Associates -
[Cached Version]
Published on: 10/23/2001
Last Visited: 6/20/2008
Thomas R. Flanagan, BSc, MSc, Ph.D., M.B.A., Associate
...
Also at the front end of his science career, Tom happened to become exposed to neuroanatomy - through undergraduate research in cellular organization of the brains of sharks.Here again networks of systems coordinated internal responses to a cascade of internal and external stimuli.Here also there appeared to be a language of chemical transducers that carried the messages through circuits and endocrine loops throughout the body.
Tom was drawn toward a deeper understanding of the vocabulary and syntax of this biological language, and began graduate work in neuroendocrinology.He focused his Masters Degree work on the regulation of physiological reflexes in model animal systems (i.e. the biology and behavior of mosquitoes).This led Tom to a deeper appreciation of cellular communication processes in the context of the natural behaviors of animals.
Tom linked his interests in cellular communication systems with an emerging field of "biological control" in agricultural biology -- the use of natural products that mimic insect hormones.And this pointed towards broader and more comples contextual relationships of organisms within evolving environments.
Tom's continued interests in control mechanisms in living systems led to doctoral studies on positive neuromodulatory control over a post-feeding, diuretic reflex, and subsequently lead to post-doctoral studies in molecular neurobiology and drug discovery work.
Current FocusTom's interests in evolving control mechanisms in living systems eventually carried him from discovery research into development research, where he led team efforts in neurological product development and infectious diseases diagnostics.His work within the healthcare arena drew Tom out of the realm of biology and back into the broader world of environmental and sociological realities.
A career in research and product development teaches many leassons.One such lesson is that shifting frames for creating an understanding about the important aspects of any one problem lead to differening views on preferred courses of action.Through his experiences, Tom now believes that all "small understandings" need to be contained within a "broad understanding" - and that "broad understandings" are frequently too complex for any one individual to genuinely expect to claim mastery over.Continued progress in technological product development will need collaborative efforts reaching across disciplines, institutions, and cultures.Bridging the essential combination of technical expertise will require the capacity to build shared understandings across disciplines.In Tom's efforts to capture this capacity to build more broadly shared understandings, Tom left a senior R&D position from within a biotechnology firm and re-engineered his scientific career through an MBA program in the Management of Technology Program at the Sloan School of Management at MIT.
On the otherside of his MBA, Tom co-founded a biomedical diagnostic product company based in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and applied his experience to manage US operations for this virtual organization through its first two product launches (a diagnostic test system for primary care, and a medical decision support software product for skin diseases).In this business operation, Tom initally contracted CWA for help in assessing a collaborative product development opportunity.When Tom's firm hired a seasoned professional to take over the reins for managing the US Operations of Tom's company, Tom then decided to join CWA -- initially as Program Manager for CWA's work with the World Health Organization / SmithKline Beecham.
As an associate of the CWA Northeast Office, Tom completes a personal odyssey through his exploration of a range of content sciences.He currently also holds a senior staff position as Program Manager for Small Business Innovative Research Support Services through the Massachusetts Strategic Envirotechnology Partnership (www.STEPsite.org) from within the Environmental Business and Technology Center at UMASS Boston (www.mgmt.umb.edu/centers/EBTC/index.html).Tom tells us that the STEP program is the Commonwealth of Massachusetts virtual incubator for business missions that seek to introduce innovative environmentally preferred products and services into the Massachusetts economy.His primary role is to design and manage supply & distribution chain roundtables with the goal of helping product innovators shape their commericalization strategies and forge commercial partnerships.
Send mail to webmaster@CWAltd.com with questions or comments about this web site.
5 online sources [ view sources ]
Profile is not claimed [ this is me ]
