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Meet two scientists at the forefront of our HIV research

Two esteemed scientists share their motivations and hopes for the future of HIV research

July 1, 2025

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Merck HIV researchers

The field of HIV research has changed drastically in the past 40 years. In that time, we’ve evolved from helping people with HIV struggle to survive to seeing them fully thrive. Now we’re chasing a cure for HIV.

We spoke with two of our own researchers who are leading the charge, Bonnie Howell, Ph.D., and Rebeca Plank, M.D., about what drives them, what’s changed and what’s next in the HIV research landscape.

What drew you to HIV research?

Plank: I think my interest was first sparked at home by my parents, who actually met doing public health work in Chile. But it’s funny, despite that background, I wasn’t pre-med in college. I was an anthropology major. But during my senior thesis, I worked on a project around HIV prevention messaging. That stuck with me.

audio file from Rebeca Plank

Howell: I can relate to that. I started working in HIV research after years of working in oncology and quickly recognized the unmet medical need. I realized that a lot of what I learned about cancer research could be applied to HIV as well.

I became passionate about HIV research because I saw it as an opportunity to change the storyline and apply my oncology experience to this different field.

In your mind, what’s been the biggest shift in HIV care?

Plank: I think the vast shift can be summed up by what I saw in med school. I was studying in San Francisco between 1996–2001, and I watched an inpatient hospital ward go from a place that housed critically ill people living with HIV to a general medicine ward full of people rightfully expecting to feel better and go back home.

And that’s all due to the fast and impactful medical innovations — such as antiretrovirals to treat HIV — that helped save so many lives.

In a field that’s been historically male dominated, how does it feel to be a female in science and HIV research?

Howell: My experience is definitely unique because I’ve been at Merck for my entire career — and I’ve been constantly surrounded by powerful and brilliant women. It’s been a privilege to be a part of a company that has empowered me to roll up my sleeves and contribute day in and day out to this important mission.

And I’m grateful for the chance to continue to add to the legacy Merck has established for itself in HIV — helping to change the way HIV has been treated since the start of the epidemic.

Plank: That said, there are still challenges facing women in HIV research. As a med student and also as a resident, it struck me that, looking around the hospital, there were relatively few women who were further along in their careers. It can be so important to see people succeeding who look like you, as role models and mentors — they show you what’s possible.

Howell: I completely agree. I also count myself lucky that I was mentored by female leaders who charted the course. Now I pay that forward and mentor the next generation of female researchers — especially those pursuing HIV.

Why do you think gender diversity is critical in HIV research?

Howell: Globally, women bear a huge brunt of this epidemic. A 2024 report showed that 53% of all people living with HIV in 2023 globally were women and girls.

It’s important to make sure that the female perspective is represented within the HIV research community, so women with HIV can have advocates who share and understand their unique female experiences.

Plank: Prior to joining Merck, during my time doing field work in Kenya and Botswana, I learned a lot about the nuances and unique hardships of the female HIV experience. Globally, advocating for herself may not always be a woman’s first priority. Not to mention that the stigma of HIV is still too prevalent around the world, which may make it harder to seek care.

Bonnie Howell

What advancement in HIV research do you hope to see during your lifetimes?

Howell: A cure. Whether that’s eradicating HIV from peoples’ bodies or remission, where the virus still exists in the body but is controlled without lifelong treatment.

Plank: And then getting this cure — as well as other treatments and better methods for HIV prevention — to people in need, in the manner they need it. Access remains a huge issue, and part of that is the mode of treatment such as frequency of pills or injections. We hear consistently that having discreet treatment and prevention options would be critical.

What gives you the most hope?

Plank: So much can evolve in a single generation. These young women we’re working to help, someday they’ll be grandmothers. By empowering them with knowledge and by continuing our work in HIV, we hope to protect future generations.

Howell: The HIV community is so passionate and engaged, and we’re designing studies and treatments with those affected in mind. I’m excited to see what the future brings.

