Team / Research Leader (Translational Oncology), London, Lausanne

Isomorphic Labs (IsoLabs) was launched in 2021 to advance human health by building on and beyond the Nobel-winning AlphaFold system. Since then, our interdisciplinary team of drug discovery experts and machine learning specialists has built powerful new predictive and generative AI models that accelerate scientific discovery at digital speed.

Our name comes from the belief that there is an underlying symmetry between biology and information science. By harnessing AI’s powerful capabilities, we can use it to model complex biological phenomena to help design novel molecules, anticipate how drugs will perform and develop innovative medicines to treat and cure some of the world’s most devastating diseases.

We have built a world-leading drug design engine comprising AI models that are capable of working across multiple therapeutic areas and drug modalities. We are continually innovating on model architecture and developing cutting-edge capabilities to advance rational drug design.

Every day, and with each new breakthrough, we’re getting closer to the promise of digital biology, and achieving our ambitious mission to one day solve all disease with the help of AI.

We are seeking a Senior Translational Oncologist to serve as a key scientific leader to develop and execute the complete translational strategy for our diverse oncology pipeline, spanning multiple therapeutic modalities. You will work in a deeply collaborative, interdisciplinary partnership with our Computational Biology, AI/ML, Drug Design and Clinical teams. In this vital role, you will also be expected to line manage a team of Biologists, driving projects from discovery through to early clinical development.

Your primary objective is to define the path to the clinic, and build the biomarker and patient selection strategies that ensure we get the right drug to the right patient, providing robust evidence that the target molecular profiles of AI-designed oncology drugs translate into desirable target product profiles.

• →Translational Strategy: Design, lead, and execute comprehensive translational strategies for our oncology portfolio, establishing a clear line-of-sight from preclinical validation to clinical efficacy.
• →Oncology Model Implementation: Ensure Isomorphic labs is choosing and accessing the most appropriate state-of-the-art in vivo and ex vivo cancer models (e.g. PDX, tumour organoids, syngeneic models, and complex co-cultures) to rigorously test mechanism of efficacy, resistance mechanisms, patient stratification, and dosing regimens.
• →Biomarker & PoC: Develop and implement robust biomarker and pharmacodynamic (PD) strategies, informed by in silico predictions, to secure early clinical proof-of-concept and guide patient selection in conjunction with Translational Medicine.
• →AI/ML Partnership: Serve as the key oncology expert in a "computational-experimental" feedback loop. You will collaborate with Computational Biologists and ML Engineers to interpret in silico findings, design critical validation experiments, and integrate high-dimensional experimental data back into the AI platform to refine our models.
• →Team Leadership & Development: Lead a small team of drug discovery scientists who are responsible for the biology strategy in oncology drug discovery projects. Provide scientific leadership and mentorship, fostering a culture of high performance, innovation, and rigorous scientific inquiry.
• →Regulatory Contribution: Author and provide expert contribution to the translational and biomarker sections of key internal documents and external regulatory filings (e.g. INDs).
  
  
  

• PhD in Oncology or Cancer Biology, or a related scientific discipline, or equivalent industrial experience.
• 10+ years’ professional experience in a pharmaceutical or biotech setting.
• Proven track record in translational science, pharmacology, and biomarker development within oncology.
• Deep, expert-level understanding of cancer biology, including oncogenic signaling pathways, the tumor microenvironment (TME), and mechanisms of drug resistance.
• Demonstrable success in building comprehensive translational packages (e.g. PK/PD, efficacy, and biomarker strategies) that have guided programs from discovery into early clinical development.
• Expert knowledge in developing and utilising innovative translational models (e.g. human ex vivo assays, complex in vivo models) to probe disease biology and drug response.
• Proven experience in a leadership role, specifically managing direct reports and leading biology or translational sub-teams from program inception to clinical candidate delivery.
• Strong understanding of the competitive landscape in oncology and current standards of care.
• Exceptional communication skills, with a proven ability to "speak the language" of both computational scientists and discovery biologists, fostering true interdisciplinary collaboration.

• Understanding of (and enthusiasm for) how AI/ML models are used in drug discovery.
• Experience with diverse therapeutic modalities, including small molecules, biologics (ADCs, bispecifics), or novel modalities.
• Proven drug discovery project leadership from target selection through to candidate nomination.

We are guided by our shared values. It's not about finding people who think and act in the same way. These values help to guide our work and will continue to strengthen it. 

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