Simon Marriot
R&D Business Analyst
Tell me a little about you and your role at AstraZeneca?
I’m an R&D Business Analyst in early science based in Cambridge. I spend my time working with science teams in our R&D sites helping them shape their needs into meaningful strategies, changes and technologies.
What’s the most enjoyable aspect of working in Science and Enabling Units IT?
I get to help great scientists do great science! The science and the patient needs drive it, but the scientists appreciate our help understanding what is possible and how to achieve it. The capability that SEUIT brings from early engagement to delivery is critical to the fundamental science that we do.
How do you feel your role impacts AstraZeneca’s bold ambition of delivering life-changing medicines?
We used to make pills. In the future our product will be health management, and that product will be made up of services which include medicines, delivery devices, diagnostics, monitoring devices, data, algorithms and services. The users of our products won’t just be the patient it will be public health, healthcare, patient families and advocacy groups, and other service providers. The advent of digital health is here and SEUIT is central to delivering that. My role is to help scientists prepare an R&D that is ready for this future, by helping them re-imagine how they do R&D, shaping that into a proposal, and getting it delivered. SEUIT makes that process easy and transparent.
What are you most passionate about in your role?
I love science, but I’m here to make life changing medicines for patients. That’s why I come to work. AZ is a unique and special place for doing that. When we change the life of a patient we also change the life of their family and loved ones. Last year we introduced 3 new medicines for unmet medical need changing the life of millions of people. It can be hard work, it can be daunting but the motivation to succeed is easy.
How would you describe the culture of Science and Enabling Units IT?
Passionate, intelligent, ambitious and credible. We’re a new organisation and we’re just getting started but I’m very impressed by the ambition of the leadership team and the quality of my peers.
