The cross-fertilization of ideas is right there. These breakthroughs do not come from one individual but groups of scientists.

I think programs like this really get the innovative juices going.

Discovery scientists are paid to be innovative. That's what we are here for: to come up with new ideas for better medicines and to come up with new ways of making medicines faster, more efficiently and more cost-effectively.

Because hackers are makers rather than scientists, the right place to look for metaphors is not in the sciences, but among other kinds of makers.

Some of the ideas here might not strike you as particularly Italian. And you'd be right. Remember, we are ... Italian-Americans. We live here, just like many of you, and we can't help but be swayed and inspired by homegrown practices.

Right now we really are in an extended brainstorm session. There are no bad ideas.