Position Summary
We are seeking an accomplished leader to join our team as
Senior/Executive Director of Antibody Development
. This role will own the end-to-end design and build-out of our antibody-based brain delivery platforms and derivative therapeutics. The ideal candidate shall have comprehensive expertise in the full biologics development lifecycle, from target receptor selection, binder discovery, through biologics engineering, small-scale manufacturing, in-vitro/in-vivo validation, and IND-enabling translation, with a focus on crossing the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and creating multi-modal conjugates.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead and oversee all aspects of antibody development programs, from
target identification, validation, and antibody discovery
through
preclinical and clinical studies
. - Define scientific strategy and guide cross-functional teams in antibody engineering, optimization, pharmacology, and translational development.
- Partner with research, clinical, and regulatory teams to ensure seamless advancement of programs through development milestones.
- Have deep knowledge of the following know-hows
- Discovery & engineering
- Antigen design.
- Binder discovery through various platforms
- Bi/Multi-Specific biologics creation and optimization
- Manufacture & analytics
- Transient/stable expression (HEK/CHO), Protein A and orthogonal purification; analytical panel: SEC-MALS, CE-SDS, icIEF, DSC/DSF, SPR/BLI, endotoxin, sub-visible particles, etc.
- Early formulation screens; stress/stability/liquid-high-concentration risk assessment.
- Pharmacology and translation
- Target validation and biomarker development
- In vitro and in vivo antibody profiling
- PK/PD study design and modeling
- CMC/Reg/Nonclinical integration; author sections of IND/IMPD
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with
CNS targets
and an understanding of the unique challenges of developing biologics for neurological indications. - Knowledge of
blood-brain barrier (BBB) biology
and strategies for enhancing antibody delivery across the BBB. - Experience with development of
brain delivery technologies
(antibody, peptide etc.) - Experience with
antibody-oligo
(ASO, siRNA etc.) development. Publications or patents in BBB-crossing technologies or multi-specific biologics. - Familiarity with regulatory requirements for IND-enabling studies.
Qualifications
- Ph.D., (or equivalent) in Immunology, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, or a related field.
- Extensive experience (8+ years)
in antibody drug discovery and development, including leadership of programs through IND submission and clinical studies. - Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and manage complex projects at the interface of research and clinical development.
- Strong knowledge of antibody engineering, therapeutic antibody modalities, and translational development pathways.
- Demonstrated success in advancing programs from
concept to clinic
. - Domain Knowledge
: Understanding of neurodegenerative diseases, neuroinflammation, and aging biology. Familiarity with modalities like oligos and peptides for CNS delivery. - Soft Skills
: Excellent problem-solving, project management, and communication abilities. Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.