Robert Wilkinson | Director Of Oncology Research
AstraZeneca

Robert leads an Oncology Research department based Granta Park (Cambridge, UK) and oversees pre-clinical oncology biologics research ranging from target identification to candidate drug selection and IND enabling support. Activities focus on utilising the latest biotherapeutic technologies incl. mono- and bispecific antibodies, antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), novel protein mimetics, oncolytic virotherapy and oligonucleotides. Robert has made significant contributions in the discovery of several novel immuno-oncology (IO) therapies including recently FDA-approved Imfinzi® (durvalumab), an anti-PD-L1 antibody used in the treatment of NSCLC and bladder cancer. Other IO molecules discovered and or developed by his department include: MEDI1873, a GITRL agonist; MEDI9197 (in partnership with 3M), a TLR7/8 agonist; MEDI1191, IL-12 mRNA (in partnership with Moderna); MEDI5752, a PD-1/CTLA-4 bispecific antibody and MEDI5395, oncolytic virotherapy. 

From 2001-2012, Robert was based at Alderley Park (Macclesfield, UK) and held several leadership roles. He made significant contributions to the discovery and delivery of several small molecules into the clinic incl. Barasertib (AZD1152), an Aurora B kinase inhibitor and AZD538, a CDK2 inhibitor. Robert received a PhD in Experimental Immunology from The University of Birmingham Medical School and then spent several years within Cancer Research Technology (the drug discovery arm of CRUK), where he established a tumour immunotherapy group. Robert has co-authored over 60 peer reviewed scientific papers, and is an Executive Committee member for the British Association of Cancer Research (BACR) and Industrial Committee member for the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC).