Registration
Please register in advance via Eventbrite. Attendance is free – all welcome, including Imperial alumni, school students, the general public, and staff and students of Imperial and other universities.
Programme
Refreshments will be available from 16.45 on the level 2 concourse of the City and Guilds building (South Kensington Campus). A free cloakroom will be available for attendees to use.
- 16:45-17.30 arrival and refreshments
- 17.30-18.30 Annual Lecture: Tony Wood (SVP, GSK)
- 18.30 drinks reception
Abstract
Drug discovery and development has changed over the past decade. Higher expectations from patients and payers that medicines are differentiated, accessible and convenient to use place greater challenges on the science and technology of this endeavour. We are moving away from traditional approaches to more complex modalities and formulations to achieve these goals. Technological innovation is a key enabler. This presentation will discuss GSK’s R&D approach in technology. From genetics to manufacturing, the explosion and accessibility of data is set to change the way we work. Starting with the patient, and using population based genome data, we will apply new data analytics like deep learning to improve our choice of targets and pathways. Functional genomics which couples gene variant/disease associations with technological advances to reveal the biological consequence of genetic variation promises to provide a tractable route to new therapies. However, scientific and technological challenges remain. Whether this path takes us to developing a small molecule, biopharmaceutical or cell and gene therapy as the final product, the technologies we are using will determine success.
Biography
Tony Wood, SVP, Medicinal Science & Technology, joined GSK in October 2017. He is a member of the R&D Leadership Team, reporting to Hal Barron, President, R&D.
Tony was previously head of Worldwide Research & Development’s Medicinal Sciences at Pfizer, and prior to that held roles of increasing seniority in chemistry and medicinal sciences across a range of therapy areas. Tony played a leading role in the discovery of Maraviroc, a CCR5 antagonist for the treatment of HIV, and in recognition was awarded the RSC Malcolm Campbell Prize in 2005. He was also co-recipient of the ACS Heroes of Chemistry Prize, the Prix Galien USA and Scrip Awards in 2008, and the PhRMA Discoverers Award in 2010. In 2018 he was elected as a Fellow of the Academy of Medical sciences.
Tony is a named author and inventor on more than 50 publications and patents, and has represented the pharma view on UK funding council review boards, such as EPSRC and BBSRC.
Tony received his BSc and PhD in chemistry from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, before completing post-doctoral studies with Professor Steven Ley, FRS at Imperial College in London. He continues to be a Visiting Professor at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne.
About IMSE
The Institute for Molecular Science and Engineering (IMSE) is one of Imperial College London’s Global Institutes, drawing on the strength of its four faculties to address some of the grand challenges facing the world today. The Institute’s activities are focused on tackling problems where molecular innovation plays an important role.
The Highlight Seminar Series brings eminent speakers from across the globe to Imperial to increase awareness of areas where molecular science and engineering can make a valuable contribution and to promote exchanges with academic and industrial centres of excellence.