ELRIG has expanded its Scientific Advisory Board with two senior appointments, drawing on more than 50 years of combined drug discovery experience to guide the organisation’s strategic direction and conference programming.
ELRIG has strengthened its Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) with the appointment of Dr Hitesh Sanganee and Dr Marcus Schindler, reinforcing its commitment to supporting the global drug discovery community through scientific collaboration and innovation.
The not-for-profit, volunteer-led organisation said the appointments will enhance its scientific leadership as it continues to develop forward-looking programmes that meet the evolving needs of researchers across academia, biotech and the pharmaceutical industry.
Welcoming the appointments, Dr Del Trezise, Chair of ELRIG, said: “On behalf of ELRIG’s Scientific Advisory Board, I am delighted to welcome Dr Marcus Schindler and Dr Hitesh Sanganee as our newest members. Their combined depth of scientific expertise and industry experience is an outstanding addition to the Board – I have no doubt their insights and networks will help shape ELRIG’s continued mission to support and connect the life science research community. We look forward to working with them both and benefiting from their contributions in the months and years ahead.”
Shaping future scientific programmes
ELRIG’s Scientific Advisory Board helps to identify emerging scientific opportunities and advising on future conference themes, speakers and event locations. Dr Sanganee and Dr Schindler join SAB Chair Dr Trezise alongside existing members Mel Leveridge, Saleha Patel, Chas Bountra, Cathy Tralau-Stewart and Steve Rees.
Together, the board will help ensure ELRIG’s conferences and forums remain free to attend, community driven and focused on the scientific developments that matter most to the life sciences sector.
ELRIG’s Scientific Advisory Board helps to identify emerging scientific opportunities and advising on future conference themes, speakers and event locations
“ELRIG is a truly open, community-driven organisation for life scientists, that brings together established leaders and early career researchers across disciplines, creating space for the conversations and collaborations that move drug discovery forward,” said Dr Sanganee. “Joining the Scientific Advisory Board is a great opportunity to help curate the cutting edge science and technology that will define the next decade of drug discovery. ELRIG’s conferences and networks give scientists, innovators and entrepreneurs a unique platform to explore new modalities, tools and data-driven approaches together, and I’m excited to support that journey.”
Bringing global experience
Dr Sanganee brings more than two decades of research and development experience spanning drug discovery, innovation and venture investment. A Venture Partner at Octopus Ventures and independent consultant, he previously served as Executive Director and Global Head of Emerging Innovations at AstraZeneca, leading open innovation, drug repositioning and external collaborations. He has been recognised among Asia Tech’s Top 100 Innovators and holds degrees from the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge.
Dr Sanganee brings more than two decades of research and development experience spanning drug discovery, innovation and venture investment
Dr Schindler also brings extensive international leadership experience, having most recently served as Chief Scientific Officer and Executive Vice President for Research and Early Development at Novo Nordisk. During his career, he has held senior positions across pharma and biotech, overseeing more than 100 drug discovery projects and over 60 strategic partnerships before moving into scientific and strategic advisory roles with AI and biotechnology companies including Causaly and Cradle.bio.
“Having spent 30 years in drug discovery, I’ve seen first-hand how critical strong ecosystems between academia, biotech and industry are to translating scientific ideas into novel therapeutics,” said Dr Schindler. ”ELRIG’s role in connecting these communities and championing open, collaborative science is exactly the kind of approach our field needs. I look forward to contributing my experience in scientific strategy, innovation-ecosystem building and R&D leadership to help shape ELRIG’s future programmes and support the next generation of drug discovery scientists.”
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