Alums Share Their Journey of Discovery, Academia, Entrepreneurship, and Philanthropy
By Office of the President | Apr 17, 2023
I am grateful for the gifts of two incredible and generous alums, Drs. Joe Ma and Sophie Su. They arrived in the United States to complete doctoral programs at our School of
Graduate Studies. Dr. Ma graduated with a Ph.D. in Biochemistry in 1989, and Dr. Su
graduated with a Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology in 1990.
Joe and Sophie were drawn to medicine and prolonging the human lifespan. Because the healthcare system in Taiwan had not yet evolved to what it is today, it was not uncommon to see healthy people succumb to preventable diseases. The United States was an easy choice in their collective journey.
While at Downstate, Joe and Sophie benefitted from friendships, mentoring, and guidance from two faculty members for whom they are forever grateful. Mariano Esteban Rodriguez, Ph.D., was a close mentor, igniting Joe’s passion for classroom learning and the lab, influencing his work ethic to improve his craft and outlook on the research community. Rostom Bablanian, Ph.D., and his lab technician, Sonny, took Sophie under their wings during the rigors of her doctorate course load, striking the perfect balance of knowing when to show her unwavering care or push her to the next level.
After graduating from Downstate, Joe joined a small biotech company while Sophie went on to the University of California San Francisco as a post-doctoral fellow. Within three years, they started a biotech company, Maxim Biotech, concentrating on PCR technology and development in the San Francisco Bay area.
Recently, with support from the Department of Defense (DoD) and National Institutes of Health (NIH), MaximBio received an Emergency Use Authorization for their MaximBio ClearDetect COVID-19 Antigen Home Test. Joe and Sophie are now focused on developing multiplex testing, where a single test can identify multiple diseases at once, furthering efforts to simplify the identification of root causes so people everywhere can find the right cure.
Their generous donation to the School of Graduate Studies will support graduate assistantships. Part of the gift will also support student awards at the 2023 Annual Research Day. The gift was made in honor of their mentors, Drs. Esteban and Bablanian.
They were inspired to give back to Downstate as the University was a defining part of their foundation and the most significant building block that helped them achieve their dreams. They describe themselves as “terrified but bright-eyed immigrants with dreams of changing the world when we arrived in the States.” With gratitude to Downstate, they want to nourish this incredible environment and help others realize their potential.
Joe and Sophie have never forgotten their time at Downstate and in New York City. They often visit the City for a “New York experience.” They recall being proud Americans crossing the Brooklyn Bridge for the first time or catching their first Broadway Show in Times Square.
Today, they, along with their children run Maryland-based biomedical diagnostics company MaximBio.
Read the entire profile in Research Pulse
Tags: Alumni