Transforming Drug Discovery: Inside GSK's Data-Driven R&D Revolution
Neil C. HughesOctober 12, 202500:36:27

Transforming Drug Discovery: Inside GSK's Data-Driven R&D Revolution

In this episode, Dr. Chris Austin, Senior Vice President of Research Technologies at GSK, joins Neil to share how artificial intelligence, genetics, and vast clinical datasets are radically reshaping the pharmaceutical landscape. A neurologist by training with experience across the NIH, biotech startups, and now GSK, Chris explains how drug development is finally moving beyond trial-and-error toward predictive, precision-based approaches.
He reveals how GSK is:
Using AI and genomics to map disease “circuits” and prioritize drug targets with greater accuracyDesigning novel molecules like oligonucleotides to reach previously “undruggable” targetsStreamlining clinical trials through deep phenotyping and biomarker-based patient selectionLeveraging generative AI to model disease biology, simulate clinical outcomes, and accelerate antibody design by 90 percentChris also reflects on the journey from the Human Genome Project to today’s AI-powered medicine and why he believes GSK has the right mix of data generation, scientific expertise, and computing infrastructure to lead the next wave of medical breakthroughs.
If you’ve ever wondered how AI is moving from hype to real-world health impact, this conversation offers a rare inside look at the front lines of biopharma innovation.
Listen now to discover how technology is not just speeding up drug discovery, it’s rewriting the rules entirely.