Dr Murray Brown - Technical Director

Murray is a strong advocate of lifelong learning and continuous improvement, with a deep interest in generating and exploring innovation. He focuses on maximising individual and collective strengths to enable sustained personal performance and organisational excellence.

Following a BA in Natural Sciences, a PhD in enzymology, and post-doctoral research in polyketide natural products at the University of Cambridge, Murray joined GSK, where he developed and implemented novel screening technologies. Through leading programmes to Candidate Selection and delivering business process improvements, he gained extensive experience across the drug discovery and development lifecycle.

Murray subsequently moved into an innovation-focused role, identifying, incubating, and scaling sustainable manufacturing technologies, with particular emphasis on biomanufacturing. He led multidisciplinary teams of enzyme engineering scientists to implement biocatalytic routes for pharmaceutical manufacture, including processes for oligonucleotides and vaccines within drug substance development. He is passionate about advancing sustainable, cost-effective biological manufacturing technologies that deliver meaningful benefits for patients and the environment.

Murray is an Honorary Professor at the Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, University of Manchester, and has a long-standing commitment to collaborative research and skills development. He has served on numerous advisory boards and currently chairs the Skills Advisory Board for the Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre (IBioIC).

Outside of work, Murray enjoys the countryside and outdoor pursuits. He also enjoys travelling and is looking forward to exploring new destinations again as his children grow older.