Thanks and Farewell to John Harb, Biotech Advocate
“I can put up with anything for two years,” thought John Harb in 1979 as he headed north to New York City (in the Bronx) from the rural south of his youth, following completion of his master of science in public health at the University of North Carolina (UNC). Thirty-nine years later—less a five-year hiatus—he is wrapping up a career that unlocked his many talents and brought millions of dollars to Einstein. He will now move back South, to a life in the country.
John Harb with members of his team (from left): Wei Ouyang, Michelle Acosta-Rivera, Benjamin Neymotin, Tom Gallagher, John Harb, Janis Paradiso (who will assume the role of director of the office of biotechnology as his successor), and Janet Johnson.
From Biohazards to Biotech
At UNC, John acquired experience in biological safety, which is why Einstein’s Dr. Harry Eagle, then associate dean for scientific affairs, hired him as the College of Medicine’s first biohazards control officer.
It was in that role that John recommended that a major upgrade of the Forchheimer building’s fume hood system, which whisks away dangerous gases, be included in a multi-million-dollar renovation grant application that Dr. Eagle was submitting to the National Cancer Institute. The grant was funded and, as a result, Dr. Eagle asked John to be the point person in coordinating with faculty, engineering and outside contractors concerning the impact of the work to be done on laboratories.
In 1983, Dr. Eagle appointed John to a new role, coordinator of scientific services. The position reported directly to Dr. Eagle and its responsibilities included assessing allocations of and renovations to research space—a role that continued throughout his Einstein career.
“When a department needed to give up space, John would inform them with kindness and diplomacy,” said Dr. Vern Schramm, professor and former chair of biochemistry. “He’s been a constant in our universe.”
Upon Dr. Eagle’s retirement, John worked with Dr. Eagle’s successor, Dr. Sidney Goldfisher. “I was fortunate to have two incredible mentors,” he said.
John went on to have eight job titles at Einstein—and one detour. In 1991, he left Einstein for Lexington, VA to pursue a dream of opening his own business. “I come from a family of entrepreneurs,” he said.
He ran a bistro and sold art for four years before selling the business. He then found his way back to Einstein, picking up where he’d left off. Dr. Goldfisher also involved him in the field of technology transfer.
Building Technology Transfer
In 2001, following Dr. Goldfisher’s retirement, John was appointed assistant dean for scientific operations and director of the office of biotechnology.
He explained, “Historically, Einstein had not been permitted to pursue equity-based start-ups, and I knew we had to change that dynamic. With Ed Burns’ support, I was able to build the office of biotechnology with the expertise needed in that domain.”
At its peak, his team had six professionals and two administrators. Einstein’s technology transfer income increased more than 10-fold, from less than half a million dollars in 2001 to averaging nearly $5 million over the last several years. Thus far, 45 start-up companies have been established based on technologies licensed from Einstein.
Promising Progress with an Einstein Drug
Einstein’s first and only therapeutic product is a compound that evolved from a discovery in the Schramm lab. Dr. Schramm’s team developed the compound, forodesine hydrochloride (Mundesine®), through an existing collaboration with colleagues in New Zealand, which was licensed to a biotechnology company in 2000. In 2017, Mundesine® won approval in Japan to combat a rare form of hard-to-treat lymphoma.
“In every negotiation people become agitated, but John always kept his head and was fair to everyone,” recalled Dr. Schramm.
“He’s humane, has a warm personality, speaks slowly, and he doesn’t interrupt us New Yorkers—the mark of a Southern gentleman if ever there was one,” added Dr. Burns.
John officially retires on June 29, to a 50-acre homestead outside Lexington, VA, in the Shenandoah Valley. He and his wife, Maria, bought the house five years ago.
“You can see the Appalachian and Blue Ridge Mountains from our house,” he said. “I’ve had fun creating a workshop, a large garden, and a pond that we’ll be stocking with trout. We also built an extension kitchen in the barn—Maria is a professional cook.”
And he’s looking forward to the time when he’ll be licensed to relax.
Posted on: Thursday, June 28, 2018