As Amgen’s medical director in early development oncology, Keyvanjah develops potential new therapies for patients with cancer
A growing career path for pharmacists is drug development, particularly in San Diego where our thriving biotech industry is ranked as the third largest in the nation. What is a typical day like for a drug developer? And what should you look for in a pharmacy school if you are interested in this career path?
In our latest alumni spotlight, we catch up with Kiana Keyvanjah, Pharm.D., ‘09, who currently works at Amgen as a medical director in early clinical development oncology, to learn more about her work in drug discovery and how her time at UC San Diego Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences prepared her for her current role.
Keyvanjah stands in front of her award-winning ASCO poster
What is a typical day like for you?
I work in early drug development, which involves building the intricate bridge from preclinical research to the clinic, and then taking the first step across this bridge to bring new therapies to patients with unmet needs.
I lead a multidisciplinary team to create a plan for the clinical development of a new chemical entity, including identifying the populations who may benefit from that therapeutic option and designing the first-in-human study. In early development there is often limited preclinical data generated in vitro (outside of a living organism), and in vivo (in animals) so the team works together to determine the best starting dose, how to administer the investigational agent and what to test in the very first clinical trial that is ever conducted in humans.
This is predominately a career pathway for medical doctors, but I work with medical professionals with different backgrounds such as Ph.D. scientists, physician-scientists and others. I believe as a Pharm.D. I offer a unique perspective to drug development and a wider lens for the multidisciplinary team.
Why did you choose UC San Diego for pharmacy school?
I applied because of the curriculum, as I was intrigued by the opportunity to study medicine and pharmacology at the same time. I always knew I wanted to go to medical school but also knew I didn’t want to become a medical doctor treating patients. After obtaining my B.S. in cell and molecular biology, I worked in a clinical laboratory where I witnessed the interphase between diagnostics and therapeutics which I found fascinating. I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do, but UC San Diego seemed like the place that would help me discover my path by exposing me to a variety of opportunities to learn the things that I was most passionate about, and enable me to pursue what was true to my intrinsic desire to help humankind.
Keyvanjah and former faculty member Thomas Tozer share a celebratory moment at her commencement
What is the proudest moment of your career?
Getting accepted to pharmacy school! Another proud moment for me occurred shortly after I graduated. I wrote my first abstract to a congress, specifically the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). This one of the largest clinical oncology conferences in the world and one which had an exceptionally high rejection rate for abstract submissions. The abstract I submitted not only was accepted but I received the 2010 ASCO Cancer Foundation Merit Award. I remember running my finger down the list of names of the recipients, and all were M.D. or M.D./PhD.’s. I was the only Pharm.D. fellow, and I was really proud of that for us!
What advice do you have for prospective students?
Follow your passion and define your own path. This has always been my mantra!
Would you recommend SSPPS to prospective students?
Absolutely. This school is amazing and truly one of a kind. Graduating was bittersweet because I could have stayed there forever!
The seamless integration with the School of Medicine really gives students a strong foundation for drug development. I’m often humbled when I reflect on the opportunities my training at UC San Diego has afforded me. I work amongst the brightest of physician scientists and scientific scholars and feel well prepared to be here.
While you won't remember everything you learn in school, make sure you learn everything they teach you. Later you can tap into that knowledge anytime and it will unlock many doors for you. At the time I will admit many of us students were asking, “Why do I need to know what a goblet cell looks like?” But now I am so grateful I had that training. I use all of the information I learned then on a daily basis, from histology, organ physiology, pharmacokinetics from the legendary Dr. Thomas Tozer, anatomy, and pharmacoeconomics, law and ethics, and the list goes on.
When you aren’t working, what do you do for fun?
We have an eight-year-old Shar-Pei rescue and five-year-old son. I love to build LEGOs® with my kid, cook with my husband and spend time outdoors as a family. I also like to read, and lately I have been reading a lot of memoirs. I just finished a book called Solito by Javier Zamora, which is an amazing story about a boy who migrated by himself at age nine from El Salvador.
Learn more about our Pharm.D. degree and joint curriculum with the UC San Diego School of Medicine.