John Patella

Seasoned communications leader excelling in strategic content development, corporate and internal communications. 

Writing Samples: Science and Health

Unusual Liposome Image During Drug Research and Development

A liposome is a nano-sized particle that functions as a membrane, similar to how a cell membrane surrounds a living cell. Using nanotechnology, liposomes can be turned into tiny vehicles for delivering drugs to targets in the body where other medicines can’t go. The liposome in this image was designed to access the lymphatic system.

O’Brien is part of a team that focuses on using nanoparticles in the delivery of small molecule drugs and genes. Nanoparticles are exceedingly small, ranging from o...

Revolutionizing Future of Drug Development in Space to Benefit the Patients

Three members of the company research team were on site at Kennedy Space Center in Florida to prepare the experiment for launch. From left: Senior Research Investigator II Matt Pokross, Robert Garmise, associate director, Materials Science & Engineering; and Research Investigator II Michael Little.Molecular crystal growth in near-zero gravity 

While it’s much more than science fiction, the science still has a way to go. By studying how these molecules crystalize in space, scientists expect to g...

Discovering New Class of Reagents Using Citrus Peels

Why reagents matter
Reagents are the ingredients used to induce chemical reactions. There are numerous kinds of reagents used in broad applications by scientists across different industries including the life sciences. Reagents derived from phosphate are of particular interest in the hunt for new medicines. DNA’s spiral ladder shape includes alternating sugar-like molecules called nucleosides joined by phosphate molecules which run up the ladder’s sides and hold the nucleoside units together. Th...

Encouraging the Next Generation of Female Scientists

Amy Hart traces her interest in science to 5th grade when her grandfather was diagnosed with a form of leukemia.
“I was always close to my grandfather so that was an inspiration for wanting to learn more about science and what cancer was,” said Hart, a principal scientist in Drug Discovery Research at Bristol Myers Squibb.
Patty McDonnell credits growing up with a chemist mother and engineer father. “I remember making soap for a middle school science experiment with my father and a lot of attemp...

Ensuring Drug Production During Pandemic with Augmented Reality

In normal times, Lucy would have boarded an international flight to the facility, a contract manufacturing partner supporting the medicine’s development. A key milestone was at hand involving the production of the drug’s pediatric formulation.  As “lead formulator” in charge of that dosage form she would have been there to monitor the activities in person.  While being on-site wasn’t possible due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, the technology still allowed her to be present. 
“I was able to rem...

Innovation in Healthcare through Incubators – Bristol Myers Squibb

Bristol Myers Squibb’s commitment to R&D innovation goes beyond its internal drug discovery engine and even beyond a vast network of external partnerships. To help accelerate the next wave of scientific breakthroughs, the company also supports life science startups and aspiring biotech entrepreneurs through a diverse and growing array of programs in the U.S. and abroad. 
The effort encompasses a company owned-and-operated incubator laboratory in New Jersey, a Golden Ticket program that awards la...

An Image resembling a shamrock shape found in the Materials Science Lab

Every day, Bristol Myers Squibb colleagues and scientists come across images that highlight the wonders of science and the cutting-edge work of the company’s research teams. This image resembling a shamrock comes from Principal Scientist Helen Hughes of the Global Product Development and Supply (GPS) site in Moreton, U.K. 
Hughes is part of the Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) team in Drug Product Development. The team studies the material properties of investigational and marketed medici...

Identifying the Optimal Chemical Reaction Process – Bristol Myers Squibb

Recently, chemists and data scientists at Bristol Myers Squibb and Princeton University presented a paper detailing their creation of an artificial intelligence tool that greatly reduces the time and effort in finding the optimal conditions for a given reaction.

Identifying chemical reactions: the challenge of choice

“When chemists are trying to develop a chemical reaction, they have a problem of choice. They have too many variables to choose from and it would be practically impossible to try...

REMS Patient Companion App Enables Faster, Easier Surveys

Certain medications have a requirement that patients complete periodic surveys designed to reinforce their safe use.  These surveys are part of a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) mandated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to help ensure that medicines with serious potential risks are used safely.
Bristol Myers Squibb has several medicines requiring such surveys. The surveys are usually initiated by the patient’s pharmacist calling the patient for counseling and then tr...

Social Media Writing Samples
Other Examples Available Upon Request

Writing Samples: Marketing Copy/Event Promotion

Writing Samples: Speech Writing (upon request)

Personal: Music

I occasionally review recordings for my personal enjoyment