The European Laboratory Research & Innovation Group (ELRIG) UK today announced it will award its inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award to Steve Rees, previous ELRIG Chair, former ELRIG Board Member and Vice President, Discovery Biology, R&D at AstraZeneca.
The purpose of the award is to recognise individuals who have made a significant contribution to the life sciences that has had a positive impact on the industry, was pivotal to a key scientific breakthrough, and/or benefited the global community. Earlier this year Steve, along with seven other AstraZeneca employees, was awarded an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list, for services to science and the COVID-19 response. By choosing Steve as the recipient of ELRIG’s inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award, ELRIG recognises not only his work done in the response to COVID-19, but also his wider contribution to the drug discovery industry and the ELRIG community.
To celebrate the award, Steve will present a talk titled “A Career In Drug Discovery” at ELRIG’s Drug Discovery 2021—a free-to-attend, in-person event which will take place at the Exhibition Centre ACC in Liverpool, UK, from 19–20 October.
Melanie Leveridge, Chair of ELRIG UK, and Senior Director of Screening and Sample Management at GlaxoSmithKline said: “I’m delighted that after a unanimous vote by ELRIG’s board that Steve is the first recipient of this award, in recognition of all his contributions to industry, life sciences and as importantly, to ELRIG and the ELRIG community. We felt that it was even more appropriate to award Steve this year after his recognition in the Birthday Honours List and are honoured that he will present during the opening keynote session of the Drug Discovery 2021.”
Steve Rees, Vice President, Discovery Biology, R&D, AstraZeneca, said: “ I am truly honoured that you have nominated me as the first recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award. ELRIG plays a unique and leading role in supporting collaboration and innovation in drug discovery and I am proud of my long-standing association with this great organisation. I feel privileged to have been given this award and I am delighted to accept. Thank You!”
To register for ELRIG Drug Discovery 2021 click here