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Q&A

When did you realize you wanted to be an epidemiologist and work in R&D?

When I was in graduate school pursuing a degree in clinical pharmacy, I attended a course in pharmacoepidemiology and found it fascinating. I then went on to do a PhD in epidemiology.

What do you like most and least about your job?

Being primarily a consultant in drug development now, what I like the most is the opportunity to work with different people on different projects. What I like the least is receiving an urgent request phone call while on vacation.

What advice would you give your younger self about to enter the “real world?”

Not only knowing what you want to achieve as your immediate next step, e.g., in your current job, but also trying to explore what your next inspiration will be and what and how you need to be prepared for your next step.

Imagine a day without work, the internet, and any other obligations. What would you do?

Perhaps do some leisure reading and go see an exhibit, or simply enjoy the quiet moment at home.

How has DIA helped you?

DIA has helped me tremendously in broadening my knowledge horizon and my professional network.

BIOGRAPHY

Ling Su, PhD, is a Venture Partner with Lilly Asia Ventures. He has over 25 years of experience in drug regulatory and development. He worked in various R&D management positions in the pharma industry, including as Medical Director at Merck, Pharma Development Director at Roche, VP for Clinical Research Asia Pacific at Wyeth, and as SVP and Head of Development China at Novartis. Prior to that, he worked in the Chinese regulatory agency and CDER, US FDA. Currently, Ling is also a professor in Regulatory Science in Shenyang Pharmaceutical University and serves as an advisor to the Chinese regulatory agency on numerous projects. He is a member of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange Biotech Advisory Panel. Ling is a Past President of DIA and currently is a Fellow of DIA and a member of DIA’s Science and Policy Advisory Council. Ling holds B.S. in pharmacology from Shanghai Medical University, M.S. in Clinical Pharmacy and Ph.D. in Epidemiology from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA.