust.
Yeah.
So that they trust you, thatyet they are gonna have that
publication, which they need to have.
Sarah McLusky (19:43):
Yeah.
Anji Miller (19:44):
But at the same time, for it to go further, you need to
really protect whatever's there, theintellectual assets within that research.
Sarah McLusky (19:52):
And you said, you mentioned back in the conversation when we were
initially talking about helping toinspire people on their career journey.
You spoke about theimportance of mentoring.
Is that something that haspersonally been important to you?
Anji Miller (20:05):
This is the strange thing.
Sometimes I'll do a, I'm on a paneland we're talking about different
aspects, particularly womenempowerment and things like that.
And someone said is it okay if I havecoffee and you end up really informally
being a mentor for that person.
And I have formally joined likesome mentoring programmmes and
one of the things I also run twofellowships, different types,
(20:28):
but they have the same mission ofindividuals with STEM backgrounds
to become innovation professionals.
And one of the big USPs is thatmentoring aspect to get the mind
in the right shape and frame.
But I never had a mentor formyself until early this year.
And it is fantastic.
I've always advocated for it, butyou help others and you just end
(20:50):
up not having one for yourself.
Yeah.
And it was just something that I said,okay, this is one of the things that
I'm gonna do for myself because Ibelieve in lifelong learning, and I
work in the innovation space where youhave to keep abreast of everything.
So one of the things Ithought, okay, definitely.
I want to have this for myself.
And for me it was for a particularaspect to really feed in, in
(21:13):
is the strategy and plan that Ihave the optimal one for myself.
Yeah.
For others it will be whereI'll bring in like a peer level
mentor, someone who has a livedexperience and has tread that path.
And then I'll bring insomeone who is an expert.
To really get that knowledgeabout whatever ecosystem
(21:33):
that person is working in.
But I do believe in doing and doingthat, and I think it's something
that you can easily do within oneconversation or an ongoing relationship.
Sarah McLusky (21:43):
Yes.
Yeah.
I think sometimes mentoring doesn'tneed to be a as structured or formal as
perhaps we think it might be, but yeah.
That's interesting that you've not hadone yourself until this year, is it?
I know.
Was it just,
Anji Miller (21:55):
it's strange
Sarah McLusky (21:56):
it not finding quite the right person or,
Anji Miller (21:59):
I think it was, at first, it was something that I just didn't
even think about because I knew thatto fulfill my role, this is what this
person needs, and my focus was on that.
It was only after a while thinking.
I could do with one.
And then it was the difficulty, how doyou select the mentor and it, I believe
(22:20):
that it's not gonna be a mentor for life,although some relationships are like that.
A lot of the time it's thatstage that you're in, that phase.
Or that particular need.
And I think it'sdifferent for each person.
The plan is gonna be very different foreach person, but also the personalities.
For me I'm very outspoken and it iswhere, someone who is not going to accept
(22:46):
being questioned or why do you say that?
Or wanting to know more.
It's really, they're gonna feel as thoughI'm trying to pull things that they
probably feel uncomfortable telling me,but as a mentor, I hope that they would.
Sarah McLusky (23:00):
Yes.
That's what you want.
You want a little bit of,maybe not brutal honesty, but
definitely honesty from a mentor,
Anji Miller (23:06):
because when I do and also it's not that they're gonna
tell you what to do, but they'regonna open your mind so you think
Sarah McLusky (23:12):
Yeah.
Anji Miller (23:12):
And make your own choice.
And I think that's the important thing.
So even when I'm preparing someone for.
They're gonna have a mentorand they've never had one.
It is where I will outline andgive them an idea and let them
know that this is a guide.
What you need is gonnabe individual to you.
Sarah McLusky (23:30):
Yeah.
Yeah.
Anji Miller (23:31):
So you work on that relationship and you hopefully
it will work out, but if not.
Let me know and maybethat needs to be a change.
Sarah McLusky (23:39):
Yeah.
Yeah, definitely.
It sounds from the way you've beenspeaking, it sounds like the point
you're at now that relationships arealmost more important in the work that
you do now than the actual science.
Would that be a fair thing to say?
Anji Miller (23:53):
It's not more important than, but they do go hand in hand.
And I think even to be an really, a goodinnovation professional, you will have
to have good relationships because youhave to gain the trust of the researcher.
And in academia, there's a passion tothat work that someone could be working
(24:14):
on that, that, that area for decades.
Why would they trust you withthis, talking about this aspect
that, the structure is not quitefluid with regards to innovation.
It's changing now, but the thingis, academia was, intellectual
challenge, academic freedom.
You do what you want, you publish,and then you've got someone
(24:34):
else talking to you about, okay,intellectual property, patents, you
don't disclose, and these terms thatthey're thinking like, what the hell?
Yeah.
So you do have to have therelationship so that can happen, but
also when you're training someoneto, to really be able to do this.
You have to be able to tap into whothey are, so you have to be able
(24:55):
to communicate and also the needs.
I, I advocate a lot, whether it'sfor EDI or the profession, you
have to be able to communicate.
So it does change it slightly where youare not as hands-on as you were before
with being there and dealing with allthe science, but you still have to
understand the science and you stillhave to under understand the needs.
(25:17):
So it, it really does start rollingin and as more things come in that
you're rolling into your role itdoes dilute each aspect because
it's a combination of those things.
Sarah McLusky (25:29):
Yeah.
Yeah.
I wonder, it'd be lovely to hear aboutmaybe one or two examples of projects
that you've worked on, in, in so muchas, like you say, in intellectual
property, confidentiality in somuch as you're able to say publicly.
