ELRIG Announces Keynote Lineup for Drug Discovery 2026, Marking 20 Years of the Flagship Conference
核心洞察
ELRIG (搜索)'s 20th annual Drug Discovery conference will take place October 14–15, 2026 at ExCeL London with free access for all attendees.
Dr. Sam Barrell CBE (LifeArc (搜索)) will deliver the opening keynote, followed by a panel featuring leaders from GSK, OtoImmune (搜索), AstraZeneca, and Our Future Health (搜索).
The program features 18 scientific tracks spanning AI in drug discovery, CRISPR and genome engineering, bioconjugation in oncology, multiomics, and more.
ELRIG (搜索), the not-for-profit, volunteer-led organization dedicated to the global drug discovery community, has announced the keynote speaker program and scientific agenda for Drug Discovery 2026. The flagship event, celebrating 20 years of ELRIG's annual Drug Discovery conference, will take place from October 14–15 at ExCeL London, offering attendees free access to the latest insights from leaders across academia and industry.
This year's milestone reflects two decades of supporting the global life science and pharmaceutical research community through collaboration, innovation, and accessibility. "As ELRIG (搜索) celebrates 20 years of Drug Discovery, this year's event is a chance to recognize how far the community has come – and to look ahead to what's next," said Dr. Del Trezise, Chair of ELRIG. "The program combines world-class science with the collaborative and inclusive atmosphere that has always been at the heart of ELRIG."
Keynote Speakers and Panel Discussion
Dr. Sam Barrell CBE, CEO of LifeArc (搜索), will present the opening keynote. Dr. Barrell leads LifeArc's mission to transform outcomes for people with rare diseases (搜索) and drug-resistant infections (搜索). Previously Deputy CEO of the Francis Crick Institute and a senior NHS leader, she also served as CEO of Taunton and Somerset NHS Foundation Trust and led South Devon and Torbay CCG. She was awarded a CBE in 2014 for services to healthcare.
"I'm delighted to open the 20th edition of ELRIG (搜索)'s Drug Discovery conference, bringing together scientists from across academia and industry," Dr. Barrell commented. "This milestone event is an opportunity to reflect on two decades of progress in drug discovery, while looking ahead to the innovations and breakthroughs that will shape the next 20 years."
On the second day, Dr. Saleha Patel (ELRIG (搜索) and Constructive Bio) will chair a keynote panel discussion titled "20 Years of Discovery: Lessons from the Past, Blueprints for the Next 20," featuring a distinguished panel of leaders representing the ecosystem of modern R&D.
Dr. Anne Phelan, GSK's SVP Head of Target Discovery since 2025, brings more than 25 years of experience in pharma and biotech, including serving as CSO at BenevolentAI and 15 years at Pfizer. Her career centers on target identification, pre-clinical portfolio management, and technology investment across a wide range of target classes and therapeutic modalities.
Dr. Jason Mellad, Co-founder and CEO of OtoImmune (搜索), leads a precision immunology company focused on revolutionizing the early detection, management, and treatment of autoimmune and other immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (搜索). He previously served as CEO of Start Codon and Cambridge Epigenetix (now biomodal), and holds a PhD in Medicine from the University of Cambridge.
Prof. Sir Mene Pangalos, former Executive Vice-President of R&D BioPharmaceuticals at AstraZeneca, was responsible for biopharmaceutical R&D from discovery through to late-stage development covering cardiovascular, renal, metabolism, respiratory, immunology, microbial science, and neuroscience areas.
Prof. Raghib Ali OBE leads Our Future Health (搜索), a 2.7-million-participant program to improve disease prevention, detection, and treatment. He is a Clinical Epidemiologist at the University of Cambridge, Consultant in Acute Medicine at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust, and a global leader in population health, awarded an OBE for services to the NHS and the Covid-19 response.
Together, the panel will explore how new platforms, modalities, and partnerships are redefining the discovery process and shaping the next generation of medicines.
Scientific Program and Collaborations
The 2026 program features 18 scientific tracks spanning the full breadth of scientific and technological advances shaping the future of drug discovery. Key topics include next-generation biophysics, microbes to medicines, multiomics, AI in compound discovery and experimental design, bioconjugation approaches in oncology, next-generation imaging, CRISPR and genome engineering, cell-based models, medicinal chemistry, and translational innovation.
ELRIG (搜索) is collaborating with organizations including SLAS, Cancer Research UK, The Microbiology Society, the British Neuroscience Association, and the Royal Society of Chemistry to deliver a broad and diverse range of content reflecting the latest developments across chemical biology, microbiology, oncology, neuroscience, and data-driven R&D.
Exhibition, Networking, and Early-Career Support
The exhibition hall at ExCeL London will host approximately 3,000 attendees, providing opportunities to engage with leaders in drug discovery as well as more than 250 product and service suppliers. The conference will also feature 400 posters highlighting innovative research from across academia, biotech, and pharma.
Drug Discovery 2026 will include a Breakthrough Zone for startups, a Tech Theatre, a Consultancy Café, and a Coaching Corner, supporting both scientific exchange and professional development. Dedicated events for early-career professionals include "Network Like a Boss," "Meet & Greet," and "Mini DD" sessions, alongside engagement with students from local schools through the "Adventures for Tomorrow's Scientists" initiative.
Several awards will recognize individuals making outstanding contributions to the life sciences, early-career professionals shaping the future of drug discovery, innovative science and technology, and impactful posters presented at the conference.