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At J&J, we are working to transform lives by finding new and better ways to prevent, intercept, treat and cure disease. We bring together the best minds and pursue the most promising science. We collaborate with the world for the health of everyone in it. The Interventional oncology unit (INTO), which is a cross-sector initiative, brings the best in pharmaceutical development and medical technology under one group to develop a portfolio of intra-tumoral therapeutics assets to significantly alter the course of cancer treatment by improving survival and finding cures.
INTO is recruiting for an Immuno-oncologist Senior Director within the Discovery and Translational sciences team. The INTO Discovery team is a global group spanning three research sites across Belgium and the US, responsible for developing the pre-clinical portfolio of INTO. This will be a role requiring significant scientific leadership with responsibilities including leadership of the global discovery group based in vivo and in vitro group of scientists, driving pre-clinical validation packages incorporating in vivo models of lung cancer, in vitro immune assays, in vivo models of lung cancer and translational research to support drug discovery project progression through to NME and for clinical strategy. The role will also encompass cross-sector collaborations with the device engineers to investigate combinations of immunotherapy and J&J technology and device approaches to tumor therapy. In addition, the role will also require a strategic planning component with collaboration with the clinical development teams providing immunology expertise and scientific input into the clinical study designs. The role will also require close association with the External innovation and BD teams to support the technical assessment of external opportunities to grow the INTO portfolio. Primary Responsibilities Include:
• Design and facilitate implementation of novel research to support target validation of current and future targets for INTO. The validation package will incorporate primary in vitro biology, knockdown of targets, in vivo lung cancer models and translational research from clinical cohorts.
• Experience of leadership of an in vivo laboratory including in vivo protocol development and ethical/welfare review assessments.
• Support pre-clinical in vivo work conducted at CRO's including design of in vivo experiments, establishing work orders, monitoring progress, analysis of results and presentation to INTO leadership teams.
• Leadership of pre-clinical drug discovery projects that are part of the immune-oncology portfolio of the INTO. This will require a deep understanding of drug development progression through to clinical investment decision stages of ideally both biopharmaceuticals and low molecular weight pharmaceuticals. In addition, to technical leadership, project management and matrix team leadership and collaboration are key skills that will be required.
• Support collaborations with academic investigators including advising on experimentation, analysis of results and conducting complementary experimentation. Shaping INTO pharmaceutical portfolio - pre-clinical R&D to support lung cancer project progression:
• Design, execute and manage progression of novel research to support target and therapeutic concept validation of current and future approaches in the LCI. The validation package will incorporate primary in vitro biology, knockdown of targets, in vivo lung cancer models and translational research from clinical cohorts.
• Design, implementation and project management of in vivo syngeneic tumor model studies with various CROs. This will include coordinating experimental design meetings between the INTO team and CRO, review and finalization of workorders, monitoring of ongoing studies and data analysis and presentation of results Drug Discovery Project Leadership: Leadership of pre-clinical drug discovery projects of the INTO immune-oncology portfolio. This will require technical leadership, project management and matrix team leadership and collaboration. Group Leadership: Leadership of the global discovery group including in vivo labs and acting as PI on in vivo protocols and complying with 3R's philosophy. Technical due diligence with External Innovation Team:
• Support external innovation and BD teams in assessing technical aspects of external asset opportunities and determine alignment with INTO strategy.
• Support collaborations with academic investigators including advising on experimentation, analysis of results and conducting complementary experimentation.
• Establish new collaborations with academic groups to support validation of therapeutic concepts and/or utility of new models or technologies. Communication: Support pre-clinical and clinical project team and solution development teams in presentation and explanation of impact of pre-clinical data packages.• Ph.D. in biological (Pharmacology, Immunology, or Oncology).
• 10-15 years relevant post-doctoral experience, with significant industrial experience.
• Experience of mouse oncology models with immunological in vivo and ex vivo characterization required.
• Experience of validation of new target concepts.
• Proven people leadership and drug discovery project leadership experience.
• Ability to successfully work in a matrixed environment and experience developing collaborative relationships with KOLs and alliance stakeholders required
• Demonstrated ability to present scientific content to diverse audiences required
• Learning agility and ability to works across projects highly desirable
Johnson & Johnson is an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.
