About the Author
Professor David Leahy has over 25 years experience in drug discovery and development working as scientist, manager and entrepreneur in innovative new technology, strategic change, and business start up. He holds a position as a Professor of Practice at Newcastle University acting as an advisor to Newcastle Science City on developing drug discovery as a driver for regional economic development. Following a Ph.D. in Physical Organic Chemistry, he spent 15 years in Research with what is now AstraZeneca developing numerous innovative technologies alongside active drug discovery projects. At AstraZeneca he managed a major component of the drug discovery operation while also leading global strategic change initiatives aimed at improving productivity, particularly in the preclinical phase. He left AstraZeneca to found Cyprotex PLC, a unique, commercially successful and globally recognised company with a niche position in the provision of laboratory information on multiple drug properties. He led the company through start up, flotation on the London Stock Exchange and on to commercial success as CEO and CSO. He left Cyprotex in 2005 to pursue new business ideas, incuding Inkspot Science and Molplex but remains actively involved in advising businesses in the sector on strategy and M&A opportunities. In 2007, he was appointed to a position at Newcastle University as a “Professor of Practice in the Business School. He is actively engaged in drug discovery research and as a Professor of Practice he is an advisor to Science City, a threeway (City, Region and University) collaboration focussed on improving the business environment for drug discovery companies in Newcastle and its surrounding region. He is also launching new business ideas in the general area of using the internet to enable scientists across the world to engage in drug discovery and development He has extensive hands on research experience in the development of novel software based solutions to automation of drug design. Prior to beginning his PhD studies, Professor Leahy worked as a volunteer teacher of science and mathematics in Sabah, Malaysia and was the Head of Science for several years at what was then called SMK Menggatal in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. During this time he taught maths and science in both Malay and English mediums. He grew up in Baildon, West Yorkshire, but has lived for the last 25 years in Pott Shrigley, Cheshire.
