By Lixia Yao
January 17, 2023. I remember it like it was yesterday.
I was sitting at my kitchen table, laptop open, staring at a calendar that was completely blank. Just one day earlier, I had walked away from my job at Merck—trading the comfort of a well-established career for the uncertainty of building something entirely new: Polygon Health Analytics.
My heart raced. My palms were sweaty. And honestly? I wasn’t sure if I was making the bravest decision of my life… or the dumbest.
But I knew one thing: I couldn’t ignore the itch—the belief that real-world data, thoughtfully curated and intelligently analyzed, could transform patient outcomes, accelerate biomedical research, and make healthcare more affordable.
Three years later, I can confidently say: it was worth it.
The Journey So Far
The path hasn’t been straight—entrepreneurship rarely is. The early days were slow, quiet, even lonely. Then, partnerships, projects, and people began to arrive.
We’ve grown from a single founder with a vision to a nimble, passionate team turning complex health data into actionable insights. Along the way, we’ve hit milestones that make me proud:
- Two NIH SBIR awards, including an NCI contract that earned “exceptional” reviews. Our project, From PDF to Precision Medicine: MAGIC Automates Pathology Report Curation and Links to Genomic Data for Squamous Cell Carcinoma Research, was even selected for an oral presentation at the 2026 USCAP Annual Meeting.
- Six private clients across biopharma and life sciences, supporting 15 studies that contributed to 10 peer-reviewed publications and 11 conference presentations. Every dataset we’ve touched has helped move science—and patients—forward.
- LaunchPad Program: A bridge for students to transition from school to industry. We partnered with Boston University and UIUC, and welcomed two brilliant, mission-driven team members. Now we have a sustainable talent pipeline.
- Strategic expansion into social media listening and vaccine business intelligence, because patient experience and unmet needs often surface online. Infectious diseases and vaccines are shaped by epidemiology and policy—our free solution helps biotechs, startups, and vaccine manufacturers stay informed.
- Collaborations with incredible institutions: Temple University, University of Florida, Indiana University, Mayo Clinic, University of Michigan, University of Arizona, DSFederal, and DuBU Research—partners who trusted us early and continue to push boundaries with us.
Personal Reflections
This journey has transformed me, too.
When I started Polygon, I was running on caffeine. Today? I’m running—literally. I signed up for a gym membership, started eating healthy, lost 18 “COVID pounds,” and found a better rhythm. Turns out, building a company that champions health starts with taking care of your own.
I’ve also grown in ways I never imagined in a large organization. I’ve pitched to skeptical investors, written marketing emails (and deleted them ten times), hired our first employee, and learned to sit with uncertainty without unraveling. Leadership isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about asking the right questions, building the right team, and showing up—even when you’re scared.
Of course, it hasn’t all been smooth sailing.
Early on, I bet on vaccines based on prior experience, only to face unprecedented anti-vaccine sentiment and political headwinds that disrupted SBIR funding. These were hurdles I never anticipated. But those challenges taught me resilience—and reinforced why this work matters more than ever.
Looking Ahead
I’m more convinced than ever that artificial intelligence can transform healthcare—but only if it’s powered by high-quality data. At Polygon Health Analytics, we remain committed to pushing boundaries—turning messy data into insights that improve patient outcomes and advance innovation.
To our clients who took a chance on us, our academic and industry partners who collaborate with generosity, and our incredible team who show up with curiosity and grit every single day: thank you. These past three years belong to all of us.
Here’s to the next chapter—full of messy data, bold questions, and even bolder solutions.
P.S. If you’ve ever dreamed of leaving the lab (or the corporate ladder) to build something of your own, join me at my upcoming workshop:
From Scientist to Entrepreneur
🗓️ 2-5pm, March 20, 2026 (Friday)
📍 SAPA-GP Annual Conference, Sheraton Hotel, King of Prussia, PA
We’ve gathered an inspiring group of founders—Paul Lake, Andrew Tsourka, Bo Liang, and Song Li—who’ve walked this path. Come hear their stories, ask the hard questions, and maybe, just maybe, find the courage to start your own.
See you there—and thank you, again, for being part of ours.
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