Anna Collen

Biog:
Anna has responsibility for generation of proteins and cell lines for hit finding, hit-to-lead and lead optimisation activities across the therapeutic areas at AstraZeneca but with a local focus in Mölndal, Sweden. Further activities include the generation of tool antibodies, transgenic animals, stem cells and primary cells as tools for target validation studies and lead optimisation programmes.

Anna joined AstraZeneca in 2001 after completing a PhD in Biochemistry at Lund University. Recruited as a molecular biologist she worked initially on a post doc focusing on GPCRs and membrane proteins. Prior to her PhD Anna worked at a small biotech in Copenhagen, ALK with antigen production for immunization of humans. After her time at ALK she took a Phlic degree in Cell Biology at Lund University. In collaboration with Genencore Anna then achieved her PhD on cellular mechanisms and protein purification for improving protein production. In 1999, Anna worked one year at the world leading technology institutes, VTT in Helsinki, Finland with large scale protein production before she got her position at AstraZeneca. Anna became a senior scientist in the Cardiovascular and Gastrointestinal areas where she worked in the Lead Generation Department where she worked on target production and assay development. In 2005, Anna was appointed to a Team Leader role in DECS, focusing on delivering structure support for the Respiratory and Inflammatory Disease Area. Anna then became Associate Director for Protein Sciences and eventually for Cell and Protein Sciences Sections. In 2011, Anna got her current role as a Director of Reagent and Assay Development Department of Discovery Sciences. The RAD department Anna currently is heading focuses on collaborative research to provide a comprehensive range of technical and translational activities to project teams in early phase of discovery including, protein production, cell supplies including primary human cells, stem cells and iPS, transgenic mice models and in vitro and cell based assay development. Together with her current role, Anna during the spring got the responsibility to lead the global phenotypic project portfolio for AstraZeneca.