Reporting to Director of Translational in Respiratory Immunology Translational Unit (RITU), the Associate Director Translational Leader will be responsible for project translational strategies within the wider context of innovative disease focused initiatives to inform that will increase the probability of success of preclinical to clinical transitions and allow for earlier and higher confidence project-related decision makings. This will include generation of foundational data as well as disease biomarkers development and validation that allow timely deployment of tools/biomarkers that can support detection of Proof of Mechanism (PoM), signs of clinical efficacy, and Proof of Concept (PoC), and pairing MoAs with patient subtypes to predict rapid or complete responder populations in respiratory, immunology, or emerging specialities. As a leader in RITU you will work closely across translational & biology lines, with GSK matrix partners, and external collaborators. The individual will lead initiatives to increase portfolio value through the application of cutting-edge single cell technologies, techniques and analytics aligned to; complex in vitro models, tissues, biopsies and organs, to develop deeper disease knowledge to inform target pathways and candidate molecule packages/rationales rooted in human disease pathological relevance.

Key Responsibilities:

• Translational Leadership:
  • Provide strategic leadership, guidance to Disease Teams, project teams and other key stakeholders of RIRU enabling the development and execution of translational disease strategies, including access to bio-samples, to support the discovery and development of novel differentiated therapeutics.

• Translational innovation:
  • Evaluate novel techniques and technologies (i.e. spatial transcriptomics) to inform translational initiatives, biomarker development and validation working in collaboration with platform teams and within a multi-functional matrix environment.
  • iIdentify and guide validation of human assays (cells, tissues and organs) to enhance human translation and predictive value through the application of resources such as the Human Cell Atlas and disease tissue multi-omics data (external or proprietary).

• Disease Biomarker Strategy Development:
  • Partner with Disease Teams and Precision Medicine to identify and establish disease biomarkers for decision making throughout clinical development phases and aligned with the overall research and development goals. This will include the identification, prioritisation and validation of disease relevant biomarkers, mechanistic/surrogate biomarkers, patient stratification, and differentiated response prediction.

• Cross-functional Collaboration:
  • Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams including Translational, Disease Teams, biology groups, platforms, HBSM, Precision Medicine, Data-Sciences, Regulatory Affairs, and Business Development and Commercial to ensure seamless integration of translational research and biomarker strategies across the drug development lifecycle.
  • Provide scientific expertise and guidance to support decision-making and project progression.

• External Partnerships:
  • Establish and maintain strategic collaborations with academic institutions, contract research organizations (CROs), and other external partners to access cutting-edge technologies, tools, reagents, bio-samples, biomarker expertise, and research capabilities.

• Matrix Leadership:
  • Provide guidance and support to team members in experimental approaches/design, data analysis, and interpretation.
  • Stay updated with the latest scientific advancements and technologies in the field of translational science and biomarkers.
  • Manage project level resources, budgets, and timelines to ensure the successful execution of projects and achievement of milestones and RITU objectives.

Basic Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in a relevant scientific discipline (e.g., Immunology, Cell/Molecular Biology, Genetics, or related field) with experience in translational and biomarker development within the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry.
• Disease area experience in at least one of the following disease areas: neurodegeneration, renal disease, or hepatology.
• Scientific experience in translational science/research and biomarkers demonstrated through publications and contributions to the field.
• Technology experience supporting the design and interpretation of data from several of the following methods/assays: DNA and RNA sequencing technologies, spatial histology or transcriptomics, single cell sequencing, and other emerging technologies and commercial platforms.
• Experience in bioinformatic / computational methods supporting integrated analysis and interpretation of translational and biomarker-related data sets.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Excellent inclusive skillsets, with the ability to create psychological safety, inspire and motivate a multidisciplinary team of scientists towards achieving common goals.
• Experience in leading and managing high performing cross-functional teams, creating a culture of accountability, collaboration, inclusion, growth, and development.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and implement new scientific strategies.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively communicate complex scientific concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences in a balanced, clear and precise manner, including effective stakeholder management..
• Strong project management skills, with the ability to prioritize and manage projects to meet timelines while maintaining attention to detail and high-performance standards.
• Knowledge of regulatory requirements, industry standards, best practices and compliance considerations in Translational Research and biomarker development and validation
• Strong problem-solving and critical-thinking skills.
• Ability to adapt to a fast-paced and evolving research environment.

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