Euprotec, a specialist UK-based contract research organisation, has expanded its management team with the appointment of Dr Pia Thommes as scientific operations director.

Euprotec is a leader in the field of anti-infective drug discovery and development, and Pia’s appointment brings significant leadership experience along with complementary scientific expertise to the team.

Dr Thommes will be working on Euprotec’s anti-viral area of research and further developing its portfolio of infectious disease biology services.

Pia joins Euprotec from AstraZeneca where she was associate director in the oncology department. She has a strong academic background coupled with over 15 years’ experience in increasingly senior positions with large pharma companies, including GlaxoSmithKline, where she has been involved in numerous anti-viral discovery programmes.