Team Spotlight - Rainey Wu (Taiwan and China)

What initially drew you to R&D?

My background is in biochemistry and molecular biology. I was fascinated by the intricate and wondrous phenomena that govern the functioning of our bodies at the molecular level. I realized that maintaining good health is not easy, it’s a complex and precise regulation process, where even a tiny error in molecules can lead to severe disease. With this knowledge, I became passionate about exploring the root causes of diseases and developing medications to target specific mechanisms. I aspire to develop drugs that can treat diseases effectively, providing relief and new hope to patients. I believe that through my work in R&D, I can make a meaningful contribution to improving people's lives.

What sparked your interest in market research?

I constantly consider the impact of my work on people and I'm deeply concerned about health issues. It typically takes 10-15 years to develop a new medicine, with low success rates in clinical trials. A painstakingly developed drug can fail at any stage, even after launch. This raises questions: What if a drug fails? There are various reasons for drug failures beyond efficacy and safety. Can we detect these earlier? Is there a way to avoid the risk of investing in unsuccessful products? I aim to develop drugs faster, better, and more efficiently to benefit those in need.

My career has shifted. I didn't want to stay confined to the laboratory without knowing what was happening outside the R&D field, and I wanted to make more connections with people as well. After leaving the lab, I entered the B-to-B business development field. However, to understand the fundamental reasons, I decided to join market research, going directly to the frontline to listen to people's needs and voices. This helps me understand the process between drug development and use by patients, exploring the details behind the process.

How do your R&D skills and experience benefit you in your current role as a market research moderator?

I believe it's a boost in confidence and quick comprehension. Combined with my R&D experience, I'm accustomed to reading literature and searching for relevant information. Whenever a project is initiated, I start to look up the disease area knowledge of the market research topic, including the background of the disease, available drugs, mechanism of action, drug development and trend, etc., preparing thoroughly for interviews. Some terminologies, molecular mechanisms, or genetic testing items are quite familiar to me. Some projects involve showing respondents the TPP of the drug or the content of the clinical trial, which I will be more confident in presenting. Furthermore, my scientific background has enhanced my analytical and critical thinking skills, aiding my understanding of project research objectives and discussion guides. This helps me engage in better conversations with respondents, not only patients but also healthcare professionals, facilitating smoother communication.

What do you enjoy most as a moderator?

As a moderator, what I enjoy most is the process of engaging in dialogue with each respondent and listening to their unique stories and experiences. Each interview is fresh and unique because every respondent brings their perspective. I've found that many factors are driven by human experiences. This enhances my curiosity as I delve into understanding what happened in their experiences. Why do they think a certain way? Have their experiences changed? What caused those changes? Do they feel misunderstood by others? What challenges and unmet needs do they face?

As a moderator, I see myself as a bridge. Through market research interviews, I aim to convey the voices of respondents, whether they're healthcare professionals or patients, to our clients. The results of this transmission will significantly benefit healthcare professionals and patients in the future through the development of drugs.

Can you describe a recent project you moderated that you found particularly interesting?

What I found most interesting was that many things I thought were straightforward turned out to be different from what I imagined.

In a recent cancer treatment project, my focus shifted from drug effectiveness to understanding patients' thoughts. A patient expressed that he felt drugs with strong efficacy often have unbearable side effects. He’d prefer drugs with moderate efficacy and fewer side effects, prioritizing quality of life over maximum efficacy. This challenged my initial belief that the most effective drug is always the best.

It showed me that many real-world events are not as straightforward as we imagine them to be while confined to the lab. Some issues are unforeseen, such as the challenge of injections, which is a common way of administering medication but a significant psychological challenge for some patients. This could be a factor leading patients to drop out of clinical trials.

What's one piece of advice you would give to someone considering a career in market research?

Never stop your curiosity. Market research is a field that requires exploration and is worth exploring. Only curiosity can take you further and wider, discovering things you've never discovered before. Like a child eager to explore, you will gain more than you expect.