Michael O'Brien Pfizer, Inc.

Michael O’Brien is the head of the PTx Pharmaceutical Sciences Technology & Innovation (T&I) Group and is a member of the Pharmaceutical Sciences Executive Leadership Team.

Michael earned his Bachelors of Science degree from Ohio Wesleyan University, and in 1989 received his Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from Case Western Reserve University under the guidance of Prof. Anthony J. Pearson.  He joined Hercules Inc. in 1989, where as a member of a multi-disciplinary team in the Aerospace division, he investigated the use of organic materials for unique optical applications.

In 1992 he joined Rhone-Poulenc Rorer / Aventis Pharma as a Research Scientist and in 1999 he became the US Head of Chemical Process Research.  There he championed the use of automated parallel chemistry technologies as an integral tool in process research and development.

In 2001 Michael joined Wyeth Research Chemical Development in Pearl River where he was the Assistant Vice President of the Synthesis Research & Development group overseeing Process Chemistry, the Chemical Engineering Technologies group (CET) and the high throughput process screening group.  Michael joined Pfizer in 2010 after the Wyeth acquisition. As the T&I Head, he directs a group that oversees a range of functions, including informatics, technology strategy / technology development, and the leveraging of internal innovation & science to develop external networks focused on the delivery of horizon 2/3 technology advances.