Human connections at the heart of innovation: The impact of GPS

From the first spark of scientific discovery to the moment a therapy changes a life, every link in the chain of innovation matters at Bristol Myers Squibb. The Global Product Development and Supply (GPS) team stands at the center of this journey, transforming breakthrough science into potentially life-changing therapies for patients worldwide.

Powering medicine delivery worldwide

GPS serves as the backbone of bringing new medicines from bench to bedside. With a network of manufacturing facilities strategically located across North America, Europe, and Asia, GPS oversees the complex path that begins in research labs and ends in hospitals and clinics. From handling raw materials to producing, testing, packaging, and distributing therapies, GPS ensures that every medicine meets rigorous quality, safety, and regulatory standards.

This work supports a diverse portfolio of innovative treatments, from cutting-edge cell therapies to potentially life-saving pharmaceuticals for patients with cancer, autoimmune conditions, and beyond.

Bringing science to life

Inside manufacturing facilities like the Summit West site, GPS team members handle patient materials — cells, tissues, and other critical components—with expert care and precision. Every vial and every cell processed is handled to meet the highest standards of quality and safety. For many employees, that impact often feels abstract—unless they have the rare opportunity to meet the very people whose lives are touched by their work.

When the journey becomes personal

That connection became real at Summit West this year, when the team met a fellow colleague whose own cells had been processed at their facility as part of manufacturing a cell therapy treatment. For many, it was the first time they saw the tangible, human outcome of their work — a colleague receiving a therapy they helped deliver.

Hearing a patient describe his journey — from the uncertainty of diagnosis to the hope sparked by innovative treatment — brought the team’s work sharply into focus. The gratitude expressed for their efforts resonated throughout the room, reminding every team member that their dedication makes a direct impact on individual lives.

“Our team understands that behind every vial, every procedure, is a person relying on us,” said Mark Piskadlo, vice president, Cell Therapy and Summit West campus leader. “Meeting a patient whose journey we supported brings an entirely new level of meaning to our work.”

The power of human connection

The encounter was more than a celebration of scientific achievement — it was a testament to the profound power of human connection and underscored GPS’s critical role in the company’s mission.

"It's that passion for patients that drives the team,” said Zechariah Pertuz, senior director, Manufacturing Shared Services. “The teams on the floor feel it, they understand it, and they believe in it.”

Transforming innovation into impact

Moments like this inspire the GPS team and remind them of the patients they are working for. “Everyone feels energized, excited, and more ambitious than ever to deliver on our mission,” said Piskadlo.

Every step of the GPS journey — from early scientific breakthroughs to therapies delivered worldwide — is guided by a single purpose: transforming patients’ lives through science. The personal connections forged at Summit West reveal the real-world impact of this work, showing team members that their dedication shapes not only the future of medicine but the future of patients themselves.

Looking ahead, the human-to-human connections made at facilities like Summit West will continue to fuel Bristol Myers Squibb’s mission and remain at the heart of every breakthrough.