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Sitting Down with Downstate Alums, Drs. Joe Ma and Sophie Su
Sitting Down with Downstate Alums, Drs. Joe Ma and Sophie Su
A Story of Discovery, Academia, Entrepreneurship, Philanthropy and The Vision Behind It
A Story of Discovery, Academia, Entrepreneurship, Philanthropy and The Vision Behind It
Dr. Joe Ma and Dr. Sophie Su first arrived in the United States to begin their doctoral programs in the School of Graduate Studies. Eager to take advantage of everything Downstate and New York City had to offer, Joe and Sophie flourished under the guidance of Dr. Mariano Esteban and the late Dr. Rostom Bablanian. Dr. Ma graduated with a PhD in Biochemistry in 1989, and his wife, Dr. Su, graduated with a PhD in Microbiology and Immunology in 1990. Shortly after graduating from Downstate, Joe and Sophie began their successful careers as scientist-entrepreneurs with their company focused on PCR technology in the San Francisco Bay Area. That experience led to their founding of biomedical diagnostics company MaximBio, which they now run with their children in Maryland. Joe and Sophie have never forgotten their time at Downstate and credit their education and experience here for setting them on the path to success in both science and business. Recently, the couple made a generous donation to the School of Graduate Studies in honor of Drs. Esteban and Bablanian to support graduate assistantships. Part of their gift will also go toward student awards at the 2023 Annual Research Day. We are so grateful to Joe and Sophie for giving back to an institution that continues to be near and dear to them. We asked them to share more about their journey together that led to their success in science and business and to their philanthropic support.
Dr. Joe Ma and Dr. Sophie Su first arrived in the United States to begin their doctoral programs in the School of Graduate Studies. Eager to take advantage of everything Downstate and New York City had to offer, Joe and Sophie flourished under the guidance of Dr. Mariano Esteban and the late Dr. Rostom Bablanian. Dr. Ma graduated with a PhD in Biochemistry in 1989, and his wife, Dr. Su, graduated with a PhD in Microbiology and Immunology in 1990. Shortly after graduating from Downstate, Joe and Sophie began their successful careers as scientist-entrepreneurs with their company focused on PCR technology in the San Francisco Bay Area. That experience led to their founding of biomedical diagnostics company MaximBio, which they now run with their children in Maryland. Joe and Sophie have never forgotten their time at Downstate and credit their education and experience here for setting them on the path to success in both science and business. Recently, the couple made a generous donation to the School of Graduate Studies in honor of Drs. Esteban and Bablanian to support graduate assistantships. Part of their gift will also go toward student awards at the 2023 Annual Research Day. We are so grateful to Joe and Sophie for giving back to an institution that continues to be near and dear to them. We asked them to share more about their journey together that led to their success in science and business and to their philanthropic support.
Where did you grow up, and why did you choose Downstate?
We were both born and raised in Taiwan. Being in our early 20s back in 1983, we dreamed of starting out our adult life together in the city that transcended all others. A post-graduate degree was special but a degree earned under the bright lights of a city as famous as New York City carried special meaning to us.
What was your experience at Downstate like? Are there any memorable classmates/classes and faculty who had a major impact on your education and career?
Never having traveled outside of Taiwan, it was an understatement to say our move to America was intimidating. Our English was passable at best and the extent of our knowledge of the culture only extended out to the many movies and records we consumed growing up. Stepping through the front doors for the first time of the administrative building was an overload of the senses. Everything from the architecture to the smell of the air felt different than what we were used to and hit us with an indescribable mixture of anxiety and excitement. If it were not for the rock star administrative team at Downstate, we may have stayed frozen at that front door indefinitely. They went above and beyond to not only help us with our transition and make us feel welcome, but they helped plug us into the community right away and made us feel like we were exactly where we needed to be.
Dr. Mariano Esteban and Dr. Rostom Bablanian are two faculty members that will forever be etched into our hearts. Right out of the gate, Dr. Esteban became a close mentor to Joe and showed him the meaning of having passion not only in the classroom but in the lab as well. It was Dr. Esteban’s tireless work ethic to improve his craft and infectious outlook on the research community that eventually led Joe to establish his own career aspirations.
Dr. Rostom Bablanian was the amazing professor who took Sophie under his wing. If not for Dr. Bablanian and his lab technician Sonny, Sophie may have been consumed by the rigors of her doctorate course load. They struck that perfect balance of knowing when to show Sophie unwavering care and when to push her to surpass what Sophie thought her own limits were.
What are some memories that stand out from your time in Brooklyn/New York City?
Over 30 years after graduating from Downstate, we still find ourselves making the drive up to NYC multiple times a year to fully immerse ourselves in that New York experience. We will forever remember feeling like a proud American after crossing the Brooklyn Bridge to catch our first Broadway Show in Times Square. Growing up, that seemed like an impossible dream and we still get chills thinking about it. So many wonderful times together just walking up and down the streets trying new restaurants from the world’s greatest melting pot.
"The skills and experience that we learned while at Downstate extended far past academia and deep into our lives and lessons we have passed down to our children"
Can you explain how you first became interested in exploring an education/career in science? Is there a specific moment you can trace this back to? Or a specific person who influenced you?
