At Pfizer's Groton Laboratories, Vignery, whose research focuses on the developmental and reconstructive processes of bone, will serve as a consultant to David Ke in the bone biology section, and John Cheng in the biomarkers group. She will be conducting collaborative research and gaining practical knowledge of the drug discovery and development process through interactions with the project teams.
The program offers a 12-week position for one outstanding Yale faculty member to consult and do research on site at Pfizer Global Research and Development in Groton / New London. While it strengthens Yale-Pfizer alliances, it provides Yale faculty with new collaborations and a better understanding of the pharmaceutical industry.
"We are pleased that the Pfizer Visiting Professor Program is proving to be such a successful partnership," said Merle Waxman, associate dean and director of the Office for Women in Medicine at Yale School of Medicine. "Our scientists gain great first-hand experience in the challenges of the pharmaceutical industry and then have the unique opportunity to bring these insights back to their students and fellows."
The novel visiting professorship, now in its second year, was developed and sponsored by the Discovery Laboratories at Pfizer Global Research and Development, the Women's Leadership Network at Pfizer and the Office for Women in Medicine at Yale.
"This is an honor that has given me the opportunity to work with a premier pharmaceutical company on research that is not only important to me, but important to improving health care in the United States," said Vignery.
Vignery's lab recently developed a new technology to induce bone formation locally for the prevention of fractures and the repair of non-union fractures. The technology is being refined in rodents, anticipating its rapid translation to humans.
"One vision for the program is to enhance the scientific understanding between Pfizer and Yale, and, more broadly, between industry and academia. We have already seen how beneficial these interactions can be," said Karen Houseknecht, president of the Women's Leadership Network at Pfizer. "We look forward to this program expanding the vista of career choices for academic scientists."