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About Justin H. Johnson
Welcome to Run Data Run! I'm Justin H. Johnson, Executive Director of Data Science Platforms at AstraZeneca, where I lead the integration of advanced AI systems into oncology research and drug discovery. With over two decades in biotechnology, I've witnessed—and helped drive—the evolution from traditional analytics to what I call "daily general intelligence."
What I'm Building Now
My current focus centers on agentic AI systems—moving beyond AI that just answers questions to AI that takes action. I'm actively experimenting with:
Foundation model orchestration: Combining models like DeepSeek R1's reasoning with Claude's creativity to create more powerful AI workflows
Autonomous research agents: Building systems that can independently navigate complex scientific problems, from literature synthesis to experimental design
AI-driven drug discovery: Implementing agents that accelerate everything from nanobody design to CRISPR optimization
Open-source AI tools: Contributing to the community with PromptPilot.app, nova-brief for intelligent document summarization, and vault-rag for knowledge retrieval systems
From Traditional Data Science to AI Agents
The shift from passive analytics to autonomous agents represents the most significant transformation I've seen in my career. While my background spans scalable big data platforms and machine learning in life sciences, my current work explores how AI systems can become true collaborators in scientific discovery.
Recent projects include deploying agent-based workflows that compress hours of research into minutes, building hybrid AI systems that leverage multiple foundation models, and developing frameworks for safe, interpretable AI in regulated environments.
What You'll Find Here
"SO"cial Series: Weekly deep dives including:
Run the Reads: Curated research papers on agentic AI, foundation models, and biotech breakthroughs
Run the Feeds: Synthesis of emerging trends from the AI community
Technical Explorations:
Hands-on experiments with cutting-edge AI models and architectures
Real-world applications of agent-based systems in pharmaceutical research
Open-source tools and frameworks for AI engineering
Strategic Insights:
The evolution from "AI as tool" to "AI as colleague"
Business implications of autonomous AI systems
The intersection of open-source AI and enterprise applications
My Perspective
I believe we're witnessing the emergence of "daily general intelligence"—AI that consistently collapses hours of cognitive work into minutes, freeing humans for creative and strategic thinking. This isn't about replacing human expertise; it's about augmenting it in ways that seemed impossible just months ago.
The future belongs to organizations that master the orchestration of multiple AI agents working in concert, each optimized for specific tasks but coordinated toward common goals. In biotechnology, this means faster drug discovery, more precise treatment protocols, and breakthrough therapeutic approaches that were previously beyond our reach.
Builder at Heart
I absolutely love my day job at AstraZeneca—there's nothing quite like having a front-row seat to watch AI drive a revolution in how we discover and develop medicines that help patients around the world. But I'm a builder at heart, and that's where this blog and my open-source projects come alive.
In my spare time, I'm constantly coding, experimenting, and building AI tools that push boundaries. Whether it's PromptPilot.app for optimizing AI interactions, nova-brief for intelligent document processing, or vault-rag for knowledge systems—each project teaches me something new that I can bring back to my work.
The beauty of this cycle is profound: I build and explore AI in my personal time, then get to apply those insights to actually help people through better medicines. It's the perfect fusion of technical curiosity and human impact.
Core Focus Areas
Agentic AI & Autonomous Systems
Foundation Model Engineering & Orchestration
AI-Accelerated Drug Discovery & Biotechnology
Open-Source AI Tools & Community Building
AI Safety & Interpretability in Regulated Environments
Scientific Workflow Automation
Connect With Me
I'm passionate about the open-source AI community and always eager to collaborate on projects that push the boundaries of what's possible in life sciences.
LinkedIn @justinhjohnson
Twitter: @BioInfo
GitHub: @BioInfo
Tools: Try PromptPilot.app, nova-brief, and vault-rag
Join me in exploring how agentic AI is reshaping not just how we work, but how we think about the future of scientific discovery. Together, we're building the next generation of AI systems that don't just process information—they actively collaborate in solving humanity's most complex challenges.