But yeah, some thingsthat really stand out.
Anji Miller (25:46):
There are, I've worked with amazing scientists.
Some were really well known.
Others in their sector, they area amazing, they're the top dog,
but also amazing individuals.
And.
Those are the ones that really standout the most because there's your job
and then that there's that extra piece.
(26:06):
And I, that's that relationship piecewhere they will say to you, Anji,
I'm thinking about blah, blah, blah.
And it's yeah, let's do it.
Let's make it happen.
I remember one of my first rolesand that was at St. George's.
And it's a hospital medical school, andbecause it's a hospital medical school,
you get great translational research.
You've got the clinical aspect,and it is really where it's
(26:29):
moving away from the bench.
It's really getting to thepatients, whether that's through
clinical trials or whatever.
And one of them was a really bigconsortium, and it was funded by some
of the top funders, but also one ofthe leading researchers in that area.
And I remember when I got this role,it was where they said, personally when
(26:49):
the director who interviewed me, she waslike, it's gonna be really challenging,
are you sure you want a challenge?
And I said, yes.
Tell me about it.
Because she was really afraidthat I was gonna run away from it.
It ended up being one of the mostenjoyable things that I've done because
it was, I think, enjoyable because theresearcher who I was working with was
such a humble person, but an amazing mind.
(27:12):
But what he was doing was gonna impactreally, not just the global north, but
definitely the globe and everyone elsein those areas that are underrepresented.
And there was a need thatsurpasses anything else.
And for me it meant alsoapplying everything.
(27:33):
So I was negotiating agreements,working with external partners,
industry and academia, and thenalso really outlining, okay, this
is how we're gonna work together.
It was a massive project.
Sarah McLusky (27:47):
Yeah.
Anji Miller (27:47):
But it was amazing because it was the first time.
That I really could flex the combinationof skills that I put together at
that time and know that it was gonnalead to something really impactful.
Sarah McLusky (28:00):
Yeah.
Anji Miller (28:00):
Other projects that come to mind, it's like even at LifeArc, dealing
with some of the tech because we workwith and we support conditions to really
treating and addressing unmet healthcareneeds in the rare disease space.
So these are populations thatare not attractive because it's
a smaller market, small number.
Yeah.
A lot of the time to industry.
(28:22):
Where you can see and you understand thereal needs, and you work with clinicians
who have clinics, so they see the patientson a daily basis, and you're moving that
technology closer to being somethingthat's gonna be available as a treatment
That is hugely impactful because youcan see the difference that you make
because for me, it's also talking aboutit and advocating for that disease area.
(28:46):
So it means if it may lead to morefunding, it may highlight it so it's
more attractive for others to, towork in, but also the amazing work
that's being done by that group,that small community addressing it.
I think also it bringshope to the patient group.
Yeah, the patient voice is reallyimportant and it's something that
(29:07):
through my role, you get close to that.
And understanding really what it's likefor a family it's, it's devastating,
but what they have to go through.
But you want them to know there's hope.
There are Yes.
Individuals working to really make surethat hopefully in, in time there will be
(29:27):
a treatment or may possibly a cure forwhatever they're they are going through.
I think the last one in the most recent.
I say most recent is 'cause I stilldo it and it is, I talked about my
career journey from going from benchto using my science outside of the
bench when I just started and I startedadvocating for it over a decade ago.
(29:50):
But it is where there's no clearpath for someone who wants to do
this and also it's not well known.
Yeah.
That you can, as a STEM graduate, you haveplethora of roles that you can go into.
So me with my big mouth is yeah,I think we need to have something.
And luckily I was working with someonewho was like, okay, let's, what we
(30:10):
gonna do what we gonna, and I designedthe fellowship and it was the first
one of the two that I run also.
And it was for individuals with aSTEM background who enjoy science
and are passionate about it.
They wanted to be scientists for areason and regardless of how much
experience they have it is that they wantto pivot and help get that technology
(30:35):
really to be becoming somethingthat's gonna have real world impact.
And it means bringing inthat business and legal.
Yeah.
And all those professional transferableskills that are required in that space.
And you do this through a year.
But I work with partners in the sectorto deliver this programmme, and now it's
(30:55):
over nine years and seeing the individualsand it's one, one of them, the very
first one is open to everyone in Europe,but seeing the individuals forge their
careers and, they have, particularlyin some of the spaces, it's the first
innovation office that's gonna be set up.
That's gonna address anything like that.
(31:17):
It is something that, youknow when you're thinking Yes.
Yeah.
I wasn't crazy.
Yeah.
And sometimes, there's,
there is something that cancome out of someone just saying,
okay, how is it gonna be?
How are you gonna do it?
And it does mean that you put a lot ofwork into it because for a long time it
(31:38):
was something in addition to my main role.
Yeah.
Now, luckily it's part of my main role.
It's, yes.
Sarah McLusky (31:44):
Yeah.
Anji Miller (31:45):
But it is something that I am hugely proud of because it will go on.
Yeah.
And individuals, the it's over, it's ahundred and something fellows on last
count, and they tap in and they feed intothat programmme as peer mentors alongside
the expert mentors that I mentioned.
And it, it is something that.
(32:07):
When you're thinking, okay, I if thiswas my last day, I know that it's
something that I would look on andsay, I'm very glad that I did that.
They did that.
Sarah McLusky (32:16):
Yeah.
Yeah.
That's a lovely thing to beable to have in your portfolio
of things that you've done.
I do like to ask all of my guestson the podcast, if they had a
magic wand, what would changeabout the world that they work in.
If money and time was no object.
