Our Research centers
Where science thrives
Our new facility – in the centre of the Cambridge Biomedical Campus (CBC) – will be an open, welcoming and vibrant centre that will inspire our team and our partners to push the boundaries of scientific innovation.
Explore Cambridge
We believe the best way to meet today’s science challenges is to work openly and collaboratively with the world’s best scientists. Our home on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus enables us to partner with our academic, research and healthcare neighbours to make life-changing discoveries. Explore our digital viewing platform to discover a unique perspective on the power of partnerships.
About AstraZeneca in Cambridge
Our global headquarters moved to Cambridge in May 2016.
Since then, we have delivered over 130 collaborations with our academic, healthcare and research partners to make life-changing discoveries.
For example, our drug discovery scientists are working with Microsoft to use a cloud-based simulation tool that brings alive the millions of potential changes that make cancer cells multiply uncontrollably, to better understand the disease.
Similarly, scientists from MedImmune and Cancer Research UK are working together to discover and develop novel biologics to treat cancer. Together they are working on a novel target associated with leukaemia and recently started an exciting project looking at the best drug combinations to treat pancreatic cancer.
And a novel agreement is also in place that will give researchers from the University of Cambridge access to key compounds from our drugs pipeline.
Once completed, more than 2,000 AstraZeneca and MedImmune R&D science jobs will be on the CBC site, delivering more knowledge sharing, skills and expertise – and ultimately for pushing the boundaries of science.
Working side-by-side
The AstraZeneca Medical Research Council (AZ-MRC) Centre for Lead Discovery will be established in our new facility.
Bringing together world-class capabilities
Our new Cambridge site will bring together small molecule and biologics research and development activity across our main focus areas. It will also be home to a wide range of leading scientific capabilities, including:
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Target biology
Our team of world-renowned scientists collaborate to support the identification and validation of targets regulating biological processes which are the fundamental drivers of human disease. Using a variety of tools, including in vivo and in vitro assays and bio-informatic approaches, our scientists rigorously test biological hypotheses across all of our therapy areas in both small molecules and biologics.
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Medicinal chemistry
Our medicinal chemistry capabilities enable us to integrate structural, pharmacological, pharmacokinetic and toxicological information to support the innovative design of novel chemical compounds. Pushing the boundaries of medicinal chemistry enables the delivery of new candidate drugs into our pipeline, and is the foundation of small molecule drug discovery across the company.
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Protein engineering
Our Antibody Discovery and Protein Engineering Team applies cutting-edge technologies in the discovery of novel therapeutic biologics to change the lives of patients. The team works collaboratively across all therapy areas, using a range of innovative in-house platform technologies such as phage and ribosome display, Fc engineering and novel peptide discovery methodologies. We have an exceptional track record of delivery, having discovered and engineered almost 100 protein therapeutics that have entered the clinic.
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Translational science
Our translational expertise enables us to accelerate the development of new druggable targets in human disease and select the right patients in early clinical trials. We do this by embedding human target validation earlier in research, taking an innovative approach to clinical trial design and integrating multiple data sources to share timely scientific insights across our focus areas. As a leader in personalised healthcare, we are also committed to matching new medicines to the patients that will benefit the most. We do this by combining our expertise in companion diagnostics with laboratory science in molecular diagnostics, tissue diagnostics, imaging and protein biomarkers and working with external partners to harness breakthrough technologies, throughout the life-cycle of our medicines.
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Biopharmaceutical development
Our Biopharmaceutical Development team develops the process and analytics to produce and characterise product candidates, including the formulations and drug product forms, for delivering medicines to patients. Working closely with research, the team helps define and select the best product candidates to progress into development. -
Clinical development
Our Early Clinical Development team designs and delivers early phase development strategies and exploratory studies that build the credentials of novel targets. Clinical Operations delivers global clinical trials for late stage projects across our pipeline, using both internal and external programme and study management expertise. Our leading expertise in large outcomes trials enables us to deliver multi-country, multi-site studies with thousands of patients, many of which include a personalised approach.
Our inspiring scientists
Sharing our passion about what science can do
“I love working for MedImmune because of the passion our people have for great science, and our ability to turn this science into life-improving drugs.”
Strengthening our Cambridge presence
We are building on our proud Medimmune heritage in Cambridge. More than two thousand AstraZeneca and MedImmune employees are already based in the city and working to build strong connections within the local scientific community.
A proud Cambridge heritage: MedImmune in the UK
With over 550 employees, MedImmune’s team at Granta Park is focused on the research and early development of our biologics portfolio. MedImmune has built on the local legacy of Cambridge Antibody Technology (CAT) – acquired by AstraZeneca and integrated with MedImmune in 2007 – where three marketed products (Humira, Benlysta and raxibacumab) were invented. MedImmune Cambridge has strong collaborative links with numerous academics, researchers, foundations and neighbouring companies in the largest biotech cluster in Europe and has an active outreach programme within the local community.
Our current Cambridge facilities
High quality lab and office facilities to accommodate our growing presence in the city.
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DaVinci Building
Office facilities located on Melbourn Science Park, accommodating around 400 people from our R&D teams, Global Product and Portfolio Strategy and enabling units.
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Central Cambridge
Office facilities located at Academy House and City House in central Cambridge, providing space for colleagues from Global Medicines Development, Global Product and Portfolio Strategy and enabling units.
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Darwin Building
Lab and office facilities located on Cambridge Science Park accommodating teams from across our IMED Biotech Unit.
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Cambridge Institute
Around 60 AstraZeneca colleagues from our oncology team will be temporarily based in the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute on the CBC.
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Babraham Research Campus
Lab facilities for IMED Biotech Unit scientists working in Drug Safety and Metabolism and personalised healthcare and biomarkers.
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Chesterford Research Park
Located on Chesterford Research Park, the building will provide lab and office facilities for scientists from our oncology and personalised healthcare teams from our IMED Biotech Unit.
Open for innovation
Combining the science in our labs with the great science happening within the Cambridge scientific community will enable us to push the boundaries of science further than ever before.
Working with Horizon Discovery to search for novel, personalised cancer therapies
Collaboration and license agreement to explore Horizon’s first-in-class kinase target programme, as a means of developing novel therapies for multiple cancer types.
Our community involvement
With a number of PhD programmes with the University of Cambridge through to our ongoing commitment to STEM programmes in the local community, we are passionate about finding new ways to ensure we support, develop and inspire the next generation of Cambridge scientists.