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A lifelong commitment to addressing dengue fever

How our colleague’s personal experience fueled his desire to help others

June 10, 2025

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With roughly half of the world’s population at risk of contracting dengue fever, Dr. Bin Pangilinan and his colleagues are dedicated to helping address this global health challenge.

Growing up in the Philippines, Pangilinan experienced firsthand the serious impact of dengue, one of the fastest-growing mosquito-borne viral diseases. He saw classmates become ill from the disease and, even though it was not contagious, unfortunately contracted it himself from infected mosquitos multiple times throughout his childhood. The care he received helped shape the course of his life in profound ways.

Pangilinan around 7 years old

His first encounter with dengue at age 7 landed him in the hospital, an experience marked by high fevers and severe body aches. “You would hear about outbreaks in the news, but being at the center of one was entirely different,” he said.

At age 10, a more severe episode required a two-week stay in the hospital — alarming both him and his parents. Finally, at age 15, Pangilinan was diagnosed with dengue once again, a third hospitalization disrupting his college admission tests and highlighting the disease’s unpredictability.

Joining the fight against dengue

His experience with dengue as a child ignited Pangilinan’s passion for medicine, driving him to pursue a career helping others. After completing his medical training, he faced dengue from the other side as a medical intern. “It was one of the most challenging moments in my medical career,” he said. “Treating patients impacted by dengue was a pivotal moment that further fueled my desire to help address this disease.”

Pangilinan during his medical training

Pangilinan’s career journey eventually led him to Merck in 2013, where he’s worked with various groups including advocacy, medical affairs, access and policy to help address infectious diseases. His personal journey inspires his professional work with a unique empathy and understanding, particularly in his current role, where he is part of a team supporting efforts to alleviate the burden of dengue and infectious diseases.

“The commitment of my colleagues and the dedication of the global public health community to fight dengue are incredibly inspiring,” Pangilinan said.

“That passion energizes me every day and drives me to confront this disease and make a difference for those at risk around the world, especially for my hometown in the Philippines, where my story with dengue began.”

Pangilinan and his colleagues remain committed to leveraging science, innovation and collaboration to help address the impact of infectious diseases like dengue on communities around the world.

Dengue facts and figures

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A personal commitment to public health

Stories of research and clinical care from two leading experts in pneumococcal and pediatric infectious disease

March 19, 2025

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Nearly all of us have caught a seasonal cold, but some infectious diseases can pose significant health risks. Research plays a critical role in advancing prevention and treatment strategies for infectious diseases.

Our researchers are at the forefront of scientific innovation, working to address the diseases that threaten our most vulnerable populations around the world. Heather Platt, M.D., and Marissa Wilck, M.D., two Merck scientists specializing in pneumococcal and pediatric infectious diseases, shared their journeys into medicine and their reflections on the critical role research plays in improving public health.

What drew you to a career in infectious disease research?

Dr. Wilck: “I grew up in rural South Africa and had to choose a career at 18. Knowing amazingly little about what it would encompass, I chose med school because of my love of science and wanted to do something meaningful with my life. In my clinical years, I saw infectious diseases all around me, which drove me to specialize in infectious diseases.”

Dr. Marissa Wilck

Dr. Platt: “I chose internal medicine for my residency because I loved learning the broad scope and it allowed me to explore a variety of interests, particularly in infectious diseases.

One of my first patients during my internship year was a 75-year-old lady who had pneumonia and was brought into the ICU because her blood pressure was starting to drop. Within an hour, she needed full support for breathing and blood pressure with central lines and intubation. That was a pivotal moment for me to understand the complexity and impact of infectious diseases like pneumococcal disease. I later completed a fellowship in infectious diseases and witnessed advancements that made me want to pursue research.”

Are there any common misconceptions about infectious diseases like pneumococcal disease that you aim to overcome?

Platt: “Anyone can get pneumococcal disease. You’re at increased risk depending on your age or certain medical conditions. Some people can become very ill, very quickly. I think Marissa and I have both seen serious cases of complications from pneumococcal disease, like pneumonia and meningitis.”

