Stewart Owen

I am an environmental toxicologist and the AstraZeneca global lead for the development of innovative science to support future environmental risk assessments and secure the environmental safety (eco-toxicology) of pharmaceuticals; fundamental for sustainability.

As a comparative physiologist and expert fish biologist, I lead the mode-of-action driven investigations that provide a mechanistic understanding of how human pharmaceuticals may work in animals so as to better predict the possible risks to wildlife.

I am passionate about research to drive the aquatic safety testing paradigm away from animal studies. I do this by investigating new alternative approaches such as using cells to build 3D organoid tissues in culture. At AstraZeneca I am the global lead for the 3Rs (reduction, replacement and refinement) of animal studies and I am proud to chair the prestigious AstraZeneca awards that help share the innovation from these teams.

I am privileged to work with some of the leading academics and opinion formers in my field and have published more than 65 scientific papers. I work extensively supporting early career scientists and I am an Honorary Associate Professor in the College of Life and Environmental Sciences at the University of Exeter. In 2021 I joined the independent Hazardous Substances Advisory Committee for the UK Government, bringing expertise in New Approach Methods to support future chemical assessments.