Christopher Langmead
Professor Christopher Langmead
Deputy Director and Better Medicines Theme Leader at the Neuromedicines Discovery Centre and CEO of Phrenix Therapeutics
For too long, complex mental health conditions have been under-researched, under-funded and under-prioritised.
In the face of this global health challenge, Professor Chris Langmead drew from the enterprising culture within the Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences to pursue new medicines development in the Neuromedicines Discovery Centre and advance next-generation therapeutics for schizophrenia through biotech spinout Phrenix Therapeutics.
What does it take to be an entrepreneurial researcher?
There are two key elements that define entrepreneurial researchers.
Firstly, you need to be willing to pursue ideas that arise from your area of expertise and assessment of the landscape.
Secondly, you need to place yourself in an environment that enables entrepreneurship, whether that’s by virtue of investment, mentoring, education or networking.
This second element is a hallmark of the Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences – having this foundation has helped me pursue entrepreneurial opportunities.
What were the stand-out moments in your career that spurred enterprising collaborations with industry?
When I was an undergraduate, I opted to do my final year pharmacology research project in a biotechnology company instead of in the academic department.
It was the first time that I saw first-hand how what I’d learnt could be applied in an industrial context with commercial impact, and how I could blend my love of science with a business career.
When in industry, I took inspiration from working with cutting edge academics – that’s how I started a 20-year journey working with Professor Arthur Christopoulos, Dean of Monash’s Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.
I have a passion for developing better medicines for psychiatric and mental health conditions. In the past 20 years, I have seen a full cycle of attempts to develop new medicines fail due to a lack of translation and lack of patient stratification. Now I, along with my co-founders, have set up a new biotechnology company called Phrenix Therapeutics that seeks to tackle these issues in schizophrenia.
What challenges did you have to overcome at the beginning of your journey?
I had to understand that academia and industry are two sides of the same coin.
Academic learning and being at the cutting edge of research is important, but this has to be balanced with the need for speed and efficiency – seeking perfection is not always possible and is in fact often a hindrance to progress.
In my role now I get to balance the best of both worlds – the rapid, impactful and entrepreneurial work in running a university centre and working on the Phrenix Therapeutics spinout – while simultaneously ensuring that these projects are based on a solid foundation of academic excellence.
What advice would you give to your young self on how to have an enterprising mindset?
Be multidisciplinary – the fastest progress is made at the intersection of disciplines.
In drug discovery that means an appreciation that went beyond my expertise in pharmacology into medicinal chemistry, drug metabolism, toxicology, neuroscience and clinical development.
To do this in a biotech company context required insight into commercialisation, financing, human resources and more. I’m not an expert in any of these – but I have built enough knowledge to know who to speak to or where to go to make things happen.
What’s the best lesson you’ve learned on your journey?
Use your voice – speak up and ask your question. It’s equally important to not just assume that other people know better – you can learn how to query the information you’ve received with humility.