Anji Miller (32:35):
There's so many things.
I think because it's at the cruxand from my lived experience, the
challenges that I faced in even tryingto forge my own career as a black
female scientist, it's not been easy.
Particularly, you wanna step outand do something that when you're
(32:56):
describing the career, people lookingat you, one half of them don't know
what it is and others are looking atyou thinking really, they doubt it.
I think it would be that
we would live in a world where it'sinclusive and rather than inclusivity
just being something that is, it'sreally an act that you do, it falls in
(33:19):
part in really as part of everyday life.
It's, yeah, really, truly it would be.
So regardless of socioeconomicbackground, your ethnic background,
anything, gender, anything, it iswhere you have the opportunity to
be the best version of yourself,and you are encouraged to do that.
And it would mean that.
(33:41):
You would have, you wouldn'thave rare conditions.
No one is interested in it or,no one's even thinking, okay,
what about this population?
You would have individuals globallybeing able to become skilled and change
the world that they, they come fromor they live in or they care about.
I think it would be ultimately aworld where I wouldn't need the wand.
(34:05):
Yes.
Because it is where, or I'duse it on something else.
Yeah.
Because it would be fair.
It would be equitable.
Sarah McLusky (34:16):
Yeah.
Anji Miller (34:17):
And I think, in my world I see everyone.
I see the good in everyone, andI'll try and bring that out and I'll
try and really encourage them totake, to adopt that, that mentality.
And it's really where they adopt.
And when I talk to the youngminds like my daughter, she knows
(34:37):
that I'm a staunch EDI advocate.
But the thing is also it's notjust what I say, it's what I do.
Yeah.
And.
I'd like to a world whereeveryone just has that one thing.
And I think it wouldchange so many things.
Sarah McLusky (34:51):
I think it really would, wouldn't it?
And that is an amazing vision.
I think perhaps to leave ourconversation on that that world vision.
If anybody wants to find out more aboutthe work that you do, get in touch with
you, where is the best place to find you?
Anji Miller (35:05):
Oh, they can find me on the LifeArc website.
But also LinkedIn.
Yeah.
It's, that's my Rolodex.
It's, it is where, and a lot ofthe time, messages and whatever,
and also to see what I do.
Yeah.
They can see for themselves.
But, yeah, hopefully Iencourage someone somewhere.
Sarah McLusky (35:24):
Yes.
Yeah.
No, I hope so too.
I'm sure lots of people will beinspired by your story thank you
so much for taking the time to comealong and tell us all about it.
It's been fantastic.
Anji Miller (35:36):
No, thank you for inviting me.
Sarah McLusky (35:39):
Thanks for listening to Research Adjacent.
If you're listening in a podcast app,please check your subscribed and then
use the links in the episode descriptionto find full show notes and to follow
the podcast on LinkedIn or Instagram.
You can also find all the links and otherepisodes at www.researchadjacent.com.
Research Adjacent is presentedand produced by Sarah McLusky,
(36:00):
and the theme music is byLemon Music Studios on Pixabay.
And you, yes you, get a big goldstar for listening right to the end.
See you next time.
But the thing is, academia was, intellectual
challenge, academic freedom.
You do what you want, you publish,and then you've got someone
else talking to you about, okay,intellectual property, patents, you
don't disclose, and these terms thatthey're thinking like, what the hell?
But I never had a mentor formyself until early this year.
(00:21):
And it is fantastic.
I've always advocated for it, butyou help others and you just end
up not having one for yourself.
So regardless of socioeconomicbackground, your ethnic background,
anything, gender, anything, it iswhere you have the opportunity to
be the best version of yourself,and you are encouraged to do that.
Sarah McLusky (00:44):
Hello there.
I'm Sarah McLusky andthis is Research Adjacent.
Each episode I talk to amazing researchadjacent professionals about what
they do and why it makes a difference.
Keep listening to find out why wethink the research adjacent space
is where the real magic happens.
(01:06):
Hello there.
I'm your host, Sarah McLusky, andI'm delighted to introduce you
to my guest today, Anji Miller.
Anji is senior partner forAcademic Engagement at Tech
Transfer Charity LifeArc.
with the wonderfully concise taglinefrom bench to bedside LifeArc focus
on helping turn great research intoreal world healthcare products.
With a PhD in gene therapy and amaster's in intellectual property
(01:29):
law, Anji is perfectly placed forher role, which includes advising and
training researchers on things likeintellectual property and patents.
Anji didn't have the smoothest start.
Careers advisors and family memberswere bemused by her aspirations to
become a scientist, but she perseveredand found her stride at university.
This experience has made her a passionateadvocate for mentoring, EDI and STEM
(01:52):
initiatives, meaning that the nextgeneration will benefit from the role
models and support that she lacked.
We talk about self-belief even in theface of disappointments, making the
most of opportunities and seeing thereal world impact of her work, whether
that's on patients or the researchersthat she has trained and mentored.
Listen on to hear Anji's story.
(02:13):
Welcome along to the podcast,Anji, it is fantastic to meet you.
I wonder if we could start by tellingme and our guests a little bit
about who you are and what you do.
Anji Miller (02:24):
Okay.
So I'm Anji Miller.
My role, my current role, thetitle is Senior Partner for
Academic Engagement at LifeArc.
LifeArc is an independent UK-basedhealthcare charity that's just
focused on getting great academicresearch from bench to bedside.
(02:48):
So my role has transformed over the time.
So my background is I'm trainedas a scientist, so it is, and I,
for a long time I was a scientist.
And what I decided to do was use myscientific knowledge out of the lab.
