Dr. Andrew Ying
Hackley's Independent Science Research Program students ventured behind the scenes at Regeneron Pharmaceuticals on Wednesday, April 22, for an unforgettable exploration of how cutting-edge science transforms rare disease research into real-world treatments. The group toured three state-of-the-art facilities — the VelociGene Lab, Regeneron Genetics Center, and PreClinical Manufacturing and Process Development (PMPD) Lab — witnessing firsthand the pipeline of drug discovery and development.
What struck many students most was the power of automation and innovation. One student reflected: "The DNA Sequencing labs were really interesting, especially since the scientists mentioned impressive statistics about how much data they could produce. I imagined the process would involve a factory with trained scientists transferring proteins step by step. Instead, it's a singular black box with a touch screen. I'm still puzzled as to how Regeneron could simultaneously sequence so many proteins in the space of a large wardrobe."
The tour revealed not just cutting-edge laboratories, but an entire ecosystem of interdisciplinary talent. From bioreactors utilizing cells to automated pipetting robots, students witnessed how biology, chemistry, physics and engineering converge in the drug development process. Another student noted the striking contrast with academic research: "Every lab we visited was so advanced and high-tech. At Regeneron, much of what scientists do manually in my own lab was automated. When you're making drugs that people's livelihoods depend on, efficiency is paramount."
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The highlight of the day came during a panel lunch with six scientists, of whom five are Hackley parents working at Regeneron: Adina Buxbaum P '36; Maya Ghoussaini P ’34, ’38; Johanna Napetschnig P '37; Qingqing Wang P '35; and George Yancopoulos P '12, '14, '16, '18, co-founder, president and chief scientific officer. Dr. Yancopoulos (pictured addressing the students) shared a powerful lesson about perseverance and redefining failure.
As one student wrote: "He talked about the challenges he faced early on and how much persistence it took to build something meaningful. Instead of making his journey sound perfect, he was honest about the setbacks, which made his accomplishments feel more real and truly motivating. Regeneron is very much a success story: it shows that the combination of belief in helping others along with perseverance is an extremely powerful characteristic."
Dr. Yancopoulos emphasized that Regeneron spent its first 25 years without a single approved drug, yet remained unwavering in its mission. His message resonated deeply: not all success is linear, and the most meaningful breakthroughs often emerge from persistence through failure.
For many Hackley students, the visit crystallized career aspirations and broadened their understanding of science's real-world impact. Whether inspired by the prospect of engineering life-saving treatments, managing massive datasets, or advancing manufacturing innovation, students left Regeneron with a clearer vision of how science and perseverance can change the world.
