Lab Assistant Kyle Wallace prepares several collected samples before testing them for COVID-19 at Biocept in San Diego, CA on Wednesday, May 5, 2021.is president and chief executive officer of California Life Sciences and lives in San Francisco.
San Diego’s contributions to the life sciences are notable, particularly in developing groundbreaking drugs. For instance, Idec Pharmaceuticals, which later merged with Biogen, developed Rituxan, the first monoclonal antibody approved for cancer treatment. Ongoing research in San Diego continues to produce state-of-the-art therapies, such as recently approved genetic medicines for sickle cell disease and a rare fatal genetic disorder.
Today, the industry is dedicated to creating accessible career pathways that open doors for large and diverse populations. Many of these careers do not require a science background, with numerous positions simply requiring a certification, or a two-year degree.