“Challenges in Complexity: Route Design, Delivery, and Academic Collaborations in Drug Development”

Host: Mairi Littleson

Venue: Small Lecture Theatre, MSI

Abstract 

Process chemistry at AstraZeneca Macclesfield is responsible for taking molecules from drug discovery through to approved medicines. With a series of case studies focussed on synthetic chemistry, this talk will describe the challenging journey of delivering complex molecules at multi-Kg scale. Furthermore, the evolution of a collaboration between AstraZeneca and the University of Manchester will be discussed, demonstrating the benefits of closer links between fundamental and applied research in organic chemistry.

Bio

James Douglas completed his PhD under the supervision of Professor Andrew Smith at the University of St Andrews, then spent three years in the United States (Boston, Michigan, and Indianapolis) as an Eli Lilly postdoctoral scientist working in collaboration with the group of Prof. Stephenson on visible light photocatalysis. He joined AstraZeneca process chemistry in Macclesfield in late 2015, supporting drug projects across oncology, heart disease, and neuroscience. In 2021 he took on the role as team manager of the Catalysis, High-Throughput & Synthesis team before starting his current position in 2022 as global director for High-Throughput Experimentation. In 2022 he was a Royal Society Entrepreneur In Residence and in 2023 was appointed a part-time visiting professor at the University of Manchester, department of chemistry.