A Life in Science: Adapting science through diverse perspectives

New in our A Life in Science series, we hear from Florence Meyer-Losic, Vice President and Head of Translational Sciences, about her journey from veterinary medicine to human research. She highlights the importance of adaptability, continuous learning, and diverse expertise in building successful teams that deliver innovative treatments for patients.

“One talent that is very important in science is the ability to learn every day, because science is evolving a lot,” says Florence Meyer-Losic, Vice President and Head of Translational Sciences at Ipsen. “In veterinary medicine you have to learn everything about different species, different systems. It’s really adapting to every situation. That’s exactly what I do in my day-to-day job.” 

Florence first studied veterinary medicine before shifting into human health. “What I liked was really the science. And, as everybody, I had some family members that had cancer. So I thought it would be more impactful if I can bring my expertise in science to human medicine. And that’s how I shifted to research and pharmaceutical industry.” 

Her current role involves managing a team responsible for data that moves programs forward. She sees diversity of thought as critical. “I am a kind of generalist because as a vet, I know the body as a whole. But I have colleagues who have a very focused area of expertise, and they come with the deep understanding of the mechanisms, the different systems that are impacted by a specific disease. Bringing those different angles and viewpoints really helps bring together a whole team and bring success to the project.” 

For Florence, adaptability and diverse expertise are what make science effective—and what ensure discoveries translate into medicines that can change lives.