Steve Rees
VP, Discovery Biology, AstraZeneca
Talk title – Medicines Discovery for Rare Diseases
Bio: Steve Rees is Vice-President of Discovery Biology at AstraZeneca with responsibility for functional genomics, reagent generation and assay development and cell and gene therapies. Previously Steve led the Screening Sciences and Sample Management department with accountability for Compound Management, Hit Discovery and Lead Optimisation biology. Prior to joining AstraZeneca, Steve worked at GlaxoSmithKline in various roles. Steve has led multiple international collaborations, has authored >65 scientific papers. He has served as Chair of the European council of the Society of Laboratory Automation and Screening, Chair of the European Laboratory Research and Innovation Group and is Industry Trustee of the British Pharmacological Society. He was awarded an OBE in 2021 for services to science and the COVID19 response.
Find out more about AstraZeneca by visiting their website.
Q: This will be CamRARE’s 5th summit. What is the best/most impactful/most promising change you’ve seen happen in rare disease progress in the last 5 years?
Rapid advance in CRISPR medicines and other gene therapies
Q: How has your work impacted rare disease progress over the last 5 years?
Creating the technology platforms for CRISPR Medicines
Q: What next? What do you want to see happen or change in the next 5 years that will have the most impact on diagnostics, care or treatment for those affected by rare conditions?
Enhanced access to medicines.