Vice President of Biology (San Diego)

About the Company

Institutionally backed biotech focused on neuroscience and the development of novel therapeutics.

Position Overview

We are seeking a Senior Director or Vice President of Biology to lead therapeutic program execution

from discovery through investigational new drug (IND) submission, with direct responsibility for the 

biology, pharmacology, and nonclinical toxicology workstreams. This leader will own program 

strategy and timelines and use experimental results to guide candidate selection and program 

advancement.

The role is centered on target biology, pharmacology, and translation. The successful candidate will 

lead and grow an existing team of approximately seven scientists, take direct responsibility for 

nonhuman primate (NHP) studies, and establish the assays and translational frameworks needed to 

connect binding, internalization, exposure, and pharmacology with program decisions for peptide 

targeting ligands used in therapeutic fusions and conjugates.

This is a player-coach role for a scientific leader who remains close to experiment design, raw data, 

and program decisions. This leader will carry the biology, pharmacology, and toxicology work 

through IND submission, then work with the executive team to transition primary program leadership 

as the program enters clinical development. In the near term this position reports directly to the 

CEO.

We will calibrate the title to the candidate’s experience and breadth. A Vice President candidate 

should be ready to lead the full biology function and have the potential to expand into broader 

Research leadership. A Senior Director candidate may bring a narrower initial scope while 

demonstrating the ability to grow into greater responsibility.

Key Responsibilities

Therapeutic Program Leadership

• Own integrated program strategies, timelines, milestones, and decision criteria from discovery 

through IND submission, with particular accountability for biology, pharmacology, and toxicology.

• Translate target biology and pharmacology findings into clear recommendations on study 

design, candidate selection, program risk, and advancement.

• Lead milestone-based program reviews, identify critical scientific questions, and support 

evaluation of new targets by assessing biological rationale, translational feasibility, and program 

risk.

3210 Merryfield 

San Diego, CA 9212

Diaxis Therapeutics, 

NHP and Translational Pharmacology

• Own the design, execution, and interpretation of NHP studies, including model and endpoint 

selection, dose and sampling strategy, direction of contract research organizations (CROs), and 

integration of study results into program decisions.

• Develop a credible blood-brain barrier translation strategy using the pharmacological tools 

needed to understand binding, internalization, exposure, biodistribution, PK/PD, efficacy, and 

tolerability.

• Direct in vitro assay development, in vivo pharmacology, disease models, translational studies, 

and nonclinical safety and toxicology work needed to support an IND.

• Evaluate data across studies and modalities, resolve conflicting results, and define follow-up 

experiments that address the most important program risks.

Assay Strategy and Program Translation

• Develop and apply fit-for-purpose cellular and translational assays that connect target 

engagement, binding, internalization, trafficking, and cellular activity with program decisions.

• Integrate biochemical, cellular, pharmacology, PK/PD, biodistribution, and in vivo data to guide 

candidate selection, study design, and advancement decisions.

• Translate findings from peptide targeting-ligand fusions and conjugates into clear hypotheses, 

success criteria, and follow-up experiments for therapeutic programs.

• Collaborate with peptide, biochemistry, conjugation, and other research colleagues to interpret 

results, identify program risks, and define the data needed to resolve them.

Team Leadership and Research Operations

• Lead, develop, and expand a team of scientists across in vitro and in vivo pharmacology, 

identifying capability gaps and adding talent as the portfolio advances.

• Remain hands-on in experimental design, data review, and scientific troubleshooting; provide 

practical support in the laboratory when the team needs it.

• Set standards for experimental rigor, data quality, documentation, and reproducibility, and 

establish a research operating model that can scale with the portfolio.

• Set priorities and allocate internal and external resources against program milestones, including

management of CROs, study budgets, and external scientific partners.

IND Transition and Communication

• Partner with the executive leadership as programs approach IND submission, retain leadership 

of the biology, pharmacology, and toxicology work through submission, and provide the scientific

continuity needed for an effective transition into clinical development.

• Present program plans, data, risks, and recommendations clearly to company leadership and 

cross-functional teams.

• Contribute scientific expertise to intellectual property, regulatory, and partnering activities as 

programs advance.

3210 Merryfield 

San Diego, CA 9212

Diaxis Therapeutics, 

Qualifications

Required Experience

• PhD in pharmacology, biology, neuroscience, biochemistry, or a related discipline.

• Substantial biotechnology or pharmaceutical industry experience leading therapeutic discovery 

and preclinical programs through candidate selection, IND-enabling work, and IND submission.

• Direct ownership of nonhuman primate and nonclinical safety or toxicology studies, including 

study design, CRO execution, data interpretation, and program decisions based on the results.

• Deep pharmacology experience spanning relevant in vitro assays and in vivo models, with the 

ability to integrate binding, internalization, exposure, biodistribution, PK/PD, efficacy, and safety 

or tolerability data.

• A demonstrated ability to learn new indications and disease biology quickly. Prior expertise in a 

specific therapeutic area is not required.

• Experience leading scientific teams and external research partners, with clear communication 

and the judgment to make recommendations when data are incomplete or conflicting.

• A hands-on operating style suited to an early-stage company, including direct involvement in 

experiment design, data review, troubleshooting, and program planning.

Additional Experience That Would Be Valuable

• Experience with blood-brain barrier biology, CNS delivery, receptor-mediated transport, or 

another targeted delivery system.

• Experience with peptide discovery, engineering, chemistry, biochemistry, or pharmacology, 

particularly peptide targeting ligands and their use in therapeutic fusions or conjugates.

• Deep expertise in at least one relevant therapeutic modality and the ability to work across 

biologics, fusions, conjugates, and other complex therapeutics.

• Experience building research capabilities in an early-stage biotechnology company, with the 

breadth and potential to assume broader Research leadership as the company grows.

Growth Potential

The immediate priority is internal scientific and program leadership rather than serving as the 

external face of the company. Over time, a successful leader may expand into broader Research 

and scientific leadership. At the Vice President level, the role may also grow to include leadership of 

confidential scientific diligence, presentation of the company’s platform and programs, preparation of

responses to technical questions, and potential progression toward a Chief Scientific Officer role.