Hall of Fame
Discovery on Target has a history of highlighting tomorrow’s breakthroughs before they come into the commercial spotlight. From AI-driven drug discovery and targeted protein degradation to prime editing and next-generation therapeutics, the scientists who have given plenary talks at DOT have often gone on to pioneer technologies, launch influential companies, advance new medicines and reshape the way drugs are discovered. The next big idea in drug discovery may already be taking shape—and you want to be in the room when it’s discussed on the DOT plenary stage.
David R. Liu, PhD
Prime editing was unveiled weeks after DOT in 2019; Liu then co-founded Prime Medicine, which emerged with $315M in financing to commercialize the technology.
Craig M. Crews, PhD
PROTACs advanced from an emerging modality into clinical development; in May 2026, Veppanu (vepdegestrant) became the first FDA-approved PROTAC therapy.
Andrew L. Hopkins, DPhil
Exscientia became one of the world's highest-profile AI drug-discovery companies, put AI-designed molecules into human trials, partnered with major pharma and was ultimately acquired by Recursion in 2024 in a transaction valued at roughly $630M.
Stuart L. Schreiber, PhD
Won the 2016 Wolf Prize in Chemistry for pioneering chemical biology; then co-founded Jnana Therapeutics in 2017 to drug historically difficult SLC transporters.
Gregory L. Verdine, PhD
Helped launch LifeMine Therapeutics in 2017 with a $55M Series A and continued building companies around previously inaccessible biology and new therapeutic modalities
Raymond J. Deshaies, PhD
Became SVP of Global Research at Amgen in 2018; his research organization went on to advance nearly five dozen clinical candidates, including programs such as sotorasib/Lumakras, olpasiran and MariTide. Later received the 2023 Gabbay Award and 2025 Passano Award for his work with Crews on targeted protein degradation.
Nathanael S. Gray, PhD
Received the 2019 Paul Marks Prize, moved to Stanford in 2021 to help drive its Innovative Medicines Accelerator and continued launching companies around new chemistry, kinase inhibition and targeted degradation.
Jay E. Bradner, MD
Just months after his DOT appearance, Bradner was appointed EVP of R&D and Chief Scientific Officer at Amgen, taking responsibility for the company's global R&D pipeline
Chas Bountra, PhD
Became a major champion of open drug discovery, received an OBE in 2018 for services to translational medical research, and was appointed Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Innovation at Oxford in 2018. In 2026, he became EVP & CSO of AI-powered biotech BPGbio.
Jeffrey Barrett, DPhil
Became CSO of Genomics plc, later led the Wellcome Sanger Institute's massive COVID genomic-surveillance effort—which helped identify and track Alpha and Delta—and then became CSO of Nightingale Health.