Jane Osbourn

Biography

Jane Osbourn, PhD, is VP Research and Development for MedImmune's biosuperiors portfolio, as well as R&D Site Leader of MedImmune’s Cambridge, UK-based site. Jane is a phage and ribosome display expert with significant experience in antibody engineering and drug discovery, and has generated several key publications and patents. She joined MedImmune, formerly Cambridge Antibody Technology (CAT), in September 1993 and initially focused on building large phage antibody libraries. Jane then worked within antibody generation teams, subsequently leading CAT’s technology development and making a significant contribution to the company’s research capabilities. From 2005 to 2007 she managed CAT’s oncology portfolio. Following the integration with MedImmune in 2007 Jane led the Research Department at the Cambridge site, becoming Site Leader for MedImmune Cambridge in July 2008. Additionally, after a period as Centre of Excellence leader within MedImmune’s cardio-vascular/metabolic disease team, in March 2011 Jane took on the leadership of new opportunities and is now managing the biosuperiors portfolio. Prior to joining CAT, Jane completed a PhD at the John Innes Centre for Plant Science Research in Norwich, focusing on plant responses to viral infections. This was followed by a post doctoral position at Rutgers University, New Jersey in plant virology. She then moved into medical research, taking a British Heart Foundation Post Doctoral Fellowship to study the regulation of gene expression in smooth muscle cells at the Department of Medicine at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge. Jane obtained a First Class degree in Natural Sciences (Biochemistry) from the University of Cambridge, where she also earned the Mosseri Prize for academic achievement in Biological Sciences. In 2010 Jane won the Institute of Directors’ East of England Business Woman of the Year Award in recognition of her contribution to the successful integration and development of CAT and MedImmune in Cambridge.  

Research Interest

 antibody engineering and drug discovery