The educational system that we were raised in was very linear and straightforward. You have a sole goal to get admitted into a top university and you follow the straightest and most direct path to get there regardless of what your passion in academia may be.
We knew from a young age that we were drawn to medicine and the prolonging of the human lifespan. Where we grew up, the healthcare system had not yet evolved to what it is today and it was not uncommon to see healthy people succumb to easily preventable diseases.
After we felt we had gone as far as we could in Asia, America became an easy choice to advance our studies. For the first time in our lives, exploration and self-expression in our work was encouraged. One door led to another and soon enough, we were living out our passion in medical research, specifically biomedical diagnostics
Can you walk us through your scientific journey so far? How did Downstate influence where you are now?
After graduating from Downstate, Joe joined a small biotech company and Sophie went to UCSF as a post-doctoral fellow. Within three years following our graduation, we started our own biotech company, Maxim Biotech, which concentrated on PCR technology and development in the San Francisco Bay area. In 2005, we ventured in the world of biomedical diagnostics and created Maxim Biomedical (MaximBio), an IVD manufacturing company in Maryland.
The education and encouragement we received at Downstate served as the nourishment to our original passions in healthcare. Our professors and mentors served as the lightning rod to make us jump into our careers with both feet. We were given the tools and confidence, so we had no hesitation to follow our dreams. Fortune favors the bold.
Why did you focus on this field of science/business? Can you explain what you’re currently working on and what sparked your interest in this area?
We both grew up in different parts and circumstances in Taiwan where the medical field, especially medical research, was severely lacking back 1980s. Regardless of upbringing, it is common in the Chinese household to partake in Chinese medicine where a holistic approach is taken where the root cause of every issue must be addressed in the treatment of disease. With that mindset, in modern medicine, the root of the problem must always be identified to find the right treatment and we felt the advancement of biomedical diagnostics was the best way to aid in these efforts.
Recently, with the support from the Department of Defense (DoD) and National Institutes of Health (NIH), MaximBio received an Emergency Use Authorization for our MaximBio ClearDetect COVID-19 Antigen Home Test. Beyond the pandemic, we’re focused on the development of multiplex testing where a single test can identify multiple diseases at once. In doing so, we’ll be further along in our journey to simplify the identification of root causes so people everywhere can find the right cure.
Dr. Sophie Su
Tell us about your decision to establish your company and what that journey has been like. What kind of challenges did you encounter in your scientific and entrepreneurial careers and how did you manage to overcome them?
We value the power of knowledge. Just like in the lab, although the journey is often riddled with failures, it’s our successes that continue to drive us forward to develop new and innovative diagnostics. Challenges were aplenty. From lack of funding, contracts that fell through, to sleepless nights of failed experiments, it’s no wonder the failure rate of startup biomedical companies is as high as it is. Each challenge we faced was difficult to overcome. Much like our time at Downstate with our mentors, we were blessed with a loving network of support that continued to challenge and push us forward no matter how many more tries we had to try late in the night before finding success.
Why did you become interested in charitable giving? What kinds of organizations do you support with your philanthropy? What would you like to accomplish through your giving?
A famous Chinese proverb states: “Money is important, but money can’t do everything or provide all the happiness in your life.” Never once through the countless acts of generosity, friendship, and warmth that we received from our experience at Downstate were we ever asked for anything in return. More so than any amount of money can buy, we will forever have our cherished memories building a beautiful life together with our three kids and now one beautiful grandchild. Giving, not receiving, is the ultimate blessing. With our background in the study of medicine and the undying love we have for our younger generations, we are passionate about giving to organizations like St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Through our giving, we want to encourage individuals to invest in knowledge and research to help pave the way for the younger generations to have a better life for the future.
Dr. Joe Ma
What inspired you to give back to Downstate?
We truly feel our time at Downstate has become a defining part of who we are. It’s part of our life’s foundation and perhaps the biggest building block that helped us achieve our dreams. We were terrified but bright-eyed immigrants with dreams of changing the world when we arrived in the states. Our career accomplishments would not have been possible without Downstate. We want to continue to help nourish this incredible environment and continue to help others like ourselves realize their potential.
What advice do you have for students who want to start their own businesses using their scientific backgrounds?
Network and get to know your peers. You’ll find opportunity and help in the most unexpected places. The connections you build are going to be pivotal when you inevitably get stumped with a problem. Proper networking is the best way to not only get to know the industry, but find opportunities that you may not have even considered but would be excellent at.
"We value the power of knowledge. Just like in the lab, although the journey is often riddled with failures, it’s our successes that continue to drive us forward to develop new and innovative diagnostics"
Is there any advice you would give to future graduate students at Downstate?
Enjoy your time as a graduate student. Studies are important, but don’t forget to enjoy life and being young! We remember thinking the studies were so overwhelming and life could not be more difficult, but we now find ourselves missing those days tremendously. Network with your peers like your life depended on it! There are so many bright minds at Downstate that will bring out the best in you
What kind of hobbies / interests do you have outside of your research? What do you like to do in your spare time?
Science never sleeps and we love what we do so, much to the chagrin of our kids at times, we find ourselves indulging in research at our lab on weekends. Outside of work, we spend a ton of time with our beloved granddaughter and our Siberian husky Loki. We are both foodies and cinephiles as well so dinner and a movie is a common thing in our household.
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