Q&A with Michelle Gregory: Director of Life Science Oklahoma

Life Science Oklahoma, the state’s life science association, recently appointed Michelle Gregory as its new director. Gregory has a history of leadership in nonprofit organizations in the healthcare sector.

Gregory sat down with the VeloCity team to discuss her role as director of Life Science Oklahoma.

Q: Tell us a little about what attracted you to Life Science Oklahoma?

A: I have a history in healthcare, as I started out in pharmaceuticals and have worked in nonprofit organizations for several healthcare-focused groups. However, it is more of a personal passion of mine, as my own family has had many healthcare challenges through the years, enabling me to understand the importance of cutting-edge research and access to quality healthcare in your own backyard.

Q: Why do you feel the Life Science industry is important for our state

A: I believe there are several different reasons that Life Science is important for our state. From an economic development standpoint, it is important to diversify the state, so we are not only reliant upon oil and gas. I came from an oil and gas family, and I can remember the days of anticipating whether my father had made the cut during layoffs or if we had to move across the country so he could keep his job.

Oklahoma is a great place to live, and there needs to be opportunities for other industries so we can keep our citizens here. I have heard countless stories from individuals who have a great idea for a biotech product and must leave the state for the idea to come to fruition. Because of this process, we are losing high-quality talent in our workforce. It is obvious it is important to the community to grow the Life Science industry in our state.

You can look at two areas – workforce development and access to healthcare. The Life Science workforce does not only include Ph.D.’s, but it also includes the creation of jobs for lab workers who can get certified through the new BioTC in three weeks, as well as creating jobs for nurses, doctors and more.

You can also see the need for this cutting-edge availability of research through the work of those at Stephenson Cancer Center (SCC). Specialists there are creating access to cancer treatments readily available to not only the larger cities in Oklahoma, but also to rural and indigenous communities."

Q: For people not as familiar with the industry, what do you think are the strengths of the industry in Oklahoma?

A: Oklahoma has several state-of-the-art programs creating very promising research for patients. Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation (OMRF) is one of the leaders in many different areas of research, including autoimmune diseases, sickle cell disease and more.

We also have strong biomanufacturing companies poised for growth, as we have created BioTC, which will aid in creating the workforce needed to continue to grow. Coupled with the access to land and a low cost of living, Oklahoma should be positioned to become the next Life Science hub.

Q: What makes Oklahoma such a great place for companies or organizations in the Life Science industry?

A: Oklahoma has all the components the Life Science industry needs, and it is located in one of the fastest growing areas of the country – being in the center of the I-35 Corridor. The talent emerging from the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University is phenomenal, and the interest from Venture capitalists is growing.

For companies looking for a new place to grow, Oklahoma offers all the tools needed to advance from a workforce talent pipeline to the infrastructure needed to be successful.

Q: What do you envision as the overall purpose of the new association?

A: When I came on, I spent a lot of time researching the different parts of the Life Science ecosystem in Oklahoma. What I found was a common theme, we have some amazing work being done in our own backyard, but these groups are not always communicating with one another.

The goal of Life Science Oklahoma is to act as a facilitator to increase the connections and collaboration within this community so the ecosystems can come together and benefit each other.

Through this model, I believe we will be able to grow in density, which will help to advocate for the needs of the industry and better utilize local resources versus out of state."

Q: What has been the response of the industry to the new association?

A: I have met with many different stakeholders within the industry and the excitement for this organization and what we are trying to accomplish in Oklahoma is high. It doesn’t feel like just another organization to be a member of, but rather it feels like everyone truly wants to be involved, so, overall, we can accomplish more.

Q: If people want to get involved with Life Science Oklahoma, where should they start?

A: If someone wants to learn more about Life Science Oklahoma or become a member of Life Science Oklahoma, they can reach out to me at [email protected]. I would love to share more about the exciting work we are planning for the future.