Wilck: “In my clinical years, I remember seeing previously healthy people becoming very sick with pneumococcal disease. I have a particular patient in mind that I think about; I remember looking at him and thinking, ‘How can this strong man who was healthy just two or three weeks ago get so sick from this bacteria?’

SEE ALSO: Facts about invasive pneumococcal disease and how infection spreads

A look at the numbers

  • Approximately 13.7 million people worldwide died from infectious diseases in 2019.
  • Infections such as pneumococcal disease can lead to potentially severe health issues, like pneumonia, sepsis and meningitis.
  • Pneumonia impacts millions of people worldwide each year.

What makes infectious disease research unique compared to other areas of medical research?

Wilck: “I find infectious disease research fascinating because it encompasses many aspects of human health and society. Infectious diseases affect everyone, and the social and economic impacts touch all communities. To me, this has reinforced the critical importance of researching prevention measures. We have the opportunity to make such a difference.”

How do we balance research in prevention versus treatment?

Dr. Heather Platt

Dr. Heather Platt

Platt: “There’s a lot of satisfaction that comes from knowing that you can be a part of preventing disease. But as infectious disease physicians, we see how prevention and treatment both have a role. Choosing to spend time on prevention strategies is as worthy as the time that our colleagues are spending on researching treatments for these diseases. We can put our collective heads together because we’re all fighting for the same thing.”

What inspires you about our team?

Wilck: “Merck has such a deep history and legacy in infectious disease research and innovation. As a team, we can make things happen in a way that we could never do as individuals. I’m proud to be part of that effort.”

Platt: “At Merck we have the opportunity to work in different therapeutic areas, and that allows me to appreciate the different elements of research that are needed in order to improve the burden of these infectious diseases. It isn’t just one product or one patient. Marissa and I have crisscrossed paths in our research in pneumococcal and pediatric infectious diseases at Merck, but we’ve both had the opportunity to positively contribute to public health. It’s an honor and a privilege to be a part of offering prevention options.”

We’ve been working to combat global health threats caused by infectious diseases for more than a century. Learn more about our work in infectious disease research.

Our people

Our former CEO Dr. Roy Vagelos honored for role in helping China combat hepatitis B  

We’re proud of his recognition and our continued commitment to global health

July 16, 2024

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Roy Vagelos

It’s a moment that’s woven into our company’s history, and one that exemplifies our commitment to putting people before profits. 

In 1989, when hepatitis B was the largest public health challenge in China, our company shared a manufacturing process to help the Chinese government address this public health need. This cooperation, led by then-CEO Dr. Roy Vagelos, helped millions at a time when they needed it most.  

For his role in helping the people of China, Vagelos recently received the first-ever Elimination Champion Legacy Award from the Coalition for Global Hepatitis Elimination (CGHE), a program of The Task Force for Global Health. Vagelos was honored alongside Professor Zhao Kai, who helped lead China’s participation in the technology transfer.  

“Dr. Roy Vagelos and Professor Zhao Kai are fully deserving of the first Legacy Awards as Hepatitis Elimination Champions,” said Dr. John W. Ward, director of the CGHE. 

By 2009, China’s vaccination program made possible by this technology transfer prevented over 24 million infections and over 4 million future deaths, according to estimates cited by the Coalition for Global Hepatitis Elimination. Vagelos’ leadership exemplifies our company’s legacy of collaboration and the work we do every day to address some of the world’s most pressing public health challenges.

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Here for Good: A steadfast commitment to global health

How one colleague’s upbringing and career journey have motivated her to enable health access around the world

June 10, 2024

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Photo of Priya Agrawal

For Priya Agrawal, access to health has been a lifelong concern and a guiding principle in the work she’s done across industries.

As a young girl growing up in central London, Agrawal saw firsthand how inequities in access even within her own extended family could drastically impact health outcomes.

“I watched my father’s side of the family — who lived in London — live with diabetes, but I watched my mother’s side of the family — who lived in North India — die of diabetes,” Agrawal said. “It took me a while to figure out that it was my father’s family’s access to the National Health Service that made the difference.”

