Professor Claire Thompson wins Life Sciences Inspiration of the Year Award

Cambridge, 19th May 2021

Prof. Claire Thompson, CEO of CDMO, consulting and communications company Agility Life Sciences, wins the inaugural One Nucleus Life Sciences Inspiration of the Year Award.
The One Nucleus Life Sciences Inspiration of the Year Award, sponsored by the Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening (SLAS), is designed to recognise exceptional individuals who are ambassadors and inspirational leaders in the Life Science sector. Nominations were opened to One Nucleus members to nominate someone who has particularly inspired them during their career journeys to date.
Prof. Claire Thompson is a multi-award winning scientist, strategist, and storyteller with nearly 20 years’ experience in the pharmaceutical industry, spanning large multi-nationals to virtual biotech, and is now CEO of Agility Life Sciences. Never one to let a crisis go to waste, she expanded the company’s services in the midst of the pandemic by opening a formulation facility at MediCity Nottingham, and almost doubled the size of the Agility Life Sciences team. Prof. Thompson is Chair of the global International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) WiSE (Women in Science & Education) initiative to engage, enable and empower girls and women in pharmaceutical science and education. In 2020, she launched and fully funds the Girls In Football Teams (GIFT) Grants to sponsor girls in grassroots football organisations.
Prof. Thompson said, “I’m humbled and delighted to be presented with the One Nucleus Life Sciences Inspiration of the Year Award. What’s spurred me on and supported me throughout my career is being surrounded by brilliant people, and I’m honoured to be considered an inspiration to others.”
Dr Tony Jones, CEO of One Nucleus, said, “We are thrilled to present this award to such an inspirational candidate as Professor Claire Thompson. Her dedication to not only provide excellence in her own work, but also empower the next generation of scientists, particularly girls and women, is exactly the kind of quality we hoped the award would embody.”
Jasmin Bannister from One Nucleus interviewed Claire after she won the award and they discussed what it is like being the only woman in the room, how success is not a solo sport, and the importance of giving people an environment in which they can succeed. You can watch the interview here.

About Prof. Claire Thompson
Claire is a multi-award winning scientist, strategist and storyteller with nearly 20 years’ experience in the Pharmaceutical Industry spanning the large multi-nationals GlaxoSmithKline and Pfizer, virtual and Contract Research Organisations. She was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and moved to Scotland to study Biochemistry at the University of St. Andrews. Subsequently, she earned her PhD at the University of Nottingham.
She is CEO of Agility Life Sciences, an award-winning CDMO, consulting and communications firm which works with organisations across the healthcare space to advance their products and raise their profile. She is also Entrepreneur in Residence at the University of Cambridge, and holds an Honorary Professorship from the School of Pharmacy at the University of Nottingham. Claire is Chair of the International Pharmaceutical Federation’s Women in Science and Education (FIP WiSE) initiative.
Claire’s interpretation of CEO is Captain, Extrovert, Optimist. Having captained football teams throughout her playing career, she is a huge believer that football gave her skills for life and leadership, not just for sport. She established and funds the Girls In Football Teams (GIFT) Grants scheme in 2020 to ensure girls and women get the chance to build confidence and to shine.

About Agility Life Sciences
Agility Life Sciences is an award-winning CDMO, consulting and communications company with a global client base ranging from spin-outs to multinational organisations. Agility’s “Fast Futureproof Formulations” approach allows them to accelerate their clients’ products to clinic, and to market. Their deep insight into the Life Science sector provides their clients with exceptional market knowledge, and strategies for growth and investment. Their ability to translate scientific concepts into stories for a broad range of audiences means that they make their clients’ messaging memorable.
Learn more: www.agilitylifesciences.com

About One Nucleus
One Nucleus is an international membership organisation for life science and healthcare companies. Based in Cambridge, the majority of its members are based across the Cambridge/London corridor – at the heart of Europe’s largest life science and healthcare cluster.
Learn more: www.onenucleus.co.uk

About the Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening (SLAS)
SLAS is an international professional society of academic, industry and government life sciences researchers coupled with the developers and providers of laboratory automation technology. SLAS advances scientific innovation by providing education, collaboration and professional development that unites scientists across disciplines and transforms research.
Learn more: https://www.slas.org/