I lead Oncology R&D and am responsible for our Oncology portfolio from discovery through to late-stage development.
I have over 20 years’ experience in drug discovery and development with a background as a Clinical Oncologist. I trained in medicine at Manchester and Cambridge Universities, was admitted to the Royal College of Physicians in 1992, and then trained in Clinical Oncology in London. I gained a Fellowship of the Royal College of Radiologists in 1997 and completed a PhD at the University of London involving translational work on a vascular-targeting agent. In 2017, I was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Medical Science from the Institute of Cancer Research, and in 2018 I was admitted to the Fellowship of the Academy of Medical Sciences.
I moved from medicine to industry in 2001, to Bristol-Myers Squibb where I held increasing levels of responsibility becoming Vice President for the Clinical Discovery Oncology & Immunology and Clinical Biomarkers groups.
I joined AstraZeneca in 2010 as Head of Oncology in the IMED Biotech Unit and subsequently as Senior Vice President of Early Oncology R&D before taking up my current position leading Oncology R&D in 2022. Since joining the company, I have played a part in bringing seven new medicines to patients in many countries around the world.
A critical focus for me in the drug development process is on ensuring quality target selection and engagement and selecting the right patients for treatment. This has led to the successful development of several novel treatments and I am proud to have played a part in their development, together with a great team at AstraZeneca. I am also passionate about developing the next generation of scientists and on improving diversity via personal mentorship.
In addition to my role at AstraZeneca, I co-lead the Cambridge Cancer Centre Onco-Innovation group, connecting Cambridge scientists to the biotech and pharmaceutical companies in the region; I am the current Chair of the Board at Definiens AG, a Non-Executive on the Board of Horizon Discovery PLC, and on the Scientific Advisory Board of the ICR Cancer Research Centre of Excellence; and I serve on the AACR Finance Committee and the AACR Annual Meeting Scientific Program Committee.