That early insight propelled Agrawal into a career as an obstetrician and gynecologist before moving into public health. Now vice president in charge of international health equity and partnerships, Agrawal first joined our company to help launch Merck for Mothers, a global initiative to help create a world where no woman has to die while giving life.  From there, she went on to a variety of roles — from lead of our vaccines and contraceptives business in the U.K. to managing director of South Africa and sub-Saharan Africa cluster to global head of HPV vaccines.

Agrawal’s work — and the passion that fuels it — continues, and she has no plans to stop.

“I want to be able to say that I did all I could to ensure more people could both survive and thrive because they had easier access to health.”

Our people

How employees with careers in nursing are critical at Merck

Nurses' clinical expertise and patient experience provide valuable insight across our company

April 10, 2024

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10 nurses

Nurses do vital work every day. The care they provide makes a profound difference in the lives of patients and their families. And that’s why employees with careers in nursing are critical at Merck.

Esther Smith-Howell, associate director, outcomes research, said her nursing background provides her with valuable experience she applies as a business scientist.

“I understand patients’ concerns and questions related to medications and care, their need for education and information, the social context that may affect their ability to access and pay for medications and care,” said Smith-Howell. “It helps me think holistically about research and patients.”

Esther Smith-Howell

"Integrating the patient perspective into solving scientific research problems is critical for successful patient outcomes."

— Esther Smith-Howell, Ph.D., MSHP, R.N.

Associate director, outcomes research, health care delivery research

A sincere desire to help patients

From product safety and labeling to marketing, clinical operations and medical affairs, we employ hundreds of registered nurses in non-clinical positions.

“Nurses are a valuable resource to our company in terms of their real-world patient experience, clinical expertise and talent,” said Mary Elmer, executive director, patient innovation & engagement, and a nurse herself. “They bring important perspectives to help inform our business.”

That’s why Elmer, with now retired fellow nurse Jan Nissen, created the Merck Nurses Network, a voluntary group of nurses who work across functions and roles throughout the company. Their mission is to harness the collective knowledge of nurses to provide meaningful insight across the business, even beyond their day jobs. 

“The network is a great way for peers to connect and share experiences and learnings, always with a focus on patients,” said Elmer.

Mary Elmer

"Nurses share a special bond. There's true camaraderie between us fueled by a sincere desire to help patients."

Mary Elmer, MSN, CRNP

Executive director, patient innovation & engagement

One of those members is Steve Morin, whose varied nursing experiences working directly with patients help inform his current role as director of regulatory policy. He’s served as a bone marrow transplant nurse in a hospital, research nurse in clinical trials, and nurse officer in the U.S. public health service, where he worked with a number of underserved populations from around the world.

“These experiences allowed me to see health from a global perspective, and I use that background now as I advocate for regulatory policies that will help improve patient outcomes.”

  • Steve Morin, MSHE, BSN
    Director, regulatory policy
Steve Morin

Nurses at Merck are critical to our work

The nurses’ diverse backgrounds and skillsets — surgical, oncology, primary care, pediatrics, among others — also allow for valuable insight overall and targeted support when needed in a specific area of focus.

Here are four ways employees use their nursing expertise to make clinical and non-clinical impact:

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Drug delivery development

Providing input on early design models for our product teams to create user-friendly devices as well as easy-to-understand accompanying patient education materials.

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Package design

Supporting human factor testing, which focuses on the interactions between people and the product, by providing perspective on the end-user experience of patients and the health care professionals who give our products to patients.

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Communications materials

Providing personal and professional perspectives, including how patients and their families digest health information, cultural sensitivities, and other insights, so we deliver health literate information that is clear for people who use our products.

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Clinical support

Mobilizing teams of nurses to assist our employee health department, including stepping away from their non-clinical day jobs to provide critical support and help prevent disruption in business activities.

