Q&A with Dr. Sichen Song: Designing Better Tuberculosis Medicines for the Patients Who Need Them Most

What is the focus of your PhRMA Foundation-funded research project?

Tuberculosis (TB) kills more than one million people each year, with the greatest burden in countries with limited health care resources. Although TB can be cured, treatment lasts for months, and several important medicines do not dissolve well. This can make it harder for the body to absorb the drugs, require larger doses, and create storage problems in hot, humid climates. My research will develop a new way to prepare these medicines by combining each drug with a stabilizing ingredient that improves its stability and how it dissolves in the body. The goal is to fit more medicine into each dose, prevent formation of crystals during storage that cause the drug to dissolve more slowly, and release the drug as tiny particles that improve absorption in the digestive system. I will develop formulations for several TB medicines and test their stability, release, and ability to stop the growth of TB-related bacteria. I will also scale a low-energy manufacturing method from laboratory samples to larger batches. This work could lead that are easier to produce, store, and absorb, helping reduce pill burden and improve treatment in the communities most affected by TB.

Why did you pursue pharmaceutical research?

I was drawn to pharmaceutical research by a central question: How can we turn a promising compound into a medicine that works reliably for patients? A compound may perform well in the laboratory, but if it does not dissolve, remain stable, or reach the body efficiently, its potential cannot be realized. During my graduate training, I became fascinated by how the physical form of a medicine, especially whether it is crystalline or amorphous, can change its performance. I pursued my current research because this challenge is especially urgent for TB. Several important TB medicines dissolve poorly, and the problem is compounded in places where high temperatures, humidity, manufacturing constraints, and pill burden can make treatment harder. I want to use formulation science to help create medicines that are more stable, easier to manufacture, and easier for patients to take.

Tell us about turning point in your career journey.

A major turning point came near the end of my PhD, when I realized that a fundamental question I had been studying — how polymers prevent drugs from crystallization — could become a practical design principle for better medicines. My work showed that when polymer chains begin to overlap, they can greatly delay the first crystal-forming event. That result changed how I saw my research. It was no longer only an interesting physical chemistry problem; it was a way to help formulate more drug with less inactive material. When I joined Professor Lian Yu’s group at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, I had the chance to bring that same curiosity into a global-health setting and work on TB medicines. Moving from “Why does this material behave this way?” to “How could this help a patient complete treatment?” has been one of the most exciting shifts in my career.

What is a common misconception people have about science?

One common misconception is that science advances in a straight line, with a brilliant idea followed by a decisive experiment. In reality, progress is usually iterative. An experiment may fail, a material may crystallize unexpectedly, or a result may contradict our hypothesis. Those outcomes are not wasted effort; they tell us what assumption to revisit and often reveal the most interesting questions. Science is also far more collaborative than the image of a lone scientist in a lab. My research brings together physical chemistry, analytical tools, and manufacturing expertise. The strongest solutions emerge when people with different backgrounds challenge one another’s ideas and look at the same problem from different angles.

What do you love most about research?

I love the moment when an observation that initially seems confusing begins to make sense. Research is like solving a puzzle in which each experiment adds one piece, but the final picture is not known in advance. I also enjoy moving between fundamental and applied questions. I can study how molecules and polymers interact at a very small scale, then ask how that knowledge might improve the stability, absorption, or manufacturability of a medicine. That connection is especially motivating in my current work on TB, because the goal is not only to understand materials but to make treatment more practical for the people and communities that face the greatest burden of the disease.

What do you like to do outside of research?

Outside of research, I enjoy reading history books. I find it fascinating to learn how people in earlier generations responded to uncertainty, setbacks, and periods of major change. Their experiences remind me that many challenges we face today are not entirely new and that the wisdom of those who came before us can still offer useful perspectives. Reading history helps me step back from my daily work, reflect on the bigger picture, and return to research with a fresh point of view.

What advice would you give to your younger self?

I would tell my younger self not to feel pressured to have the entire path mapped out. The most valuable opportunities often come from asking a simple question, learning a technique outside your comfort zone, or talking with someone from another field. I would also say that setbacks are information, not verdicts. A failed experiment does not mean you are failing as a scientist; it means the system is teaching you something you did not yet understand. Finally, seek mentors who are generous with both their knowledge and their encouragement, and learn to ask for help earlier. Science is demanding, but it becomes much more rewarding when you treat it as a shared journey rather than a test you must pass alone.

What are your future career goals?

My long-term goal is to lead interdisciplinary research that turns fundamental knowledge about pharmaceutical materials into medicines that can make a real difference for patients. I am especially interested in formulations for so-called beyond rule-of-5 drugs (large and complex molecules that are often challenging for the body to absorb) and in technologies that are stable, scalable, and affordable enough to be used in resource-limited settings. I hope to work at the intersection of academic discovery, pharmaceutical development, and public health needs, helping promising ideas move from the laboratory toward practical products. I also want to mentor younger scientists and create the kind of collaborative environment that has supported my own development. Whatever the setting, I want my career to keep connecting good science with problems that matter to patients.

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