Events
MoSMed Research Seminar: Dr James Douglas & Dr Thomas McGuire (AstraZeneca)
- Venue: CSLT, Agriculture Building, Newcastle University
- Start: Tue, 18 Feb 2025 13:00:00 GMT
- End: Tue, 18 Feb 2025 15:00:00 GMT
The MoSMed CDT is delighted to host a special double seminar with guests from AstraZeneca at Newcastle University on 18th February 2025.
Dr Thomas McGuire:
Director: Early Oncology Medicinal Chemistry department at AstraZeneca
Title: Accelerating early Oncology Drug Discovery Programs
Abstract: Developing a new medicine begins with the Drug Discovery phase, where initial hits are developed into a candidate drug. Tom will give a short overview of this phase, exemplifying the process by describing the discovery of Ceralasertib, before going on to describe, though various case studies, how AstraZeneca is leveraging synthetic chemistry to shorten timelines.
Biography: Tom completed his PhD under the supervision of John Murphy at the University of Strathclyde. He then joined AstraZeneca Drug Discovery, Alderley Park in 2006 working in Respiratory and Inflammation Research Area before moving to Oncology Research Area, eventually relocating to Cambridge in 2014. Thomas is currently director of synthetic chemistry in Early Oncology where he manages the adaptive chemistry team, a flexible synthesis and discovery process group.
Dr James Douglas
Director: Global High-Throughput Experimentation (HTE) at AstraZeneca and Visiting Professor at University of Manchester.
Title: Challenges in Complexity Within AstraZeneca Drug Development
Abstract: Process chemistry at AstraZeneca is responsible for taking molecules from drug discovery through to approved medicines. With a series of case studies focussed on synthetic chemistry, automation, and data-science, James will describe the challenging journey of delivering complex molecules at multi-Kg scale in an environmentally conscious way.
Biography: James completed his Ph.D. under the supervision of Andrew Smith at the University of St Andrews, followed by a LIFA Eli Lilly Postdoctoral Fellowship working in collaboration with the group of Corey Stephenson at the University of Michigan. He subsequently joined AstraZeneca Early Process Chemistry Macclesfield in 2016 and is currently the global director for high-throughput experimentation. In 2022 he was a Royal Society Entrepreneur-In-Residence and is now a part-time visiting chemistry professor at the University of Manchester.
LinkedIn profiles for the speakers can be found here: Tom, James.