So I helped get innovationfrom bench to bedside.
(03:09):
I'm that person that combines theIP aspect, the business aspect,
that goes beyond the publications.
So it is where I work at the intersectionof industry, academia, but also over
time, because I like working with othersand I like sharing knowledge with others
I also train others to do this as well.
(03:31):
So it's quite a nice, it's a nice role.
It's niche, but it, it's anice role and it's impactful.
Sarah McLusky (03:36):
Yeah, I bet it is impactful that, I love that story of from bench to
bedside, that's just such a lovely kindof catchphrase encapsulates what you do.
So you say your roleis academic engagement.
On a kind of day-to-daybasis, what does that mean?
What sorts of things are you doing?
Who are you working with?
Anji Miller (03:54):
Yeah, it varies a lot.
A lot is working with, because I do a lotof the training and now really setting up
programmmes and that's globally to ensurethat basically innovations, technology,
gets outta the lab and impacts society.
It could vary from, for example,yesterday I was on a panel talking about
(04:16):
STEM, talking about careers and thewide option that individuals who study
science have and this was to encourageindividuals of underrepresented groups.
And, that was lovely.
But also what I do is I'll beengaging with groups and really
researchers from Sub-SaharaAfrica through another fellowship.
(04:37):
And it will be adding that translationalpiece so that they understand the
business side of running theirown group and their own project
to ensure it gets beyond the lab.
The currency of academia is publication.
But you need, there's another side toreally ensure that it truly is impactful.
(04:58):
And that's that side really looking.
Can I protect anything?
Who can take it to market?
And how can they do it?
And how can I feed in?
Sarah McLusky (05:07):
Yeah.
Yeah.
And how do you go about findingthese projects that you work on?
Do you go out and find themor do they come to you?
Anji Miller (05:16):
Most of the time it's where they come to me.
And it, it is where they may be, itmay be a programmme that LifeArc is
a key player for, and it is wherea key supporter of the programmme
and there's that translationalpiece that needs to be brought in.
So that's where they will come to ourteam and say, we want to ensure that
(05:38):
these researchers understand how theycan translate their science, but also
having a look what infrastructureis required within wherever
they are that, that supports it.
So it is very much a collaborativeaspect, but also a lot of the time it
could be researchers who are lookingand thinking, what do I do next?
I'm here, I enjoy what I'mdoing, but I want to have a look.
(06:00):
How can my career move along or howcan I feed into doing something to
really ensure that those, those whoneed it, get the science that I have.
Yeah.
Sarah McLusky (06:14):
Yeah.
Anji Miller (06:14):
And it could be talking about career paths.
It could be talking about just skills.
It could be just providing thatadditional voice that support, that
mentorship that's required for someoneto really explore their passions.
Sarah McLusky (06:27):
Yeah.
Yeah.
And actually figure out, as yousay, I think there's some people
get into research because theyjust love the research and they
love the kind of discovery of it.
But some people very definitely go intoresearch 'cause they think I want to help,
Anji Miller (06:41):
Yes.
Sarah McLusky (06:41):
With this medical condition, or, actually do something
that makes a difference in the world.
But that journey can be areal mental shift, can't it?
To go from being in a university and maybeyou're trying to get grants for funding
and for research and things like that, tothen suddenly producing something that you
can get accredited and sell to customers.
(07:03):
It's a real shift, isn't it?
Anji Miller (07:05):
And I think life throws so many curve balls at you that you
do change, you transform over time.
And we live in a day and age where.
A career is not just one thing and youdo that one thing until you retire.
Sarah McLusky (07:21):
Yeah.
Anji Miller (07:22):
You will mature and your skills will develop.
We are living in day and agewhere, gene therapy, which is my
background it was science fiction.
Not that long ago.
Now it's a reality, but we have to ensurethat everyone can have access to it.
So I think as individuals developtheir career and they mature, they
have different responsibilities.
(07:43):
Their drivers and their passionsshift slightly, they, things that
happen and individuals impactedin different ways will really
shape what their ambitions are.
So sometimes they'll think okay,I'm really interested in this
and I'd like to combine it with.
Is that a thing?
Half are quite scared to ask the question.
(08:05):
Others are fearful on howeveryone will perceive it.
And what I do a lot of the timeis help those individuals to
realize it's not just a pipe dream.
It's something that can become a reality.
And just because you don't seeit doesn't mean it doesn't exist.
Or you shouldn't pave the way for it.
Sarah McLusky (08:23):
Yeah.
Yeah, definitely helping people tojust see the possibilities, I think
so often as well, that, and just partof what this whole podcast is about is
helping people to see the possibilities.
Because particularly, you, whenyou're at school, it's really hard to
know what's out there in the world.
And then even when you go to universityand you start to get a bit more of
a sense, but it's still you're verymuch shaped by the people that you
(08:47):
see, the role models that you see, thesituations that you find yourself in.
And so it can sometimes be reallyhard to conceive of something
different and that's why thatmentorship and advice is so valuable.
Anji Miller (08:59):
Absolutely.
And school visits are one of my favoritesbecause children, there's no filter.
You get you get everythingraw, and they are clever.
They feed in, they see every aspect.
They tap into your passions.
They can see that you are fired up whenyou're talking about whatever subject.
(09:21):
But also they will come in and theywill ask you the questions that
even their colleagues didn't knowthat they were into this thing.
They just wanna know becausethey, they're learning.
This is when they absorbeverything that you say.
So when I go in, I usually have a roughidea of what I'm gonna talk about, but
the minute I go in there and I starttalking, I know that I'm gonna have
(09:44):
questions coming from every direction.
