Session ID:

VS4-04

ln Beginner/Intermediate

Agile Research - Creating A Science of Innovation Improvement
Adapting Lean Product Development to the pharmaceutical R&D environment

Introducing Lean within a research and development environment presents two distinct challenges. The first is presenting innovation as an iterative process that can be improved and accelerated. The second challenge is customizing an approach to introduce Lean Research into the organization without triggering an “autoimmune response” to change. Although tightly linked, these two issues require fundamentally distinct approaches to integrate Lean Product Development into the culture of scientific research, and to create a company-specific strategy to engage scientific colleagues in the science of improvement. Examples of successes and pitfalls on the journey to the successful implementation of a Lean Research culture will serve as a road map for others.

Pfizer is the world's largest research-based biomedical and pharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing new medicines to address unmet medical needs across 11 Therapeutic Areas. Pfizer Global R&D is a multi-billion dollar enterprise engaging over 12,000 medical researchers in the development of breakthrough treatments to fight disease and illness.

Dr. Andrew Seddon, Senior Director, Strategic Management Group

Dr. Seddon advises and coaches leaders at Pfizer Global R&D to develop strategies to enhance the productivity of Pfizer’s $7.6 billion annual research investment. His focus is on the process of innovation and increasing the efficiency of R&D efforts to bring new therapeutics agents to the patient. Andrew holds a PhD in chemistry and has more than 25 years experience in both academia and the pharmaceutical industry providing scientific and managerial leadership to therapeutic area and multi-disciplinary research groups.