Stuart Thomson, PhD

Stuart brings over 20 years of experience in drug discovery to his role, having held positions of increasing responsibility across biotech and pharmaceutical companies.

His early career focused on oncology drug discovery and translational research, including time on the Translational team at OSI Pharmaceuticals/Astellas.

There, he helped deepen understanding of the first-generation EGFR inhibitor, Tarceva, and supported the early-stage discovery pipeline. Stuart was a key contributor to identifying Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) as a defining marker of response to these drugs across multiple cancer indications.

After a brief period at a biotech start-up developing a novel platform for self-assembling inhibitors of challenging drug targets, Stuart joined Sygnature Discovery in 2016. Today, he leads the UK Bioscience department, supporting a diverse portfolio of drug discovery projects across three UK sites. His experience—from start-ups to large pharma—gives him a unique perspective on the varying needs of different organizations, ensuring Sygnature delivers the right level of support for every client.

Stuart earned his Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of Leicester and completed postdoctoral training at King’s College London and the University of Oxford. He has authored more than 25 scientific publications and contributed to advancing eight molecules into clinical development.