And it's fantastic because I know evenfrom my experience, one good teacher
can really set you on a path for life.
Yeah.
And it really, or it can break you down.
And you will have so many challengesthat, it's in your head that they were
(10:04):
told, you were told, you can never dothis, or you are, that's not for you.
Yeah.
Rather than go for it.
Sarah McLusky (10:12):
Yeah.
Anji Miller (10:12):
And I think with young minds it's more of what you do and
what they see than what you say.
Sarah McLusky (10:19):
Yeah.
Yeah.
And so is that your story then?
Was there a particular teacher thateither encouraged you or perhaps
Anji Miller (10:27):
Oh gosh,
Sarah McLusky (10:27):
formed you in some other way?
Anji Miller (10:29):
I, coming from first generation British Jamaican um,
family, so I'm one, the firstgeneration that was born in the uk.
My parents, they were verybig on education and it was
where they just told me.
Do not, never set alimit on your ambitions.
So I, that was instilled in me andit was really where education is key.
(10:52):
That was, and I still carry that.
Education is key.
But even when they, they would ask,and you get these aunts and uncles
always asking, what do you want to do?
What do you wanna be?
And you say, scientists, you cansee it clouds over where they're
thinking scientists, that's not quitedoctor, it's not quite lawyer and
it, as it is with these backgrounds.
(11:12):
But my parents always, don'tset the, don't limit yourself.
But I do remember, I, and this is why it'sso important that we are very careful by
what we say to our young minds around us.
I do remember that when I mentionedthat I wanted to be a scientist.
I do remember like having.
(11:33):
Like a careers teacher who was verydismissive about that ambition.
And it was almost as though one, now whenI look back, it was that this individual
obviously didn't know anything aboutthe career path, but also it, there was
nothing supported, nothing encouraging.
(11:55):
But I've spoken to so many.
Since then, and they've hadthe same experience and decades
younger than me, and they're stillhaving those sort of experiences.
For me it was really where I think I'mthe type of person because I've had so
many disappointments and knock backs.
It really, it does hurt.
And you do stay therenursing your wounds, but.
(12:19):
It does also cause something in me to riseeven stronger and even more determined
to just, okay, this is what I'm goingto do and I'm gonna find a way to do it.
I don't care what this personsaid or what they think.
I know what I want to do and I thinkit's best that I go down trying.
(12:43):
Rather than sitting there thinking, okay.
No don't go for it.
And it's always in hindsight, people saythat, oh, why did you choose this path?
Why did you do these things?
Sometimes it's really where you took theopportunities that were there at the time.
It looks as though it's a carefullycurated halfway, but it really was.
(13:09):
You were in the position thatthose were the best options.
Yeah.
So you made the most of them.
They turned out to be the bestoptions, but at the time you
were really trying to navigate towhatever goal or whatever target.
Yeah.
So I would encourage anyone,when you have your dreams and
ambitions, don't hide them.
(13:30):
But also when someone is not supportive.
Do not take it personally, use that asthe fuel to, to really carry on because
you know yourself better than anyone else.
And school, yes, you do spend most ofyour time there and you would hope the
individuals in charge of you see that.
But someone that you meet in a snapshotwho's supposed to advise you on
(13:53):
something that they're ill-informed onis not gonna give you the best advice.
Yeah.
So it's really rememberingthat, and I think it's really.
We should always encourage eachother to, to really just try.
Yeah, just go for it.
Yeah.
And I think that's the messagethat I try to give to others.
And I think one of the nicest thingsis when you see that you've spoken
(14:14):
to someone and they really do takeit on board and you see them soaring,
you see them going from, one heightto another, and they pay it forward
because they remember the generositythat, the advice that you gave them.
Sarah McLusky (14:30):
Yeah.
Absolutely.
And I think that leads us really nicelyonto the path that you took then.
So you had this vision that maybeconfused your family and the careers
advisor was a bit like, okay.
And you went and did it.
Tell us a bit about how youdid it, what the steps were.
Anji Miller (14:49):
Yeah, the thing is, I loved school.
I come from a big family, so I'm usedto being around individuals and I, I.
When I tell people this, they're quitesurprised that I was painfully shy.
And it is sometimes I do, Italk a lot, but the thing is
sometimes I do go very quiet.
I love studying other people . ButI loved being at school.
I loved learning from that earlyage, but also I enjoyed science.
(15:13):
At school, I, I enjoyed thelessons and everything, but I think
academically, when I look back theexams and how they, the exams were
set were not the easiest things.
I, when I really started to flourishwas when I was at university.
And I, my first degree is in appliedbiology and it was a modular degree and I
(15:33):
remember thinking, wow, my parents were sohappy 'cause I was going to university and
this is something I'd been talking aboutall the time on track to be a scientist.
And for them I think it was just reallypleased that out of the kids, there's
only two girls and there's six boys,and it is where the, I'm going to
university and I'm gonna have a career.
(15:54):
I, for me, it was reallywhere I started to come alive.
And I think it is where also I,that's when I started to have my own
voice, because you have to speak out.
There's no one else there talkingfor you, but I'm, I did an industrial
year, so a year in industry.
Six months in France and six months inItaly, and then working in the labs.
And I found that I had a naturalability of working in the labs.
(16:17):
I loved it.
Designing my experiments, having amain hypothesis that you're going
to prove and working towards that.
I did amazingly and I came back withrenewed energy for my final year,
which I did very well in as well.
But I also realized that I likedthe molecular side of things.
And I always, as a scientist, I wantedto, it was for me, the natural thing.
