Teeru Bihani Cancer’sWorst Enemy:

BY ISABEL POWELL

Teeru Bihani, Vice President at Nuvation Biology, is a comedic, passionate, ambitious, and empathetic cancer drug developer, with an unbelievable talent for jewelry making. When she’s not designing and crafting beautiful necklaces or earrings, Bihani works in translational medicine, right at the intersection of preclinical and clinical research This area of research identifies recent biological discoveries and investigates applications in treating human disease Bihani specifically researches the molecular drivers of disease and uses these findings to both inform oncology drug development and reduce the risk factors involved.

Bihani was driven to oncology research and drug development at an early age. As soon as she learned of the word “ cancer ” and saw how it affected the lives of those close to her, she was driven to fight it, referring to her work as “the biggest honor and passion of [her] life ” Cancer and chemotherapy treatments can be both physically and emotionally challenging for patients, and Bihani works to build new treatment options that allow patients to have a better quality of life. Her most recent project, the development of a breast cancer drug, has demonstrated positive results in trials and is currently under review by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Reaching this professional stage, a stage in which Bihani can feel the impact her work might have on breast cancer patients, was worth all of the hard work and difficulties along the way.

Throughout her journey, Bihani was no stranger to feelings of imposter syndrome She rose quickly in the biotechnology industry, leaving her occasionally feeling unqualified or undeserving of her progress; however, she was not alone in these feelings – many female figures in positions similar to hers experienced similar feelings of inadequacy or uncertainty. Bihani attributes these nearly universal feelings to psychological tendencies: we often fixate on the small number of skills we don’t have or facts we don’t know, rather than admiring the high quantity and quality of skills and knowledge we do have. By reminding ourselves of our talents and self-worth, along with our consistent ability to learn and grow, Bihani believes anyone can overcome imposter syndrome and other anxieties: “There will always be things I do not know or more years of experience that I do not yet have, but I have to remember that this doesn’t make me an imposter. It makes me a forever student, ready, willing, and able to learn There is a difference between not knowing something and not being able to know something ”

Even prior to entering the biotechnology industry, Bihani faced similar difficulties. Similar to many students, Bihani found undergraduate and graduate education in a STEM field to be overwhelming and intellectually challenging. Reminding herself of her purpose and personal dedication to the field helped to push Bihani through her challenges She advises students to “remember that it is okay to take a break when things are tough. Sometimes stepping back, refreshing, and recharging can help you more in the long run than going full speed with no breaks. Taking time can often save you time.” Additionally, turning to a mentor or a trusted colleague can make a huge difference. In Bihani’s case, her principal investigator (PI) in graduate school served as a mentor for her, helping to build up her confidence while supporting her journey of becoming a research scientist A successful mentor will “foster your career, understand your aspirations and help support getting you there.”

In the midst of her professional development, Bihani turns to creative outlets as well. Growing up, Bihani was only allowed to watch television if she was doing something productive, so she helped her mother make jewelry for her store. Years later, Bihani transformed this skill into a side hustle, teaching evening jewelry classes and selling her artwork at craft fairs She now donates a portion of her proceeds to a different cancer organization each month Bihani’s passion for supporting cancer patients is present in all aspects of her life. Check out her amazing jewelry here:

A vibrant combination of creativity, strength, and determination, Bihani demonstrates the true power of hard work and resilience. She reminds us to accept every part of ourselves, from our proudest achievements to our most pervasive doubts. Only by acknowledging our weaknesses and believing in our strengths can we expect to grow and change the world for the better.