Chris Kitson
About Chris Kitson
Chris Kitson is the Scientific Director of Fibrosis Discovery Biology at Bristol-Myers Squibb, with extensive experience in drug discovery and fibrosis research.
Current Position at Bristol-Myers Squibb
Chris Kitson serves as the Scientific Director of Fibrosis Discovery Biology at Bristol-Myers Squibb in Hopewell, NJ. In this role, Kitson leads a team managing the discovery and validation of drug targets, biomarkers, and pathways relevant to fibrosis. The team's work spans both early and late-phase drug discovery programs, focusing on both small and large molecule therapeutics. The primary goal is to address unmet medical needs in pathological fibrosis.
Previous Roles at Hoffmann-La Roche and GlaxoSmithKline
Before his current role, Chris Kitson held significant positions at Hoffmann-La Roche and GlaxoSmithKline. At Hoffmann-La Roche, he was the Research Leader for Target Identification and Validation in inflammation from 2010 to 2013. At GlaxoSmithKline, he was involved in various capacities, including Principal Investigator for EpiNova DPU, Group Leader for siRNA Screening in DTG, Group Leader for Gene Interference, and Research Scientist. These roles spearheaded his expertise in genomic screening, particularly in siRNA and miRNA research.
Educational Journey
Chris Kitson received his PhD in Gene Therapy from Imperial College London, where he studied from 1994 to 1999. Prior to that, he earned a BSc in Applied Biology with First-class honors from the University of Hertfordshire, studying from 1991 to 1994. Kitson also holds an HNC in Biological Sciences from Paddington College, London, completed between 1988 and 1990.
Early Career and Research Experience
Chris Kitson's early career started at Glaxo Group Research as a Research Technician from 1987 to 1994. He followed this with a role as a Post-doctoral Scientist in the Department of Gene Therapy at Imperial College, where he worked from 1997 to 1999. His early research experience provided a solid foundation for his later work in drug discovery and fibrosis research.
Collaborations and Research Focus
In his role at Bristol-Myers Squibb, Chris Kitson collaborates extensively with academic and industrial partners to advance the understanding of diseases and evaluate novel therapeutic assets. His work involves utilizing primary cells and tissues to generate research hypotheses and validate drug targets. Kitson's focus remains on addressing unmet medical needs in conditions where fibrosis is pathological.