(16:40):
I'm gonna complete a PhD, butI was very ambitious in knowing
what I wanted it to be in.
And that was in gene therapy.
And at the time, gene therapywas very hot and you wouldn't
have PhD placements or anything.
So when I spoke to a lecturer, theydid advise me and they said, this
is great that you know that you havea strength for it, but apply for a
(17:02):
master's as well as a backup, right?
Just in case you need more time.
And it worked out really well.
Cut a long story short, itis where I did find a lab.
We, and we applied for funding.
And I managed to do my PhD in cancer genetherapy at Imperial, but I had to take
a master's in human molecular genetics.
During the time when I was lookingand sending out and turning down.
(17:25):
Also, at some point I didthink, what was I doing?
Turning down PhD offers.
Sarah McLusky (17:30):
Wow.
Anji Miller (17:30):
Because I was going for the subject that I wanted to, by the
time I completed my PhD. I'd been inthe lab for something like seven years.
And I knew that I did notwant to stay in the lab.
I wanted to go further.
Yeah.
And it was an exposure to some of thetechnology that was protected in the lab
that I had, oh, what's this technologytransfer innovation, what is that?
(17:56):
Because I knew I wanted to use what I had.
And continue building on it.
And essentially that's what I did afterthree Degrees, I went back and did a
Master's in intellectual property law.
Sarah McLusky (18:07):
Oh goodness.
Anji Miller (18:08):
And it was really one of the best things that I'd done that
everyone thought I was crazy for.
There was a laughter, there was ajoke at home, the perpetual student.
But the thing is, it was reallywhere it was amazing to, to
apply the way I approach things.
Bring in that legal aspect and ever sincethen it's, I haven't looked back really.
(18:30):
It's been working towards and rolesinvolving, curating great translational
research to really ensure that theymove further along that development
pathway to interventions thatwill be the next diagnostics and
therapeutics that we have today.
Sarah McLusky (18:47):
I can see why that combination of both the PhD in
the biological side of things.
Yes.
And then the masters in the intellectualproperty would make you a very
employable person in the knowledgetransfer environment because certainly,
although there's another podcastseries that I do called Academic
(19:07):
Adventures, and that's all about spinouts and startups and things like that.
And this intellectual property thing Yes.
Just comes up again and again.
Yes.
And again as one of the mostchallenging things about
getting things up and running.
Yeah, having that knowledge.
Anji Miller (19:23):
It's almost as though it's seen as the arch enemy to publication.
But you can have both.
If the strategy and timing is right.
Yeah.
So it, it does mean workingvery closely with the teams
and really gaining that trust.
Yeah.
So that they trust you, thatyet they are gonna have that
publication, which they need to have.
Sarah McLusky (19:43):
Yeah.
Anji Miller (19:44):
But at the same time, for it to go further, you need to
really protect whatever's there, theintellectual assets within that research.
Sarah McLusky (19:52):
And you said, you mentioned back in the conversation when we were
initially talking about helping toinspire people on their career journey.
You spoke about theimportance of mentoring.
Is that something that haspersonally been important to you?
Anji Miller (20:05):
This is the strange thing.
Sometimes I'll do a, I'm on a paneland we're talking about different
aspects, particularly womenempowerment and things like that.
And someone said is it okay if I havecoffee and you end up really informally
being a mentor for that person.
And I have formally joined likesome mentoring programmmes and
one of the things I also run twofellowships, different types,
(20:28):
but they have the same mission ofindividuals with STEM backgrounds
to become innovation professionals.
And one of the big USPs is thatmentoring aspect to get the mind
in the right shape and frame.
But I never had a mentor formyself until early this year.
And it is fantastic.
I've always advocated for it, butyou help others and you just end
(20:50):
up not having one for yourself.
Yeah.
And it was just something that I said,okay, this is one of the things that
I'm gonna do for myself because Ibelieve in lifelong learning, and I
work in the innovation space where youhave to keep abreast of everything.
So one of the things Ithought, okay, definitely.
I want to have this for myself.
And for me it was for a particularaspect to really feed in, in
(21:13):
is the strategy and plan that Ihave the optimal one for myself.
Yeah.
For others it will be whereI'll bring in like a peer level
mentor, someone who has a livedexperience and has tread that path.
And then I'll bring insomeone who is an expert.
To really get that knowledgeabout whatever ecosystem
(21:33):
that person is working in.
But I do believe in doing and doingthat, and I think it's something
that you can easily do within oneconversation or an ongoing relationship.
Sarah McLusky (21:43):
Yes.
Yeah.
I think sometimes mentoring doesn'tneed to be a as structured or formal as
perhaps we think it might be, but yeah.
That's interesting that you've not hadone yourself until this year, is it?
I know.
Was it just,
Anji Miller (21:55):
it's strange
Sarah McLusky (21:56):
it not finding quite the right person or,
Anji Miller (21:59):
I think it was, at first, it was something that I just didn't
even think about because I knew thatto fulfill my role, this is what this
person needs, and my focus was on that.
It was only after a while thinking.
I could do with one.
And then it was the difficulty, how doyou select the mentor and it, I believe
(22:20):
that it's not gonna be a mentor for life,although some relationships are like that.
A lot of the time it's thatstage that you're in, that phase.
Or that particular need.
And I think it'sdifferent for each person.
The plan is gonna be very different foreach person, but also the personalities.
For me I'm very outspoken and it iswhere, someone who is not going to accept
(22:46):
being questioned or why do you say that?
Or wanting to know more.
It's really, they're gonna feel as thoughI'm trying to pull things that they
probably feel uncomfortable telling me,but as a mentor, I hope that they would.