Our colleagues share their thoughts on being nurses at Merck:

Kathy McKeon
Meet Kathy McKeon

Senior corporate account executive

Lisa Lea
Meet Dr. Lisa Lea

Director, patient innovation and engagement

Cynthia Thompson
Meet Cynthia Thompson

Oncology sales representative, women’s health

Kim Daly
Meet Dr. Kim Daly

Regional medical director, vaccines

Meet Becky Donahue

Associate director, pharmacovigilance operations and global process enablement

Ron Shank
Meet Ron Shank

Oncology sales representative

Emma Mason
Meet Emma Mason

Associate director, patient innovation and engagement

Our people

Here for Good: A lifelong mission against HIV

A colleague transformed personal grief and tragedy into a lifelong mission to help persons living with HIV

October 12, 2023

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Richard Liu’s work in HIV began in 1988, and it’s continued to this day.

“At the time, many members of the community were not only scared and frightened about HIV, but many of them were suffering from either the disease itself or the discrimination and bias directed toward them,” Liu said. “For me, education and outreach was a way to feel empowered and to empower members of my community.”

He also experienced firsthand how devastating HIV could be, falling in love with a man he’d eventually lose to AIDS.

“I found my strength when I looked back and thought about all the situations that Scott and I faced, I learned I was stronger than I ever believed I was,” Liu said. “And I kind of knew after that I needed to do something more. My purpose at that time was loving and caring for him until the end, and I needed to find another purpose. And that purpose became fighting HIV.”

Liu followed that purpose into a role as one of Philadelphia’s youngest HIV program directors, focusing on promoting prevention, testing and care. His passion eventually brought him to Merck, where he is a member of our global marketing division assigned to the HIV franchise, leading the development of promotional content for health care providers.

“I'm doing exactly what I've always wanted to do: be useful, be valuable and use what I can to fight HIV. And I've been given this incredible role at this company to do that.”

— Richard Liu

As a part of the Merck team, Liu, now happily married, has always felt he could bring his authentic self to work — and that feeling started during his interview with a recruiter. There were some moments in his personal history during his earlier work as an AIDS activist that he knew he’d have to explain.

“I wanted to disclose my arrest record because I thought it might come up in a background check,” Liu explained. “I was charged with obstruction of highway because I was participating in AIDS protests, so I wanted to be clear why I was arrested and given those charges.”

The instinct to be candid was a good one, he learned.  “When I was offered the job, I really felt like, wow, this company is willing to recognize my authentic self, including my activism.”

Liu’s estimation of Merck and our values — and the part he can play in the work we do for patients — hasn’t changed.

“I feel like my fight against HIV is perfectly aligned with our company’s commitment toward innovation and to persons living with HIV,” he said.

Our people

Podcast: Meet the dealmakers 

Merck’s business development and licensing team explain how they identify new opportunities to strengthen our robust R&D pipeline  

June 1, 2023

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PodcastGroupattable

It takes a special kind of talent to find and secure the right deals to keep us at the forefront of innovation. Leaders from our business development and licensing team sat down to discuss how their work is a key component to building and maintaining a strong pipeline.  

Here’s what you need to know:  

01.

Harnessing our legacy

Our reputation for using leading-edge science can make business development connections easier, explains Lizabeth Leveille, vice president, business development.


02.

The speed and determination to get it done

Elizabeth Naldi-Jacob, vice president, business development, knows that having a direct line of reporting to the top is what sets Merck apart as a potential partner. 


03.

Balancing the internal and the external  

We have a one pipeline mindset, and each asset receives the same focus and rigor whether it comes from inside our company or out, says Christopher Mortko, vice president, business development. 


04.

Working hand-in-hand with our scientists  

Grace Han McMahon, associate vice president, business development, explains why engaging our internal science leaders is crucial to making the right deals. 


05.

What we’re interested in (and why it’s everything) 

Our panelists discuss why we focus on five key areas — and when we’re willing to look beyond them.


Great partnerships begin with great conversation. Learn more about how discovery & development and licensing shape the future of Merck.  

For more, check out the full podcast: 

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Read the transcript

Our people

Here for Good: Bridging the gap between bedside and bench

Members of Merck’s lung cancer clinical development team say working in the hospital inspired their drive to innovate for patients

May 24, 2023

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Dr. Ayman Samkari remembers how treating patients during his medical school rotations brought him face to face with the unmet needs of people with cancer. He learned to listen to what matters for patients beyond their diagnoses, and he sought new ways to make a greater impact as an oncologist.

