Exscientia CEO elected as Fellow to prestigious science societies

Exscientia Chief Executive elected as Fellow of the Royal Society and Academy of Medical Sciences

Professor Andrew Hopkins PhD, founder and Chief Executive at Exscientia plc, a world-leading pharmatech company in AI drug discovery with laboratory and robotics work based at Milton Park, has been elected as a Fellow of both the Royal Society and Academy of Medical Sciences.

By accepting these life-long roles into these prestigious and internationally-recognised institutions, Professor Hopkins (pictured below) joins some of the most distinguished science, technology and engineering pioneers from across the globe.

The Royal Society is the world’s oldest and most influential scientific society, with approximately 1,700 Fellows and Foreign Members who have been recognised for their exceptional contributions to the sector.

The Academy of Medical Sciences is one of the UK’s only four National Academies and this year has carefully selected a cohort of 59 science leaders that have contributed to the advancement of biomedical and health sciences.

Andrew is one of the UK’s most eminent science and technology business leaders, founding one of its largest biotech companies and heading up a global team of over 400 experts in their field.

Earlier this month, Exscientia’s end-to-end AI-driven precision medicine platform – created by pairing pharmaceutical research with the benefits of cutting-edge technology to design, discover and develop new medicines for people in need – won a Prix Galien award to follow its Prix Galien USA award for Digital Health last year, regarded as the Nobel Prize equivalent in biopharmaceutical research.

Professor Andrew Hopkins PhD, founder and Chief Executive at Exscientia, said: “To receive not one, but two such prestigious honours, in addition to a ‘double’ Prix Galien for Exscientia, is a fantastic recognition of the work of our team that I am privileged to lead. I’m humbled by being elected to join Britain’s and the world’s most distinguished pioneers in medical sciences at the Academy.”

“Passionate scientists have the power to change the world. Exceptional science married with outstanding technology can achieve this change even faster and make scientific progress accessible for all.”

Sir Adrian Smith, President of the Royal Society, said: “I am delighted to welcome our newest cohort of Fellows. These individuals have pushed forward the boundaries of their respective fields and had a beneficial influence on the world beyond. They are pioneering scientists and innovators from around the world who have confounded expectations and transformed our thinking. This year’s intake have already achieved incredible things, and I have no doubt that they will continue to do so.”

Harvard Professor joins directors’ board

These achievements also follow Exscientia’s recent appointment of Professor Franziska Michor PhD (pictured below) to its Board of Directors.

Professor Michor is a renowned thought leader and professor of Computational Biology in the Department of Data Science at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, in the Department of Biostatistics at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and in the Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology at Harvard University.

Professor Hopkins PhD, added: “We are delighted to welcome Professor Michor to our Board. Her extensive expertise in cancer research coupled with her deep understanding of computational and mathematical methods will be invaluable to Exscientia as we work to advance our pipeline of novel candidates developed with our patient-first AI platform.”

Professor Michor has over 20 years of experience in cancer research and has authored more than 180 publications. Her work currently focuses on the evolutionary dynamics of cancer initiation, progression, response to therapy and emergence of resistance. She serves as a scientific advisor for Zephyr AI, a seed-stage AI-enabled precision medicine start-up.

Professor Franziska Michor PhD said: “I’m delighted to join Exscientia’s Board, and I look forward to bringing my expertise in taking a computational approach to tackling cancer while working with the company towards our shared objective of improving the lives of patients through better designed drugs and patient selection strategies.”

To find out more about Exscientia and its work, please visit: www.exscientia.ai