New ways of thinking encourage new ideas and ultimately new products!
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New ways of thinking encourage new ideas and ultimately new products!
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Engineer Foresees Biotechnology Takeover by Jennifer M. Sakurai How does someone who left his first industry job feeling unfulfilled find a way to enjoy his life's work? Ask Mike Drues, who was once a project engineer at a large medical company but didn't enjoy the work because it didn't suit his personality. “I don't want to be a worker bee,” he explains. “I've always considered myself more of a leader than a follower. I don't want to settle for the way something has been done before. I'd rather build something from the ground up.” Drues thus moved into consulting and helped start-up companies for several years. Originally from Chicago, Drues received both his undergraduate and graduate degrees in biomedical engineering from Iowa State University. “I was always interested in medicine, but I didn't necessarily want to become a physician,” says Drues. “I like finding out how the human body works in engineering terms, and then work with the body to find solutions to clinical problems. I consider myself a hands-on, blood-and-guts engineer.” Recently, Drues founded Vascular Sciences (www.vascularsci.com), a company specializing in biosimulation™ models, which simulate the look, feel, and responsiveness of the human body and aid in the development of medical devices. Physicians use these biosimulations™ to test both new devices and new procedures. Drues's article, “How to Meet the New Simulation Testing Requirements” starts on page 93 of this issue. Founding his own company was “a very gradual, very evolutionary process,” says Drues. “Five years ago I'd have said, ‘Absolutely not’ to the idea, but I now have more experience and a greater appreciation of business and regulatory issues. I like looking beyond product development to the other pieces in the puzzle.” As if running a start-up weren't enough, to keep him busy, Drues also teaches medical and biotechnology courses at Northeastern University (Boston). “I like taking complex, technical ideas and explaining them so anyone can understand,” he says. “The medical device industry has a lot to learn from biotechnology and vice versa,” Drues explains. “Five years ago, I said the gap between the two industries would disappear. The days of a device performing only a mechanical function will eventually come to an end.” For example, angioplasties are traditionally performed by a balloon catheter flattening the plaque along the artery walls, increasing blood flow. This technique solves an immediate problem but does nothing to reduce risk of recurrences. Now, however, genes added to the surface of the balloon catheter help the body resist the disease from coming back. A friend described Drues as a person who thinks it's more important to find different ways to get from point A to point B than to simply get there. But Drues realizes there has to be a balance. “The principal motivation for making money in the short term is funding research for the long term, so later you'll find yourself in the right place. But overall, shortsighted thinking isn't beneficial.” Drues says that he learned invaluable lessons from Dr. David Hopper, his professor and mentor. “Our relationship was much more than that of professor and student,” explains Drues. “I got to know his family, and he taught me many lessons about the world outside the classroom. He never wanted anything in return other than for me to continue to pass on the knowledge – to help the next person who comes along. I think that's why I like teaching as much as I do, and why I use student interns in my company.” Although many paths lead to the future – and Drues is likely to forge his own – by acquiring and passing on knowledge in the process, Drues ensures that his way is a right way, if not the right way. by Jennifer M. Sakurai, managing editor of Medical Device and Diagnostic Industry News (March 1998, p. 16). Back to Top
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