Sarah McLusky (23:00):
Yes.
That's what you want.
You want a little bit of,maybe not brutal honesty, but
definitely honesty from a mentor,
Anji Miller (23:06):
because when I do and also it's not that they're gonna
tell you what to do, but they'regonna open your mind so you think
Sarah McLusky (23:12):
Yeah.
Anji Miller (23:12):
And make your own choice.
And I think that's the important thing.
So even when I'm preparing someone for.
They're gonna have a mentorand they've never had one.
It is where I will outline andgive them an idea and let them
know that this is a guide.
What you need is gonnabe individual to you.
Sarah McLusky (23:30):
Yeah.
Yeah.
Anji Miller (23:31):
So you work on that relationship and you hopefully
it will work out, but if not.
Let me know and maybethat needs to be a change.
Sarah McLusky (23:39):
Yeah.
Yeah, definitely.
It sounds from the way you've beenspeaking, it sounds like the point
you're at now that relationships arealmost more important in the work that
you do now than the actual science.
Would that be a fair thing to say?
Anji Miller (23:53):
It's not more important than, but they do go hand in hand.
And I think even to be an really, a goodinnovation professional, you will have
to have good relationships because youhave to gain the trust of the researcher.
And in academia, there's a passion tothat work that someone could be working
(24:14):
on that, that, that area for decades.
Why would they trust you withthis, talking about this aspect
that, the structure is not quitefluid with regards to innovation.
It's changing now, but the thingis, academia was, intellectual
challenge, academic freedom.
You do what you want, you publish,and then you've got someone
(24:34):
else talking to you about, okay,intellectual property, patents, you
don't disclose, and these terms thatthey're thinking like, what the hell?
Yeah.
So you do have to have therelationship so that can happen, but
also when you're training someoneto, to really be able to do this.
You have to be able to tap into whothey are, so you have to be able
(24:55):
to communicate and also the needs.
I, I advocate a lot, whether it'sfor EDI or the profession, you
have to be able to communicate.
So it does change it slightly where youare not as hands-on as you were before
with being there and dealing with allthe science, but you still have to
understand the science and you stillhave to under understand the needs.
(25:17):
So it, it really does start rollingin and as more things come in that
you're rolling into your role itdoes dilute each aspect because
it's a combination of those things.
Sarah McLusky (25:29):
Yeah.
Yeah.
I wonder, it'd be lovely to hear aboutmaybe one or two examples of projects
that you've worked on, in, in so muchas, like you say, in intellectual
property, confidentiality in somuch as you're able to say publicly.
But yeah, some thingsthat really stand out.
Anji Miller (25:46):
There are, I've worked with amazing scientists.
Some were really well known.
Others in their sector, they area amazing, they're the top dog,
but also amazing individuals.
And.
Those are the ones that really standout the most because there's your job
and then that there's that extra piece.
(26:06):
And I, that's that relationship piecewhere they will say to you, Anji,
I'm thinking about blah, blah, blah.
And it's yeah, let's do it.
Let's make it happen.
I remember one of my first rolesand that was at St. George's.
And it's a hospital medical school, andbecause it's a hospital medical school,
you get great translational research.
You've got the clinical aspect,and it is really where it's
(26:29):
moving away from the bench.
It's really getting to thepatients, whether that's through
clinical trials or whatever.
And one of them was a really bigconsortium, and it was funded by some
of the top funders, but also one ofthe leading researchers in that area.
And I remember when I got this role,it was where they said, personally when
(26:49):
the director who interviewed me, she waslike, it's gonna be really challenging,
are you sure you want a challenge?
And I said, yes.
Tell me about it.
Because she was really afraidthat I was gonna run away from it.
It ended up being one of the mostenjoyable things that I've done because
it was, I think, enjoyable because theresearcher who I was working with was
such a humble person, but an amazing mind.
(27:12):
But what he was doing was gonna impactreally, not just the global north, but
definitely the globe and everyone elsein those areas that are underrepresented.
And there was a need thatsurpasses anything else.
And for me it meant alsoapplying everything.
(27:33):
So I was negotiating agreements,working with external partners,
industry and academia, and thenalso really outlining, okay, this
is how we're gonna work together.
It was a massive project.
Sarah McLusky (27:47):
Yeah.
Anji Miller (27:47):
But it was amazing because it was the first time.
That I really could flex the combinationof skills that I put together at
that time and know that it was gonnalead to something really impactful.
Sarah McLusky (28:00):
Yeah.
Anji Miller (28:00):
Other projects that come to mind, it's like even at LifeArc, dealing
with some of the tech because we workwith and we support conditions to really
treating and addressing unmet healthcareneeds in the rare disease space.
So these are populations thatare not attractive because it's
a smaller market, small number.
Yeah.
A lot of the time to industry.
(28:22):
Where you can see and you understand thereal needs, and you work with clinicians
who have clinics, so they see the patientson a daily basis, and you're moving that
technology closer to being somethingthat's gonna be available as a treatment
That is hugely impactful because youcan see the difference that you make
because for me, it's also talking aboutit and advocating for that disease area.
(28:46):
So it means if it may lead to morefunding, it may highlight it so it's
more attractive for others to, towork in, but also the amazing work
that's being done by that group,that small community addressing it.
I think also it bringshope to the patient group.
Yeah, the patient voice is reallyimportant and it's something that
(29:07):
through my role, you get close to that.
And understanding really what it's likefor a family it's, it's devastating,
but what they have to go through.
But you want them to know there's hope.
There are Yes.
Individuals working to really make surethat hopefully in, in time there will be
(29:27):
a treatment or may possibly a cure forwhatever they're they are going through.
