Some of the most pressing global challenges in our society have been met with fearless science and groundbreaking innovation, reminding us that both dedication and determination can hold the key to reshaping our future.
This perspective took center stage at the Falling Walls Science Summit, held Nov. 7-9 in Berlin. The international forum brought together forward-thinking students and early-career professionals from 58 countries to present and pitch ideas that address some of the world’s most urgent scientific and societal challenges.
Amani Gillette, founder of SeLight, LLC and a postdoctoral research associate in the lab of Melissa Skala, had the opportunity to represent the Morgridge Institute and UW–Madison in the Falling Walls Lab competition held at the summit this year. There she presented her research on CAR T cell therapy and manufacturing, using imaging technology to screen the health of patients’ cells before manufacturing them into cancer-fighting cells.
“The Falling Walls Lab focuses on breakthrough ideas to address the world’s most pressing scientific challenges, and takes place around the anniversary of the falling of the Berlin Wall,” Gillette explains.
She first presented her work this past April at the local-level competition hosted by Falling Walls Lab on the University of Wisconsin–Madison campus. Each competitor was given only three minutes to pitch their groundbreaking research ideas. Gillette won first place, earning her a spot to present on the big stage in Germany amongst other regional winners.
“The international lab finale event felt more like giving a professional kind-of Ted Talk than it did giving a three minute pitch in a college lecture hall,” she says.
The international competition featured a variety of research pitches, from cancer-related work, to plastic-consuming bacteria, to solar hubs that provide access to education in rural Africa.
“The breakthroughs in research were all over the board, which I think was a super unique aspect of the event,” says Gillette. “A lot of other events or competitions that I’ve been in have been much more focused on one particular field, so this was a very fun event because of its diversity.”
Aside from delivering her research pitch, Gillette says a highlight of her experience was the opportunity to connect with other students, postdocs, and entrepreneurs who were pursuing innovative research or businesses in other regions.
“I think it gave me a much broader appreciation of what is out there, outside of the U.S. ecosystem,” she says. “To talk about their experiences and get insight from a diverse group of people is always beneficial for decision-making and figuring out what next steps should be.”
Following the Falling Walls competition, Gillette hopes to acquire grant funding that would allow her start-up company to transition out of the research stage and move on to the entrepreneurial side of SeLight, LLC.
As she continues on her career journey, Gillette has found support from the Skala Lab and the broader the local biotech community — including networking and speaking engagements at recent events such as the Wisconsin Biohealth Summit and the Women in BioHealth network supported by BioForward.
“There are a lot of opportunities in the Madison ecosystem, so I hope to take advantage of that and keep working towards getting SeLight off the ground,” she says.