Mission Therapeutics is an early-stage drug development company targeting the ubiquitin pathway for the treatment of neurodegenerative disease, rare mitochondrial diseases and fibrosis. The Company has built a leading platform for the discovery and development of first-in-class, small molecule drugs that selectively target deubiquitylating enzymes – an emerging drug class that is attracting significant commercial interest in the area of protein homeostasis. Mission Therapeutics is ideally situated on the Babraham Research Campus at the heart of Europe’s largest biotechnology cluster.
We have an exciting opportunity to head up the Translational Science function at our Cambridge, UK based facilities.
In this role you will be accountable for the generation and execution of translational strategies to support the development of lead molecules through into early clinical development. The role will develop and expand an existing translational science team. The role, and reports, must collaborate effectively with key internal functions to ensure that strategies are target enabled, disease focussed and have clinical development applicability. Biomarker implementation in early clinical development will also fall under the accountability of this role. External translational networks are desired, with key priority disease areas being injury/fibrosis and neurodegeneration. The successful candidate should have experience of project leadership and a drug-hunting mindset.
Key responsibilities of the role will include:
• Accountability for the design and execution of translational strategies to support DUB inhibitor development in both tissue injury/fibrosis and neurodegenerative disease. Ensuring translational strategies encompass key drug development principles (e.g. Pfizer pillars, AZ 5 rights) including patient selection/stratification.
• Identify candidate pharmacodynamic/pathophys markers based on mechanism and disease understanding e.g. imaging, e-phys.
• Utilise preclinical in vitro and in vivo systems to establish PK/PD strategy for use in early clinical development.
• Oversight of translational preclinical model strategy in tissue injury/fibrosis and ND, incorporating translatable markers/technologies (e.g. imaging, e-phys, biofluids, omics).
• Leverage external translational networks to enhance existing/new strategies in tissue injury/fibrosis.
• Oversee clear communication of translational rationale and project requirements to functional leads e.g. bioinformatics/bioanalytical/pharmacometrics/clin ops.
• Management/oversight of PD/pathophysassay development, tech transfer and implementation in clinical trials through interaction with CMO/Clinical Development/vendors/CROs/clinical sites.
• Provision of translational science contribution to regulatory documentation e.g. translational research reports to support IBs, biomarker methods for clinical protocols, clinical study reports etc.
• Management, coaching and development of the translational science & biomarker teams at Mission.
• Ability to lead project teams from lead optimization through to Early Clinical Development, based on significant understanding of wider preclinical functions (pharmacology, toxicology, pharmacokinetics, CMC) and overall project strategy.
• Contribute senior-level expertise to research in support of target selection, target validation, and preclinical development of compounds.
• Full participation in Research leadership team.
• Anticipate or identify project needs and maintain a state-of-the-art translational science plan that is forward looking and competitive.
• Mentor junior scientists on drug discovery and development.
Qualifications, Skills and Experience
• PhD qualified with substantial relevant industry experience gained over a number of years.
• Deep expertise in fibrosis disease mechanisms and their assessment in patients, evidenced by publication record in translational science and existing expert/investigator network.
• Good understanding of development challenges/opportunities for other relevant TAs (e.g. neurodegeneration).
• Early phase Project or Clinical leadership experience.
• Previous experience of effective team leading and line management is highly desirable.
• Excellent communication skills at both detailed and summarised levels.
• Team player with ability to conduct independent research.
• Able to quickly prioritise deliverables according to team and business requirements
Benefits
Soon to be located in new labs on the campus; we offer a competitive salary, along with a contributory pension scheme and other excellent benefits.
This is an exceptional opportunity to join a fast-growing biotech company that is at a decisive stage in its development and to contribute to the development of a new class of medicines.
In order to comply with UK employment legislation all applicants for positions at Mission must have the right to work in the UK. In the event that a job offer is made, you will be required to provide evidence of your right to work in the UK before you commence employment with Mission.
No agencies, thank you
If you would like to apply for this position, please send your CV with a covering letter to hr@missiontherapeutics.com
The closing date for applications is 31st March 2020.