Events
Dr Craig Johnstone, Chief Operation Officer at Evotec
- Venue: Zoom
- Start: Thu, 20 Jan 2022 15:00:00 GMT
- End: Thu, 20 Jan 2022 16:00:00 GMT
Abstract
Innovation is essential but unpredictable. It is an essential component of modern society; to solve problems, create new solutions and generate drivers of economic growth and advancement of human health. Innovation is unpredictable, because it involves doing something new, but it is not random. In this lecture, some of these established supporting elements and enabling factors will be described. Themes which will be elaborated include the nature, scale and impact of the innovation. Viewing innovation as a process enables the identification of necessary, tangible supporting elements such as access to resources and skills. In addition, the human elements of innovation demand an appreciation of diversity of ideas, acceptance of failure and understanding of incentives and reward systems. By understanding and addressing these supportive elements, it is possible to create an environment which consistently supports and fosters innovation and innovators.
Biography - Dr Craig Johnstone CChem FRSC
Craig was appointed Chief Operating Officer of Evotec in 2019 after joining the company in 2012 as Head of Innovation Efficiency. He served in various roles during that time, combining scientific drug discovery leadership with operational effectiveness improvements within Global Chemistry and Global Drug Discovery functions. He is based in Toulouse, France, where he is the Site Head of one of Evotec’s main integrated drug discovery sites, hosting 750 researchers.
Before joining Evotec, Craig worked at AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals between 1994 and 2011, where he worked in oncology, inflammation and cardiovascular/diabetes research programs as well as functional leadership roles. As a Project Leader for the glucokinase activator project, Craig led the team (including a certain Professor Waring!) which discovered the first AZ clinical candidates in the area, the most successful of which reached PhIIb. Around 2006, he became interested in the application of Lean Sigma to the drug discovery process. As a result, Craig became responsible for leading the deployment of LEAN in the CVGI Research area in the UK and in Sweden. This combination of operational excellence and extensive expertise in drug discovery is an unusual combination in the industry, but is probably a good combination for the COO role at Evotec.
Craig holds a PhD in organic chemistry from the University of Strathclyde, is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, and has published over 70 papers and patents in chemistry, drug discovery science and perspectives on improving drug discovery efficiency. In his spare time he likes to play golf (moderately well) and in pre pandemic times, to travel on vacation.
Please join us on Thursday 20th January 2022 at 15:00 GMT on Zoom: https://newcastleuniversity.zoom.us/j/87819458510
Meeting ID: 878 1945 8510
Passcode: 503768
Any queries, please contact: mosmed.cdt@newcastle.ac.uk
