-
Honor recognizes Prof. Jackson’s contributions to biological research, including seminal work in DNA damage repair and invention of synthetic lethal drugs
-
Adrestia science founded on Prof. Jackson’s translation of synthetic lethality approaches into a synthetic rescue platform to create new drugs for genetic diseases
-
Prof. Jackson also distinguished himself for scientific entrepreneurship in the founding of Mission Therapeutics, KuDOS Pharmaceuticals and Adrestia Therapeutics
CAMBRIDGE, England, June 16, 2023–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Adrestia Therapeutics, a leader in synthetic salvage therapies for genetic diseases, today announced that its co-founder, Professor Steve Jackson FRS FMedSci, has been named a Knight Bachelor in the 2023 Birthday Honors List, announcing the bestowing of various awards and designations on the occasion of the King’s birthday in the United Kingdom. Professor Jackson is a well-known scientist-entrepreneur and holds various academic positions as well as being the scientific director of Adrestia. The Knights Bachelor are appointed by the British sovereign and have existed as an order since the Middle Ages.
This press release contains multimedia elements. View the full press release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230616268448/en/
Professor Steve Jackson FRS FMedSci (Photo: Business Wire)
“It’s humbling to join a group with such a long history,” said Professor Jackson. “I see this as recognition of the important contributions the biological research community makes to medicine and our understanding of life, and I thank the many collaborators and members of my teams who have supported my research over the years.”
“Our team congratulates Steve on this wonderful recognition of his pioneering work in fundamental aspects of biology that play an important role in many diseases,” said Rob Johnson, chief executive officer of Adrestia. “He is an inspiring leader and we are incredibly fortunate that his experience and leadership inform Adrestias’ science strategy and the development of our platform for the development of novel therapies for genetically defined diseases.”
Professor Jackson’s work has provided key insights into the cellular processes that respond to DNA damage; processes fundamental to life and whose defects cause various diseases, especially cancer.
Lately, a part of his research agenda has been developing new drug discovery techniques for genetic diseases in an area called synthetic salvage. Because many directly causal gene mutations are not likely to be targeted by drugs, synthetic rescue may involve whole-genome screening to identify compelling drug targets in a much larger network of related genes. The goal is to correct the effects of causal mutations and save health. Professor Jackson used a related approach, synthetic lethality, to co-originate a new class of cancer drugs and later translated his expertise into synthetic rescue tools and technologies focused on finding new treatments for genetic diseases. He co-founded Adrestia to advance this work for patients.
Professor Jackson is Professor of Biology at the University of Cambridge and Senior Group Leader at the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute. After receiving his PhD. from the University of Edinburgh, he underwent four years of postdoctoral training at UC Berkeley in the United States. He founded and served as CSO for Mission Therapeutics and KuDOS Pharmaceuticals, the latter of which developed the blockbuster cancer drug olaparib, the first in a new family of drugs called PARP inhibitors. KuDOS was acquired by AstraZeneca in 2005. Professor Jackson is a Fellow of the Royal Society and the Academy of Medical Sciences UK and has received numerous national and international awards for his research leadership.
As a Knight Bachelor, Professor Jackson is allowed to use the prefix “Sir” and will formally receive this honor in the coming months.
About Adrestia
Adrestia is a leader in synthetic salvage therapies for genetically defined diseases. Because many directly causal gene mutations are undrugable, synthetic salvage identifies drug targets in a much larger network of functionally linked genes. The goal is to correct the effects of causal mutations and save health. Adrestia is creating a synthetic rescue atlas of the human genome and advancing a portfolio of world-class oligonucleotide or small-molecule oral therapies, initially for neurological, neuromuscular, and cardiomyopathic diseases. The Adrestias platform and internal programs are complemented by a target discovery alliance with GSK and a Huntington’s disease collaboration with well-known researchers including Dr Sarah Tabrizi of University College London.
Adrestia was co-founded by Professor Steve Jackson and deep technology investment fund Ahren Innovation Capital, who co-led Adrestia’s Series A financing alongside GSK. Jackson co-originated the first synthetic lethal drug, olaparib, which was the first drug approved for the treatment of cancers caused by inherited mutations. For more information, please visit: www.adrestia.com.
View the source version at businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230616268448/en/
Contacts
Adrestia
Investors
Robert Johnson
[email protected]
Average
Tom Donovan
[email protected]
+44 7498 152764
#Adrestia #CoFounder #Professor #Steve #Jackson #Named #Knight #Bachelor #Services #Innovation #Research