“I actually think the future is really
bright for our profession in what
will be a very different world.”
The faculty was honoured to host internationally renowned pharmaceutical scientist
Dr Ian Wilding as presenter of the 2015 Barry L Reed Distinguished Lecture.
Special Professor in the School of Pharmacy
at the University of Nottingham, Dr Wilding
is an internationally recognised expert in the
design, development and clinical evaluation
of drug delivery systems.
Faculty dean Professor Bill Charman described
Dr Wilding as a thought-leader, innovator,
entrepreneur and alchemist: “An alchemist in terms
of being able to link science, medicine development
and commercialisation all together. There is a
degree of alchemy required to do that successfully,
as Ian has shown so many times in his career.”
Dr Wilding’s lecture ‘The Pharmaceutical Industry
2020’ explored what the future may hold for the
next generation of pharmaceutical scientists.
He charted the decline of internal discovery and
early development within large pharmaceutical
companies, and the challenges and opportunities
this represents.
“My belief is that by 2020 large pharma will
largely have ceased to undertake its own internal
discovery activities,” Dr Wilding declared. “The
landscape in which we are working is changing
extremely rapidly.”
increase in prominence. Speciality pharma will
become more niche focused. Contract research
organisations will change their business models.”
What does this mean for us as pharmaceutical
scientists? Dr Wilding believes we need to ensure
our next generation of industrial scientists have a
broad perspective of drug development issues.
Learn more about Emeritus Professor Barry
Reed and other presenters of the annual
Barry L Reed Distinguished Lecture:
monash.edu/pharm/about/events/barry-reed
When Emeritus Professor Barry Reed
retired from Monash in 2006 after 43 years
of distinguished service, his colleagues sought
to acknowledge his contribution to the faculty,
university and pharmacy profession. The annual
Barry L Reed Distinguished Lecture was
established. The only named lecture series
within the faculty, its first lecture was
presented in 2008.
“We must remember that early drug development
is about understanding consequences. We have
to know enough to engage with our colleagues on
multiple issues that impact success or failure. It’s
important that we understand how to pull people
together to have that interplay of skills – still giving
them expertise, but also providing context – the
context in which to apply the science. I actually
think the future is really bright for our profession
in what will be a very different world.”
Dr Wilding’s lecture was held at Parkville in June
and attracted more than 300 guests – the largest
audience in the history of the Barry L Reed
Distinguished Lecture.
Dr Wilding was subsequently awarded an honorary
doctorate by Monash for his major contributions to
international drug development.
Dr Wilding explored what this new landscape
may look like. “Whilst large pharma will reduce
its footprint, there is growth in the satellites around
it. Biotech will increase in size. Academia will
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