At Millbrook, Alex Chalk ’16 had a diverse number of interests. From biology to photography to theater, Alex did it all. In terms of after-school activities, he participated in cross-country—and yes, he was a zooie! Alex loves science and credits Millbrook for allowing him to pursue that passion.

He mentioned that, “One of the best academic strengths of Millbrook is biology, because you’ve got the zoo, the woods, and the marsh. I feel like the biology classes were just naturally really, really good.”

The resources Millbrook has are extraordinary and certainly beneficial for fostering a love of science. Alex reflects that: “To this day, I remember looking down the microscope at marsh water and seeing the little copepod swimming with its babies on its back… that was very eye-opening for me.”

After Millbrook, Alex attended Hamilton College, where he was drawn to the school’s open curriculum. During college, he debated whether he wanted to study film or pursue his love of science. He chose science. With his interest in microbiology and genetics, Alex decided to study gene editing.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Alex worked in New York City, teaching after school programs to high school students. During this time, he was looking for direction with what he should pursue. He began to think about gene editing and the importance of it in the future of solving diseases such as cancer. “With a gene editing tool, you can go in and change the actual genetic DNA level of what the cells do, which is really exciting but raises many ethical and practical safety questions.”

Gene editing does have moral implications because tools such as CRISPR-Cas9 often make mistakes within the genetic code, causing diseases or harmful genetic mutations. Alex chooses to grapple with those ethical concerns by knowing that he wants to help create the most effective tools for tracking gene editing outcomes.

After his time in New York, Alex returned to school to get his master’s degree at University College London (UCL), which has a fantastic gene editing program affiliated with the Great Ormond Street Hospital, a highly regarded pediatric medical institution known for helping to solve rare genetic diseases. Alex spent a few years working in UCL after he completed his degree. Now, he is a PhD student at Cambridge University studying gene editing. What is unique about the degree is that Alex is spending half of his time working at AstraZeneca, a global pharmaceutical company, helping them to develop their own gene therapies.

Alex recently published a paper that introduces a new method of assessing gene editing to offer a clearer picture of the gene therapy’s outcome, detailing where the editing occurs, where unintended editing takes place, and the evolution of the changes as science progresses. Alex also believes strongly in communication. He says that the best way to demonstrate your knowledge is by speaking clearly. He notes that in academia, “There is a weird culture… of forgetting that not everyone in the room knows what you’re talking about.”

In the next 5-10 years, Alex predicts gene editing will become a more common form of medical treatment. For example, CAR-T therapies for cancer have seen real momentum, meaning traditional chemotherapy will not be the only option for patients. Alex’s overall advice to Millbrook students is, “If you’re motivated by enthusiasm for a subject, not simply your grade, things become so easy.”

Alex Chalk is a scientist who will continue to develop powerful gene therapies that will change lives. Millbrook is proud to call him an alum and is excited for his future endeavors.