As Vice President, Clinical, Late Development Oncology, I work with a high performing team of clinical development experts to advance potential new medicines and ensure quality and innovation in trial design, delivery and interpretation from phase II programs through approvals, and beyond. There are tremendous opportunities to translate ground-breaking new science into new cancer medicines that can transform treatment paradigms, and I am excited about the current focus of Late Development Oncology which spans more than 10 programmes across multiple mechanisms of action and tumour types.
I am passionate about improving outcomes for oncology patients through collaboration, innovation and dedication to the science. My main research interests include clinical development, lung cancer and the intersection between industry, academia and government.
My desire to make a meaningful difference for cancer patients started as a medical student and remains a focal point throughout nearly 25 years of training, medical practice and medicine development. I’ve treated thousands of patients - experiencing both the highs of treatment success, and the lows of lives lost. These experiences furthered my resolve to use science to help us beat cancer.
While at AstraZeneca, I led the global development programme for an EGFR kinase inhibitor in non-small cell lung cancer. It is acknowledged as the fastest oncology development programme – from first-in-human dosing to first approval in just 2 years and 8 months, and full approvals in the US, EU, Japan and China in just 4 years.
In 2019, I was appointed to the European Commission’s new Mission Board for Cancer designed to focus on reducing cancer burden – one of the greatest challenges we face. This appointment offers me the opportunity to contribute to shaping the European Commission’s future cancer research & innovation strategy.
My work is supported by papers in influential peer-reviewed publications, including New England Journal of Medicine, Lancet Oncology, Jama Oncology and the Journal of Clinical Oncology. I am a member of several medical societies, and I am trained as a medical oncologist.
A very close and ongoing partnership between patients, researchers, healthcare providers and governments is critical to understand what matters most to patients, pinpoint the areas of highest unmet need, drive innovation and progress science with a vision to conquer cancer.
Award
2017: Winner “Putting Patients First” GMD Award TAGRISSO China Product Team & Global Product Team
Award
2016: Winner Best of the Best, CEO Awards, "Achieve Scientific Leadership" Tagrisso Team
Award
2015: Winner, CEO Awards, Best Clinical Publication of the Year, AZD9291, an Irreversible EGFR TKI, Overcomes T790M-Mediated Resistance to EGFR Inhibitors in Lung Cancer
CURRENT ROLE
2019-present
2017-2018
2016-2017