From academia to oncology innovation: 5 insights from a global leader

Little more than a decade after joining Johnson & Johnson as a principal scientist, Ulrike “Uli” Philippar is helping to lead life-changing oncology innovation around the world.

Now VP Oncology, Global Head of Discovery Hematological & Solid Malignancies at J&J, Uli knows what it means to move from academia into industry—and what scientists stand to gain when they do.

Here, she shares five insights from her own journey, including what surprised her, what motivated her and why J&J can be an exceptional place to grow a career in oncology.

1. The science is just as rigorous, but the stakes are greater

After completing her postdoc at MIT, Uli wondered whether leaving academia might mean leaving behind something she deeply valued: unbiased, research-driven basic science.

After a decade at J&J, her experience has shown her the opposite.

“A lot of work in academia is driven by publications, grants, getting your paper in Nature—all things that matter,” Uli says.

What’s different at J&J, she says, is the translatability and immediacy of the impact.

“We're working on characterizing different cancer types and matching the right therapies to the patient,” Uli says. “You see this reflected in the way we pick our targets. All our work is rock solid because it needs to keep the patient front and center.”

2. Growth can take you almost anywhere

At J&J, career growth doesn’t have to follow a narrow or linear path.

Scientists move from blood cancer to solid tumors, or from one modality to another.

Others shift their focus entirely. Bench scientists become clinical scientists. Researchers move into external innovation, building the business acumen to scout biotech deals.

“There are just so many opportunities to pursue your interests,” Uli says. “That’s partly because of J&J’s scale—you’re constantly being exposed to other paths—but it’s also because of our collective commitment to continuously learning, challenging ourselves and evolving.”

Uli’s own career reflects that kind of movement. She joined J&J as a principal scientist and grew into a global leadership role by staying curious, connected and open to what came next.

“I’m someone who always wants to keep learning and trying new things,” Uli says. “Working in different countries, across many different departments and teams, has helped me grow not only as a scientist but also as a leader and person.”

3. You can see your science reach patients

For Uli, one of the biggest differences at J&J has been the chance to see promising science move from the lab into the clinic—and to cancer patients.

“I actually spent several years in industry prior to joining J&J,” Uli recalls. “Unfortunately, none of the programs I worked on during that period made it to the clinic, which shows how hard discovery can be.”

Leading multiple myeloma, lymphoma and leukemia programs at J&J, Uli has seen her work go from discovery to market.

“When you have something novel and exciting to move forward, J&J is equipped to do it, and to take it all the way,” Uli says. “That’s not to say that things won’t fail—because that’s the nature of discovery—but experiencing the full arc from bench to patient is very real at J&J and extremely fulfilling.”

4. Focused science can lead to meaningful outcomes

J&J isn’t trying to cure every kind of cancer at once. Instead, Uli says, the team is focused on selected areas where its science and capabilities can make a meaningful difference in many patients.

“We focus on a few areas, and we aim to be genuinely excellent in them,” she says.

It’s an approach that Uli describes as “tumor first, then modality.” In other words: start with the disease, then choose the right tool to treat the cancer, whether that’s a small molecule, large molecule, cell therapy or something else.

“We strive to meet unmet needs,” Uli says. “Rather than targeting incremental improvements in treatment, we aim to truly transform it.”

5. Sometimes growth starts with a leap

Uli sees her own career progression as a series of calculated risks. Joining J&J, for example, meant relocating to Belgium—a country she had visited exactly once during her interview before moving there.

Looking back, Uli says, “I told myself I’d give it two years, try my best, and then leave if I didn’t like it.”

Her verdict? “It was absolutely the right move. Best decision ever.”

For anyone considering the leap from academia to industry, perhaps the takeaway from Uli’s story is to challenge yourself.

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