So You Want To Get Lucky?

By Rob Wright, Chief Editor, Life Science Leader
Follow Me On Twitter @RfwrightLSL

By Rob Wright

A little more than 20 years ago, 12 male volunteers were reporting the effects of a new potential angina drug to a Pfizer clinical research associate. One of the men reported an unusual finding – sustained and frequent erections. But this proved to break the ice as the others also were in agreement. The clinician explained the unexpected finding to Dr. David Brown, a Pfizer research chemist. Of course you know the rest of the story – a $30 billion blockbuster known as Viagra. But do you really know the rest of the story? Probably not, because the case of Viagra is not only a clear cut example of being in the right place at the right time, but also serves to demonstrate the value of serendipity.

Serendipity Or Luck?
The word serendipity is defined as the faculty or phenomenon of finding valuable or agreeable things not sought after. Some might refer to this as luck. There are numerous stories of scientific discovery occurring with lucky coincidences. Serendipity and good fortune are often cited as key factors in making scientific innovations. But it takes more than being in the right place at the right time to make a serendipitous discovery. It takes background knowledge, an inquisitive mind, creative thinking, the right tools, good timing, and plenty of elbow grease. One of my favorite sayings is: Serendipity rewards a well-prepared mind, because it takes a well-prepared mind to recognize a true breakthrough. In the case of Viagara, several years previous, Dr. Brown had tried and failed to get Pfizer to back a research project to help men suffering from erectile dysfunction (ED). His initial approach was to suggest a drug that acted directly on the brain to promote sexual arousal. This was considered to be too dangerous. However, the point is that he already had been exposed and studied the concept. In addition, Brown had the benefit of working in an office he would probably describe as being old, dilapidated, and cramped. But being crammed into a small space provided for a unique benefit — frequent, unplanned meetings between colleagues, exchanging information on projects on which they were working. As it turns out, it was a corridor conversation where Brown learned about a new scientific discovery of the biochemical role of a gas called nitric oxide, and its ability to dilate the blood vessel in the corpus cavernosum — the blood vessel in the penis that opens up during an erection. Having this information allowed for Brown and colleagues to put two and two together when they heard about the unexpected side effect. Somehow, the rundown R&D building in which Brown worked, though not intentionally designed to promote frequent interactions, seemed to coincide with a time of some of Pfizer’s greatest innovations. Other companies have taken note of this phenomenon, creating new workspaces that promote chaos and serendipitous meetings, such as Apple’s new corporate headquarters. The idea put a little science behind office space to improve your chances of getting lucky.

Put A Little Science Behind Serendipity
The character of creative work requires an environment that enables participation and collaboration. The thought of designing an office with the intent of creating chaos and serendipity might make people feel a bit uneasy. It is very evident that people have a knack for resisting change. However, embracing the concept of designing office space to enable chaos, might not only lead to the next Viagra, but perhaps, a Nobel Prize. For example, Leon Heppel, a researcher at the U.S. National Institute of Health, had a rather messy desk. It is reported that his desk would get so messy, that he would occasionally lay a sheet of brown paper on top of the mess in order to be able to continue working. One day, Heppel was rifling through some papers on the upper and lower levels of his desk. He came across letters from two totally unconnected researchers – David Lipkin and Earl Sutherland. Heppel, seeing a potential connection, put the two in touch with each other, the outcome of which eventually led to a Sutherland’s Nobel Prize winning discovery of how hormones regulate cells. I wonder had the papers been filed in a conventional filing system if the connection would have been as likely to occur.

If you want to promote a little serendipity in your office, hire people who are naturally inquisitive, promote an environment in support of creative thinking, provide your staff with the right tools, and avoid the temptation to micromanage the process. By putting a little science behind serendipity, perhaps you can increase your odds of being lucky.