CHDI
Job Title:
Science Director – In Vivo Biology
Location: Los Angeles, CA or Princeton, NJ / currently hybrid
Vaccination against COVID-19 is a prerequisite for employment at CHDI Management.
Job Description:
Scientist with expertise in in vivo rodent and large animal model biology, experienced in their use for preclinical evaluation of therapeutic drug candidates (small and large molecules and genetic therapies) for CNS disease indications. The position involves collaborating with internal scientific directors and program managers at CHDI and the management of a larger “virtual” team of external collaborators (at Contract Research Organizations and Academic Institutions) to develop therapies for Huntington’s disease.
Job Responsibilities:
- Design, oversee and implement testing of preclinical proof-of-concept tool molecules in rodent and large animal models relevant to Huntington’s disease (HD) research across a wide range of modalities (ie small molecule, ASO, RNAi, CRISPR, virally delivered reagents).
- Oversee and implement animal model studies to mechanistically evaluate targets of HD onset and progression emerging from HD human genetic studies, using genetically modified animal models, and to collaborate with Platform teams to identify and design such.
- Identification and management of external CROs / vendors for relevant in vivo services, and qualification of data and reports.
- Oversight and collaboration with academic partners in areas relevant to disease modeling and target validation in animal models.
- Implementation of neurophysiological, neuroimaging, molecular and histological endpoints relevant to disease modification studies in HD.
- Work closely with DMPK colleagues and other CHDI Scientific Directors to aid diverse drug discovery and gene therapy programs with respect to pharmacokinetic – pharmacodynamic assay deployment.
- Review and approve detailed reports for each project and campaign in area of responsibility.
- Participate in technology assessment and implementation activities.
- Communicate results in presentations at scientific meetings and by co-authoring publications.
Requirements:
The candidate of choice will have:
- A PhD in Neuroscience, Pharmacology, Physiology or related discipline
- A proven scientific track record in CNS drug discovery with > 5 years experience in the pharmaceutical/biotechnology sector, with an emphasis on experience designing and using neurodegenerative disease models.
- A detailed theoretical and practical knowledge of pharmacology, with demonstrated experience in small molecule and large molecule (e.g. antibodies and/or viruses/gene therapy) drug discovery and in vivo
- A detailed theoretical and practical knowledge of mouse genetics, with experience in designing and using genetically modified animals in drug discovery in the areas relevant to neurodegeneration.
- Experience in the oversight and management of contract research organizations.
- Evidence of experience leading programs, team-building, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and a deep understanding of the drug discovery process.
- Demonstrated track record of being part of drug discovery project teams and partnering with Medicinal Chemistry/DMPK teams to successfully advance candidate therapeutics and establishing pharmacodynamic endpoints for target engagement.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills.
- A publication track record demonstrating rigor and evidence of cross-functional teamwork
Preferred Skills:
An ideal candidate would also have:
- Experience working with large animals, particularly nonhuman primates, in drug discovery, with experience in a range of phenotypes including cognition, fine motor control and/or basal ganglia relevant behaviors.
- Experience and expertise in behavioral pharmacology
- Experience in viral production methods and use for preclinical proof of concept evaluation.
- Experience and skills in pharmacological modeling
- Experience in the development and qualification of biomarkers
- Expertise in imaging technologies as applied to neuroscience
- Expertise in safety assessment in preclinical systems
- Molecular biology expertise
About CHDI Foundation, Inc.
CHDI Foundation, Inc. is a privately-funded, not-for-profit, biomedical research organization that is exclusively dedicated to rapidly discovering, accelerating and developing therapies that slow the progression of Huntington’s disease (HD). Our scientists work closely with a network of more than 600 researchers in academic and industrial laboratories around the world in the pursuit of these innovative therapies, providing strategic scientific direction to ensure that our common goals remain in focus. This helps bridge the translational gap that often exists between academic and industrial research pursuits and that adds costly delays to therapy development. In its role as a collaborative enabler, CHDI seeks to bring the right partners together to identify and address critical scientific issues and move drug candidates to clinical evaluation as rapidly as possible. Our activities extend from exploratory biology to the identification and validation of therapeutic targets, and from drug discovery and development to clinical studies and trials. More information about CHDI can be found at www.chdifoundation.org
About CHDI Management, Inc.
CHDI Management, Inc. was established in 2002 to provide administrative, management and grant making services to CHDI Foundation, Inc.
Salary range: $120,000-220,000. Exact compensation will vary based on experience.