Clad in glass and topped with a saw-tooth roof, AstraZeneca’s £1 billion headquarters dominates the Cambridge Biomedical Campus. Home to over 2,200 research scientists, AI-driven technology, and some of the world’s most advanced robotics, the Discovery Centre (DISC) is designed as an inviting space aimed at making science visible.
However, this impressive building is more than just an architectural marvel. It symbolises innovation and serves as a lasting legacy of Prof. Sir Mene Pangalos, AstraZeneca’s former Executive Vice-President of BioPharmaceuticals R&D, and this year’s recipient of the ‘In Search of Wonder’ lifetime achievement award.
Pangalos’s forward thinking and passion for science have defined his 10 years at AstraZeneca, coinciding with the company’s resurgence, including the construction of its new headquarters.
Here’s why Prof. Pangalos is a worthy recipient of this prestigious award.
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Pangalos’s collaborative approach to research sets him apart. Like the DISC, his leadership style emphasises the fostering of collaboration, innovation, and scientific rigour.
On his LinkedIn page, Pangalos writes, “We ensure we work seamlessly and inclusively, that our doors are always open, and our scientists can work in a permeable research environment, sharing ideas and collaborating with others.”
This progressive attitude has yielded significant results. When Pangalos took over, AstraZeneca was seen as one of the weakest R&D organisations in the industry.
He left it as one of the strongest, having increased R&D productivity almost six-fold and launched more medicines than ever before across all therapy areas.
These advances have transformed millions of patients’ lives. Reason enough to be considered as somebody deserving the title of ‘in search of wonder’.
Speaking on Pangalos’s retirement, Pascal Soriot, AstraZeneca’s CEO, said, “The quality of the medicines he has brought to patients, and the pipeline and capabilities he has built, will be his legacy for many years to come.”
Following his Honorary Doctorates from Glasgow University and Imperial College London, Pangalos was later appointed as a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences, the Royal Society of Biology, and Clare Hall, University of Cambridge.
But it was in 2019 when the highest honour was bestowed on Pangalos, a Knighthood for services to UK science. Speaking about his award, Pangalos said: “I am truly humbled and immensely honoured to receive this award and feel incredibly fortunate to have worked alongside so many talented colleagues and collaborators through my career.”
Prof. Sir Mene Pangalos’s unassuming nature and collaborative spirit have made him a true pioneer in his field. We are delighted to announce him as this year’s recipient of the In Search of Wonder Lifetime Achievement Award.
AstraZeneca HQ image: D Wells, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
All other images: Cambridge Independent
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