As Executive Director and Head of Bioscience, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF), Respiratory & Immunology (R&I), I lead more than 50 scientists across three sites in the UK, US and Sweden, supporting a portfolio of drug discovery and development projects from target identification through to completion of phase 2B studies. I am also a member of the Leadership Team and Research Board governing AstraZeneca’s Respiratory & Immunology (R&I) Business Unit.

With over 25 years’ experience in biopharmaceutical research and development, I have held positions including Senior Principle Scientist, Project Leader, Head of Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics and Head of Bioscience. With over 45 peer reviewed publications, I am passionate about scientific discovery and supporting the scientists with whom I work through providing clarity, simplicity and time for science.

In COPD and IPF, the teams I lead are focused on developing a pre-clinical portfolio targeting disease modification and cure. The long-term goal is to make discoveries that allow reversal of lung diseases, allowing patients to live healthy lives for longer.

I am a biochemistry graduate and also have a PhD in protein biochemistry and enzyme kinetics from the University of Birmingham, UK.

I am passionate about problem solving and addressing the granular details of scientific research so that we make truly informed clinical investment decisions. I feel privileged to work for an organisation that has scientific excellence as a core value underpinning investment decisions. AstraZeneca really does have the desire to make a transformative difference to patients’ lives.

Ken Grime Executive Director and Head of Bioscience COPD & IPF, Respiratory & Immunology (R&I), AstraZeneca
Ken Grime, Executive Director and Head of Bioscience COPD & IPF, Respiratory & Immunology (R&I), AstraZeneca

CURRENT ROLE

Executive Director and Head of Bioscience COPD & IPF, Respiratory & Immunology (R&I), AstraZeneca

2018 – present

Head of Bioscience, Respiratory & Immunology (R&I), AstraZeneca, leading the biology support of preclinical and early clinical portfolio. Responsible for over 50 scientists across Sweden, US and UK.

2014 – 2019

Senior Director, Head of Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics (DMPK), Respiratory, Inflammation and Autoimmunity, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg. Led a department of 25 - 30 scientists and delivered projects from early drug discovery through to Phase 2b investment decision and regulatory submissions.

2018 – 2020

Project Leader, Respiratory, Inflammation and Autoimmunity, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg. Led a Lead Optimization project building on previous experience as a deputy project leader (inhaled anti-muscarinic project for COPD), overseeing the successful nomination of three candidate drugs for clinical development.

2013 – 2014

Senior Principle Scientist and Head of In Vitro & In Vivo Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, and Excretion (ADME), Respiratory, Inflammation and Autoimmunity, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg. Managed teams responsible for pre-clinical and clinical biotransformation, bioanalysis and in vitro and in vivo data production, interpretation and reporting phases.

2007 – 2011

Deputy project leader (inhaled anti-muscarinic project for COPD), overseeing the successful nomination of three candidate drugs for clinical development and the oral FPR1 antagonist project (COPD), co-leading the project through pre-clinical milestones.

Veeva ID: Z4-51941
Date of preparation: January 2023