YOU CAN BE AN ENTREPRENEUR In July 2017 21-year-old entrepreneur that idea into a business to supply those goods or services Start-ups are brand-new businesses created by entrepreneurs Entrepreneurs Changing the World The medical field is evolving at a fast pace New technologies are changing the way doctors treat disease and are making life easier for people They are also increasing the number of people who survive illness and injury But doctors and scientists are also facing challenges such as how to shorten recovery time or make someone’s life as comfortable as possible Many bright young engineers are meeting these challenges by using their science and technology skills to think creatively solve problems and work together Easton LaChappelle displays one of the prosthetic arms he printed using a 3-D printer a cheaper way to make prosthetics Easton LaChappelle printed a prosthetic arm on a 3-D printer He presented the arm to a girl named Momo Sutton whose right arm ended below the elbow LaChappelle had been designing prosthetic arms since he was 14 He wanted to change the industry by developing an inexpensive prosthetic body part Creating Sutton’s arm was the fulfillment of his dream His achievement shows how young entrepreneurs use science and technology to develop businesses that can change the world Entrepreneurs and Start-Ups An entrepreneur is someone who plans starts and runs a new business that provides goods or services Entrepreneurs are people who have an original or innovative idea then turn 4
Entrepreneurs of the Future Entrepreneurs such as LaChappelle and Emil von Behring see below continue to change the world by bringing innovative and important medical products and services to people around the world You can join them by developing your abilities to think critically solve problems be creative and work with others These skills will help prepare you for the future no matter what job you choose You can be a medical entrepreneur too Start now by taking courses in science technology and mathematics INSPIRING STORIES Early Thinkers Emil von Behring was a doctor who developed the first effective immunization against a disease called diphtheria Von Behring used blood from infected sheep and horses to develop a serum or liquid to cure diphtheria After experimenting on animals von Behring treated a child in 1891 He then teamed up with the Hoechst pharmaceutical company to produce and sell the serum By 1913 von Behring had developed a vaccine against diphtheria Emil von Behring was born in Prussia now part of Poland in 1854 Today most children are vaccinated against diphtheria which saves many lives 5
SEARCHING FOR A CURE According to the World Health Organization WHO cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide In 2017 in the United States there were an estimated 1,688,780 new cases of cancer Many companies work to create and sell treatments for cancer Finding a Cure Much of that work is done by science entrepreneurs working for enormous companies that make and sell drugs The cost is high It can cost 4 2 billion or more to invent develop and test a new cancer drug This is far too much for most start-up companies to afford Researchers are working on ways to program the body’s natural immune system to attack and kill cancerous tumor cells Many treatment advances have been made by international teams of researchers In 2016 cancer immunotherapy became available to people This uses a patient’s own white blood cells to help combat their cancer White blood cells include types of cells called T-cells These cells fight off disease Researchers continue to work on ways to remove these T-cells and reprogram or change them to attack and kill cancerous tumor cells These new T-cells could kill existing cancer cells and stop them from returning 6
Exciting Start-Ups Some successful cancer start-ups focus on helping prevent cancer Other companies create products that can assist people who are dealing with the side effects of cancer treatment In 2012 entrepreneur Lara Little watched her sister suffer night sweats as a result of her breast cancer treatments The problem gave Lara an idea Top athletes wear outfits made from material that wicks or takes away sweat Why not develop a line of fashionable pajamas made from the same material Little contacted a textile mill in Asia to develop the fabric she needed and found a factory to manufacture the pajamas She also hired someone to help her perfect the design making them attractive and comfortable The result is Lusomé a business that tripled its 2015 sales in 2016 and expects to do the same in 2017 We are headed to a 200-million company Little says INSPIRING STORIES Safer Swimming California actress and entrepreneur Sarah Buxton used science and technology skills to develop tutublue a full-body swimsuit This colorful bathing wear is made from material that protects the wearer from the Sun’s damaging rays which can cause skin cancer The start-up’s designs were featured in a February 2016 episode of the television program Shark Tank Since the episode many people have bought Buxton’s swimsuits Sarah Buxton’s designs not only look great but they also block the damaging rays of the Sun 7
