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BIG IDEAS IN MEDICAL RESEARCH

Julia James '04 on Revolutionizing Communications between Science and Society

by Melissa Sue Sorrells Galley '05

Julia James

Julia James '04

While I was at Oxford, I was working on therapies for HIV, however I didn't interact with patients at all. I felt very far removed from the people I wanted so desperately to help. I wondered why there wasn't a better way to connect researchers and the public to create a dialogue. I realized, if it didn't exist, I'd have to help create it.

I want to break down the barriers between researchers and the communities they serve. New therapies come out of labs every day; however among the people those therapies are meant for there is an almost cultural skepticism about science that drowns out all of the other voices. It's understandable; they're reacting to some unethical practices of the past, but we have to change the way new technologies are seen by the public, otherwise, what's the point of creating them?

I see a way-and a real need-to incorporate the public into the research process. There are a lot of great researchers out there who would benefit from a successful integrated approach to engaging the community in their work.

I believe the solution is a new frontier incorporating global health, communications and mentoring. Right now, I am applying to post-doctoral fellowships so that I can pursue this project. In the meantime, I'm working with the largest government-funded mentoring program in the country, which I view as an extension of my field work. I'm learning things every day that will help me begin building an infrastructure for two-way exchange between science and society.

Outreach Coordinator, New York City Mentoring Program
Rhodes Scholar (Green Templeton College 2004)
D.Phil., Immunology and Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford
Diploma, Integrated Immunology, University of Oxford
B.S., Chemistry, William Smith College