Dylan Neel AB '15 MD '20 PhD '24 MPhil
What drew you to medicine and / or science (neurobiology, specifically)? Was it always your goal to become a doctor or scientist, or did you have other interests entering college and later shifted your plans? If you did change your plans, what made you want to change?
I’ve always been interested in science. When I was about 13, I did a 4-week summer science camp at Brown University, which is very close to my home in Providence, RI. They taught us basic stuff—how to balance a centrifuge, how to pipette, and ultimately how to “shock” bacteria (using heat and electricity) into taking up pieces of DNA that would turn them green.
I liked being in the lab. I was really fascinated by this mix of “high-tech” with the somewhat casual and laid-back nature of the grad students and professors I met: stacks of old research papers, empty coffee mugs, faded posters of esoteric signaling pathways were next to complex and priceless machines. I also loved the textbooks and papers I was exposed to during this summer—though there were lots I didn’t understand.
In my sophomore year at Harvard College, I took an introductory neuroscience course by Jeff Lichtman and Joshua Sanes (MCB 80). After starting this course, I switched my “concentration” from molecular biology to neurobiology. It seemed like there were many more unanswered questions in neuroscience and neurobiology—plus, the brain is just fascinating. We have learned so much about how the brain works from unfortunate “human experiments” – patients who have damaged a particular system or suffer from neurodegenerative disease. Phineas Gage and H.M. are two famous examples, and excellent work from the late and great neurologist Oliver Sacks highlights many other such examples.
My experience in MCB 80 led me to shadow some neurologists at the MGH, and I discovered that I liked meeting patients and thinking about disease in a way that could have an immediate impact on someone’s life. Because I liked thinking about science and also thought I might enjoy seeing patients, I decided to pursue an MD-PhD training path.
What were your most memorable experiences (academic or non-academic) at Harvard College, and what were your greatest takeaways from your college experience?
I made many of my best friends at Harvard College. It is a truly special time where you are constantly surrounded by close friends. My twin brother (Seth Neel, now an Assistant Professor at Harvard Business School) also went to Harvard College, and we had a lot of fun. Looking back, I mostly remember the fun times and late nights with friends.
Why did you choose to pursue an M. Phil. in pharmacology from the University of Cambridge?
Growing up in Providence and then going to school in Boston, I realized I wanted a “different” experience before the 8-9 year MSTP program at Harvard Medical School. Somewhat last-minute, I applied for the Herchel-Smith Fellowship, which funds a year of postgraduate study at the University of Cambridge. I was accepted and lived in Emmanuel College for ~11 months.
It was one of the best years of my life—I played a lot of tennis, traveled around the UK and Europe, and made several close friends who now live in London. I also have family in London and Cambridge, so it was great to see them during that time. In fact, I am planning to travel to the UK this fall to see my family and friends I made in Cambridge.
As an added bonus, I learned enough pharmacology and stats at Cambridge to be very comfortable in the courses I took as a first-year medical student in the HST program at HMS.
Why did you choose to pursue an MD PhD, and how do you hope to spend your clinical vs research time (vs other commitments) in the future?
Being a physician-scientist is a true privilege. Very few individuals get to see patients as well as study fascinating basic science or translational problems in the laboratory. You get to have an immediate impact by seeing patients, and you can also think about what the future of science or medical care will look like. This combination of having both an immediate and long-term impact is what attracts many to this career path.
However, like most great things, there is a price to pay. The training path is long. Before you can be an attending physician with your own lab, there are 8-9 years of the MD-PhD, followed by 4-7 of residency and usually 1-3 years as an Instructor or post-doctoral fellow. Further, jumping between science and medicine is never easy. I am now heading back into the clinic after 4 years of PhD training—I have forgotten quite a bit and the learning curve will be steep. If you hate the feeling of “being behind” or playing catchup, MD-PhD is not for you!
What specialty do you hope to pursue, and why?
I am still considering many options for my clinical specialty. I loved my neurology rotation at the MGH as a medical student but am trying to keep my mind totally open at the moment. Ask me again in 1 year!
What brought you to immunology / the Chiu Lab? How has your strong background in research prepared you for the MD / PhD experience (and for your future career)?
In the last decade, the advances in immunology have been astounding to witness. We now understand a lot more about how both the innate and adaptive immune systems work on a molecular and physiologic level. Many of these discoveries have been made at Harvard, particularly with respect to cancer immunotherapy. Several cell and biologic therapies have been developed that translate this basic knowledge-- we are also seeing an explosion in early-stage biotech companies trying to modulate human immunology. It is quite exciting.
There is a growing field of “neuro-immunology” which tries to map the crosstalk between neurons and immune cells. For example, the Isaac Chiu lab (where I am a graduate student) has found that sensory neurons innervating the skin and lung can release a neuropeptide called CGRP to affect the function of neutrophils, a type of white blood cell. This interaction has profound implications during infection with pathogens like Strep pyogenes and Staph aureus. In the Chiu lab, I am focused on mapping how neuro-immune signaling pathways contribute to the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative conditions like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Our work will hopefully be published soon—so stay tuned!
What is your biggest piece of advice for undergraduates who are considering a medical career and / or those who are further along in their journey?
If you are considering a career in medicine, take the time to see some patients—even as an undergraduate. Medical school and residency can be long and arduous, so it is worth really reflecting on whether clinical medicine is a good fit for you. If you do decide you can live without seeing patients, there are lots of other exciting things (research, biotech, healthcare investing/consulting) that can contribute to advancing human health.
Perhaps it goes without saying, but job stability and income are not good standalone reasons to go into medicine.
Do you have anything else to add?
Mentorship is very important. Talking to lots of people can be helpful in understanding which career path may be a good fit. Subscribing to newsletters like the HAIH is a great start—but reaching out to interesting folks directly can be even more helpful. I met many of my mentors by way of a “cold email.” Especially at big places like Harvard, you often need to be proactive in seeking out and retaining mentors.
Dylan Neel
AB 2015 | Neurobiology
MD 2020
PhD 2024
MPhil University of Cambridge as a Herchel Smith Fellow
Interviewed and Compiled by Felicia Ho