Watch Samkari and Dr. Nazly Shariati discuss their passion for their work:

primary article image

“Even though I enjoyed every moment of practicing medicine and treating patients with cancer, I had the question at the back of my mind: How can I do things differently? How can I improve patient outcomes?” recalled Samkari, who now works for Merck as executive director in oncology clinical development. “That’s what drove me to pursue my career in clinical research, where I could help patients on a larger scale.”

And after 25 years as a surgeon, when a hand ailment ultimately sidelined her in the operating room, Dr. Nazly Shariati found that research was another avenue to help more patients.

“Merck allowed me to not only fulfill my goals in life and my career but continue on my path to have an impact on patients’ lives.”

— Dr. Nazly Shariati

Senior principal scientist in oncology clinical development

From careers in clinical care to careers in research

Samkari’s background as an oncologist, and Shariati’s as a surgeon, have informed their work in our lung cancer clinical development program. All too familiar with the challenges of treating patients with advanced disease, Samkari and Shariati are shifting their research to investigating lung cancer at its earlier stages, before it has spread, when it’s more likely to be successfully treated.

When she was a cardiothoracic surgeon, Shariati often felt a sinking feeling whenever a patient’s lung cancer would return, which is common among people diagnosed with lung cancer that was removed surgically. But today she’s excited by scientific advances in resectable lung cancer focused on helping more patients.

Understanding the patient experience

Shariati said understanding the patient experience is what drives a researcher’s passion, innovation and desire to help others.

“It is very important to have that experience in managing and seeing patients because it gives you a completely different perspective on how you conduct your work.”

— Dr. Ayman Samkari

Executive director in oncology clinical development

Each day, Samkari and Shariati continue to push the boundaries in research to help make a difference for people living with cancer.

Our people

VIDEO: Here for Good – When passion and curiosity fuel innovation

Hear how one of our scientists balances her work and family life to accelerate our groundbreaking research

February 2, 2023

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Merck scientist Denarra Simmons wearing goggles and lab coat

Testing experiments in a lab can be a lot like raising kids. Sometimes your molecules do what you want them to do, and sometimes they don’t. But it’s a challenge Denarra Simmons, a senior scientist at Merck and a mother of two, is always up for.

“You’re constantly trying to find other medicines because all medicines don’t work the same way for all people,” Simmons said.

“You spend the long nights thinking about experiments, how to make things better, how to move things faster to help more people.”

— Denarra Simmons

female scientist in a lab

Simmons has been curious about how and why things work for most of her life. As a young child, she peppered her family with questions, trying to understand the “why” behind anything and everything. But it wasn’t until a man in a lab coat came to her grade school to talk about his career that she realized what her true passion was.

“He wrote an equation on the board and was talking about how people made medicines, and I thought that was fascinating,” Simmons said. “But the thing that really drew my attention was how excited he was when he was explaining what he did. I wanted to do something that I would love that much and over time, I realized that for me, it was science and helping people.”

For 12 years, Simmons has funneled that passion into her research at Merck. Simmons works in drug development to test the efficacy and safety of our biologic medicines used for investigational new drug (IND) enabling studies.

“Working in the lab is my favorite part of my job — and getting good data."

Woman, man and two children smiling

Some days in the lab may be more successful than others, and Simmons uses it all to show her children what it takes to be a scientist. “Good days are celebrated, and the tricky days, we keep working towards improving,” she said.

Simmons also feels strongly about teaching her children that there’s more to life than work.

“I’m always thinking about the experiments, but when I’m home with the children, I really try to give them the attention and time they need,” she said.

But once her daughter and son finish their homework and head to bed, Simmons finds herself thinking about her next set of experiments.

“When you find out a medicine you worked on has helped so many people, you feel really special and you know all the work has been worthwhile,” she said. “And that’s why you’re doing what you do: you’re making a difference in society.”