The Head of Human Genetics will join an existing (and evolving) data science group at G2D2 and will encounter a corporate culture that is very motivated to apply human genetics and other data-driven approaches to R&D at every level of the organization. Given the scope of the group’s operations and remit, the successful candidate will lead a team of statistical and computational geneticists to achieve this goal.
Primary Responsibilities:
Lead global efforts to monitor Eisai’s discovery pipeline projects and identify opportunities for human biology and data science to impact decision making. Coordinate with subject matter experts in and outside of the team to ensure appropriate analyses are conducted and shared with the project teams in support of this goal.
Lead a team of Ph.D.-level scientists with expertise in human genetics and the application of genetics to program and portfolio decision-making. The team is responsible for leveraging human genetics to identify novel targets, biomarkers, indications, potential safety risks, and target patient populations.
Identify, initiate, and execute collaborations with academic, biotech, and other pharma partners to produce insights capable of impacting program and portfolio decision-making.
Develop short-term and long-term plans for evolving the Human Genetics function to meet Eisai’s current and future needs, and propose and manage investment as appropriate.
Communicate the Human Genetics strategy, project status, and key results to internal and external colleagues from a variety of scientific backgrounds, including corporate senior leadership.
Collaborate with colleagues in Clinical Research and Development and engage with CROs to conduct exploratory genome-wide genotyping/Next-generation sequencing and genetic analyses of Eisai’s clinical trials.
Provide human genetics support to local and global stakeholders in Discovery Research, Translational Research, Clinical Research, and Commercial functions.
Lead the design and development of computational systems and standards in order to ensure the team works in a manner consistent with modern best practices and reproducible research standards. Collaborate with colleagues in Informatics and IT to assess needs and develop computational resources for conducting genetic analysis and interpretation of results.
Provide mentorship and training to scientists from a variety of backgrounds who are interested in further developing human genetics skills. Provide consultation advice as needed to Eisai’s digital ecosystem and venture groups.
Publish/present on key findings as appropriate.
Qualifications/Skills:
Ph.D. in Human Genetics, Genomics, or a related discipline.
5-10 years experience in the biopharmaceutical industry applying human genetics to drive drug discovery and development.
Experience as a member or leader of drug discovery project teams and a demonstrated track record of effectively communicating shifts in project strategy suggested by genetics is required. To the extent that it supports effective communication in this area, a background in biology, pharmacology, chemistry, or another related field may be preferred.
Experience leading collaborations with top research groups worldwide in the genetics of neurological diseases as well as population-scale genetic research is required.
Experience leading strategies to leverage genetics of cellular, molecular, and imaging-based biomarkers is required.
Familiarity with the global vendor landscape for contract research relating to human genetics (genotyping, data curation, etc.) is required.
Familiarity with a variety of therapeutic modalities, including small molecule, ASO, antibody-based therapeutics, gene therapy, etc. is required.
Excellent oral and written communication skills and the ability to function as a productive member of cross-disciplinary teams is required.
Excellent organizational and management skills are required.
The ability to thrive in a flexible, goal-oriented environment is required.
Eisai has been dedicated for decades to the pursuit of novel therapeutics to improve the lives of people suffering from dementia and their families. Recognizing the potential for human genetics, data sciences and precision chemistry to disrupt the drug discovery paradigm, Eisai launched the Eisai Center for Genetics Guided Dementia Discovery (G2D2) in 2019 to accelerate the discovery of innovative therapeutics. G2D2 is a unique drug discovery organization driven by a diverse group of passionate, dedicated and collaborative scientists committed to one goal: delivering breakthroughs for patients and their families. All Eisai employees, as part of the company’s human health care (hhc) mission, spend at least 1% of their working time with patients and families to ensure that the innovation we drive is based on an understanding of their real needs.
At G2D2, we focus on how human genetics and other human biology data may identify and validate therapeutic targets with increased likelihood of success in clinical trials, and utilize this data to guide selection of the best approaches to design new therapeutics and the selection of strategies to deliver these therapeutics to the right pati...ent at the right time. Recognizing the obvious alignment between human genetics and nucleic acid modalities, our precision chemistry strategy is to directly validate human biology hypotheses by utilizing our unique RNA targeting therapeutic platform. G2D2’s expertise in harnessing molecular complexity (stereochemistry and topology) to successfully discover and develop natural product based therapeutics has been applied to create an evolving unique nucleic acid immunotherapeutic platform that is being employed globally in multiple clinical and pre-clinical programs at Eisai.
G2D2’s cutting-edge 50,000-square-foot facility is strategically located in Cambridge, MA, to accelerate collaborations with leading research institutes in this world-class biotech hub. Our facility has been designed around an open-lab concept, enabling scientists with multi-disciplinary backgrounds to work together in a single integrated lab space. Our labs include state-of-the-art capabilities that support the variety of disciplines located at the site, including medicinal and process chemistry, in-vitro and in-vivo biology, microscopy, DMPK, drug safety, chemical and structural biology, automation and screening, and more. G2D2 is home to Eisai’s US discovery data science teams, which support global discovery efforts using cutting-edge analytical approaches. G2D2 is also home to other global Eisai functions, including global health, DMPK, Safety, IP, oncology, thus providing a rich environment for cross-functional interaction. Our office is designed to foster an atmosphere of mission-driven and collaborative science, using new collaboration tools and technologies, and is being optimized to support a hybrid work environment.
At Eisai, we highly value both internal and external collaboration and pursue flexible research models with a range of external scientific partners to accelerate delivery of innovative medicines. To this end, the G2D2 facility includes the Eisai Innovation Center Biolabs, which provides space and infrastructure to start-up/spin-out companies conducting high-risk but potentially transformative research that can impact the discovery of breakthrough therapeutics.
More information about G2D2 is provided here (http://eisai.mediaroom.com/2018-06-12-Eisai-Inc-to-Launch-Center-for-Genetics-Guided-Dementia-Discovery-in-Cambridge-Massachusetts) and here (https://us.eisai.com/research/g2d2), and about Eisai's strategy and pipeline are provided here (https://www.eisai.com/index.html).
The Genetics Guided Dementia Discovery (G2D2) site is home to a core group of data scientists supporting Eisai’s Worldwide Research and Development portfolio. The Head of Human Genetics in the Discovery Data Sciences group is a key leader of this group and has specific responsibilities for genetics strategy and execution. While the focus is expected to be on impacting the R&D pipeline, this position will also serve as the subject matter expert for human genetics within neurology, oncology, and infectious disease, providing expert scientific guidance to impact commercial, digital, and investment activities across the company.