Simon Chell

Simon obtained his PhD at Bristol University studying the function of prostaglandins in colorectal cancer. Subsequent research into fundamental cancer biology at the Babraham Institute (Cambridge, UK) and the Friedrich Miescher Institute (Basel, Switzerland) led to Simon joining GSK in 2007 where he progressed to Senior Director in roles of increasing scientific responsibility – latterly, as Senior Scientific Director for GSK’s clinical research activities in sub-Saharan Africa. Simon joined AstraZeneca in 2018 and currently leads UK & US Discovery Biology in Discovery Sciences, Biopharmaceutical R&D, where he is responsible for the delivery of therapeutic programs, technological innovations and new drug formats through a multidisciplinary department incorporating cell, molecular, biochemical and protein sciences. Simon is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology, an Investment Committee member of Apollo Therapeutics and a core member of ELRIG’s Science Strategy Committee. He has extensive experience in medicine creation and has led international functions and major public-private alliances across the fields of drug discovery, new drug formats and early clinical research.