Dr. Ruth M. Lightfoot-Dunn
BVetMed CertVOphthal PhD FRCPath DVetMed(hc)
‘A globally recognized leader and expert in preclinical development……..’
‘Proven and respected executive, leader and mentor……’
‘Advocate for rational drug design, minimizing animal use and costs….’
Ruth recently retired from her position as Vice President of Comparative Biology & Safety Sciences, Amgen, a global biotechnology company developing novel therapeutics for serious human diseases. She led a group of 230 scientific and technical staff supporting discovery of novel targets, and defining the preclinical safety profile of therapeutics throughout the research and development process. She championed the application of technologies such as toxicogenomics, use of biomarkers and of novel assays/models predictive of adverse human responses such that candidate attrition rates declined significantly under her tenure. Ruth also implemented ROI mathematical models to drive best practice in the application of novel assays. She was responsible for laboratory animal science and welfare as the Institutional Official for Amgen under the Animal Welfare Act.
Ruth previously held positions in the US and UK in GlaxoSmithKline (including Vice President, Safety Assessment,) after joining Glaxo Group Research as a veterinary pathologist. She completed her PhD in comparative ophthalmic pathology at the University of London and received her degree in Veterinary Medicine & Surgery from the Royal Veterinary College, University of London. She is a Fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists. In 2012 she was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of London in recognition of ‘the outstanding contribution made to research and development within the pharmaceutical industry’. Ruth is only the fourth ever recipient of this prestigious award.
Over 20 years Ruth has been influential in driving policy guiding the development of biotherapeutics in the US, Europe and Japan as a member of an Expert Working Group under the auspices of the International Conference on Harmonization. She has influenced tripartite research programs between industry, government and academia as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Health and Environmental Sciences Institute. She is a former Chair of the PhRMA Drug Safety Committee and of the PhRMA Biologics Technical Group, and a former member of the board of the National Association for Biomedical Research.
Ruth previously held positions in the US and UK in GlaxoSmithKline (including Vice President, Safety Assessment,) after joining Glaxo Group Research as a veterinary pathologist. She completed her PhD in comparative ophthalmic pathology at the University of London and received her degree in Veterinary Medicine & Surgery from the Royal Veterinary College, University of London. She is a Fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists. In 2012 she was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of London in recognition of ‘the outstanding contribution made to research and development within the pharmaceutical industry’. Ruth is only the fourth ever recipient of this prestigious award.
Over 20 years Ruth has been influential in driving policy guiding the development of biotherapeutics in the US, Europe and Japan as a member of an Expert Working Group under the auspices of the International Conference on Harmonization. She has influenced tripartite research programs between industry, government and academia as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Health and Environmental Sciences Institute. She is a former Chair of the PhRMA Drug Safety Committee and of the PhRMA Biologics Technical Group, and a former member of the board of the National Association for Biomedical Research.