I think the last one in the most recent.
I say most recent is 'cause I stilldo it and it is, I talked about my
career journey from going from benchto using my science outside of the
bench when I just started and I startedadvocating for it over a decade ago.
(29:50):
But it is where there's no clearpath for someone who wants to do
this and also it's not well known.
Yeah.
That you can, as a STEM graduate, you haveplethora of roles that you can go into.
So me with my big mouth is yeah,I think we need to have something.
And luckily I was working with someonewho was like, okay, let's, what we
(30:10):
gonna do what we gonna, and I designedthe fellowship and it was the first
one of the two that I run also.
And it was for individuals with aSTEM background who enjoy science
and are passionate about it.
They wanted to be scientists for areason and regardless of how much
experience they have it is that they wantto pivot and help get that technology
(30:35):
really to be becoming somethingthat's gonna have real world impact.
And it means bringing inthat business and legal.
Yeah.
And all those professional transferableskills that are required in that space.
And you do this through a year.
But I work with partners in the sectorto deliver this programmme, and now it's
(30:55):
over nine years and seeing the individualsand it's one, one of them, the very
first one is open to everyone in Europe,but seeing the individuals forge their
careers and, they have, particularlyin some of the spaces, it's the first
innovation office that's gonna be set up.
That's gonna address anything like that.
(31:17):
It is something that, youknow when you're thinking Yes.
Yeah.
I wasn't crazy.
Yeah.
And sometimes, there's,
there is something that cancome out of someone just saying,
okay, how is it gonna be?
How are you gonna do it?
And it does mean that you put a lot ofwork into it because for a long time it
(31:38):
was something in addition to my main role.
Yeah.
Now, luckily it's part of my main role.
It's, yes.
Sarah McLusky (31:44):
Yeah.
Anji Miller (31:45):
But it is something that I am hugely proud of because it will go on.
Yeah.
And individuals, the it's over, it's ahundred and something fellows on last
count, and they tap in and they feed intothat programmme as peer mentors alongside
the expert mentors that I mentioned.
And it, it is something that.
(32:07):
When you're thinking, okay, I if thiswas my last day, I know that it's
something that I would look on andsay, I'm very glad that I did that.
They did that.
Sarah McLusky (32:16):
Yeah.
Yeah.
That's a lovely thing to beable to have in your portfolio
of things that you've done.
I do like to ask all of my guestson the podcast, if they had a
magic wand, what would changeabout the world that they work in.
If money and time was no object.
Anji Miller (32:35):
There's so many things.
I think because it's at the cruxand from my lived experience, the
challenges that I faced in even tryingto forge my own career as a black
female scientist, it's not been easy.
Particularly, you wanna step outand do something that when you're
(32:56):
describing the career, people lookingat you, one half of them don't know
what it is and others are looking atyou thinking really, they doubt it.
I think it would be that
we would live in a world where it'sinclusive and rather than inclusivity
just being something that is, it'sreally an act that you do, it falls in
(33:19):
part in really as part of everyday life.
It's, yeah, really, truly it would be.
So regardless of socioeconomicbackground, your ethnic background,
anything, gender, anything, it iswhere you have the opportunity to
be the best version of yourself,and you are encouraged to do that.
And it would mean that.
(33:41):
You would have, you wouldn'thave rare conditions.
No one is interested in it or,no one's even thinking, okay,
what about this population?
You would have individuals globallybeing able to become skilled and change
the world that they, they come fromor they live in or they care about.
I think it would be ultimately aworld where I wouldn't need the wand.
(34:05):
Yes.
Because it is where, or I'duse it on something else.
Yeah.
Because it would be fair.
It would be equitable.
Sarah McLusky (34:16):
Yeah.
Anji Miller (34:17):
And I think, in my world I see everyone.
I see the good in everyone, andI'll try and bring that out and I'll
try and really encourage them totake, to adopt that, that mentality.
And it's really where they adopt.
And when I talk to the youngminds like my daughter, she knows
(34:37):
that I'm a staunch EDI advocate.
But the thing is also it's notjust what I say, it's what I do.
Yeah.
And.
I'd like to a world whereeveryone just has that one thing.
And I think it wouldchange so many things.
Sarah McLusky (34:51):
I think it really would, wouldn't it?
And that is an amazing vision.
I think perhaps to leave ourconversation on that that world vision.
If anybody wants to find out more aboutthe work that you do, get in touch with
you, where is the best place to find you?
Anji Miller (35:05):
Oh, they can find me on the LifeArc website.
But also LinkedIn.
Yeah.
It's, that's my Rolodex.
It's, it is where, and a lot ofthe time, messages and whatever,
and also to see what I do.
Yeah.
They can see for themselves.
But, yeah, hopefully Iencourage someone somewhere.
Sarah McLusky (35:24):
Yes.
Yeah.
No, I hope so too.
I'm sure lots of people will beinspired by your story thank you
so much for taking the time to comealong and tell us all about it.
It's been fantastic.
Anji Miller (35:36):
No, thank you for inviting me.
Sarah McLusky (35:39):
Thanks for listening to Research Adjacent.
If you're listening in a podcast app,please check your subscribed and then
use the links in the episode descriptionto find full show notes and to follow
the podcast on LinkedIn or Instagram.
You can also find all the links and otherepisodes at www.researchadjacent.com.
Research Adjacent is presentedand produced by Sarah McLusky,
(36:00):
and the theme music is byLemon Music Studios on Pixabay.
And you, yes you, get a big goldstar for listening right to the end.
See you next time.
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