In Pursuit of Unicorns: A Journey Through 50 Years of Biotechnology

Modern biotechnology--genetic engineering and cell manipulation--originated with the 1973 demonstration that genes from different organisms could be recombined and propagated in Escherichia coli. More than 50 years on, biotech is now a science that defines the 21st century. While still a young scientist, Tim Harris committed himself to this emerging industry. Now an accomplished investigator who became an astute, seasoned, and successful biotech business executive, he has written a captivating memoir chronicling the birth and maturation of the industry that now touches everyone’s lives. He combines accounts of scientific successes and failures with a personal story of ambition, challenge, and discovery. From the pioneering early days of gene cloning and monoclonal antibodies to the current cutting-edge advancements in cell therapy, gene editing, and personalized medicine, Harris provides a candidly honest insider’s view of biotech’s remarkable evolution and its profound impact on health care. His story is rich in detail about the accomplishments, struggles, and triumphs played out in the laboratories and boardrooms of the many different companies set up to exploit the technology, and the often colourful personalities involved. It is a fascinating blend of science, business, and ethics. Harris’s reflections on the complexities that come with rapid technological progress, and the responsibilities of scientists in shaping the future, are thought-provoking and timely. Tim Harris’s story is one of passion, resilience, and an unwavering commitment from those involved to making a difference. His book is a compelling read for working scientists (especially early- and mid-career academic and industry researchers wondering how to apply their research to human health), biotechnology entrepreneurs and investors, and anyone fascinated by how profoundly biotechnology has changed our world and where it is leading us in the future.

Tim Harris is a molecular biologist and biochemist. He started work in the biotech industry almost at its inception. He began his career in 1974, working on animal viruses, and was one of the first scientists to join the U.K. biotech company Celltech in 1981. Subsequently he spent nearly five years at Glaxo Group Research (now GSK) in the United Kingdom as Director of Biotechnology.
Tim has founded several biotech companies since moving to the United States in 1993 to be head of R&D at Sequana Therapeutics, a genomics company in San Diego. He founded and ran SGX Pharmaceuticals (acquired by Eli Lilly) and served briefly as the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and Director of the Advanced Technology Program (ATP) at SAIC-Frederick, Inc. in Maryland. Latterly, Tim moved to Biogen as SVP Translational Medicine in 2011, before joining the haematology spinout Bioverativ, as head of R&D in March 2017 before the company was acquired by Sanofi.
Tim is a presently a venture partner at SV Health Investors and actively works on behalf of several small biotechnology companies, some of which he founded. He has published more than 100 peer-reviewed research papers and reviews and has written many commentaries for BioCentury and other industry magazines.
Tim is married and has four children, four grandchildren, a cat, and a racing car. He is a citizen of both the United States and the United Kingdom and spends his time in Nahant, Massachusetts or on the Caribbean Island of Barbados.
This is his first book.