Senior Director, Head of Translational Medicine & Biomarker Discovery

Job Description

The Company

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Ailux is an innovative biotechnology company focused on discovering and developing next-generation biologic therapeutics for chronic respiratory and immunological diseases with high unmet medical need. The company integrates advanced computational approaches with rigorous experimental and translational science across the drug discovery continuum, enabling faster and more informed decision-making from target identification through clinical candidate selection.

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As an AI-native biotech and wholly owned subsidiary of XtalPi, Ailux combines proprietary computational models with state-of-the-art wet lab capabilities to design differentiated therapeutics against challenging biological targets. The company has established strategic partnerships with leading pharmaceutical organisations, providing external validation of its scientific platform and discovery capabilities. Looking ahead, Ailux’s vision is to build a fully integrated, end-to-end drug discovery and development organisation capable of delivering the next generation of medicines for patients with chronic respiratory and immunological diseases. By combining advanced AI capabilities with deep biological, translational and clinical insight, the company aims to accelerate the development of differentiated therapeutics with meaningful impact for patients worldwide.

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Backed by an experienced leadership team, leading scientific advisors and a highly multidisciplinary organisation, Ailux is approaching a key inflection point as its first wave of therapeutic programmes advances toward clinical development. This is an opportunity to help shape the scientific foundations, pipeline and culture of a rapidly growing biotechnology company operating at the intersection of AI, translational science and next-generation therapeutics.

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Role Overview

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The Head of Translational Medicine & Biomarker Discovery (TMBD) is a senior scientific leadership role responsible for translating biological insights into clinical development strategies and patient-focused outcomes across the Ailux pipeline. The role provides strategic and scientific leadership across translational medicine, biomarker discovery and development, human target validation, target engagement, mechanism of action (MoA), and precision medicine and reports in to the Head of Translational Research. The Head of TMBD will ensure that robust, integrated translational strategies are established and executed across portfolio programmes, enabling high-quality decisions throughout the drug development lifecycle and increasing the probability of clinical and regulatory success.

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A key focus of the role is to establish and deliver fit-for-purpose biomarker strategies, from discovery through clinical deployment. This includes identifying and validating biomarkers that demonstrate target engagement, elucidate MoA, support patient selection and stratification, monitor pharmacodynamic effects, and inform clinical decision-making. The Head of TMBD will also lead the Biomarker Discovery and Assay team, driving the application of innovative and contemporary molecular technologies to identify, develop and operationalise clinically relevant biomarkers. The role will foster a culture of scientific excellence, innovation and collaboration, ensuring that emerging technologies are effectively translated into meaningful drug development applications. The role has accountability for the legally compliant, ethical and efficient management and use of human biological samples (HBS) across translational activities. This includes establishing appropriate sampling strategies within clinical development plans, ensuring operational feasibility for biomarker interrogation, maintaining robust governance and SOPs, and acting as the organisational focal point for HBS-related activities. As a member of the transitional leadership team, the Head of TMBD will contribute to the development and implementation of Ailux’s broader translational strategy and provide expert scientific leadership across multidisciplinary project teams.

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Key Accountabilities & Responsibilities

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Translational Medicine & Biomarker Strategy

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• Develop and execute integrated translational science strategies from early discovery through clinical development.
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• Design and implement clinical biomarker strategies to guide decision-making, dose selection, risk mitigation, and patient stratification.
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• Provide scientific expertise on human target validation, mechanism of action (MoA), target engagement, and clinical sampling strategies.
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Biomarker Discovery & Assay Development

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• Lead the Biomarker Discovery and Assay team in identifying, validating, and deploying target engagement and pharmacodynamic assays for clinical studies.
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• Drive the application of innovative molecular technologies to accelerate biomarker discovery and translational insights.
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• Integrate laboratory-based biomarker data with pharmacology and clinical datasets to inform programme decisions.
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Scientific & Organisational Leadership

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• Provide strategic scientific guidance across multidisciplinary project teams and serve as a subject-matter expert across Research and Development.
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• Build external collaborations with academic institutions, biotech/pharma partners, and experts.
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• Manage, mentor, and build organizational capabilities within the translational medicine team.
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Human Biological Samples (HBS) & Governance

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• Own the governance and operational framework for the compliant, ethical, and efficient use of HBS.
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• Establish HBS sampling strategies within clinical development plans, maintaining SOPs and providing team training.
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• Oversee the collection, processing, storage, and biobanking of HBS in compliance with legal, ethical, and regulatory standards.
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Quality, Compliance & Risk Management

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• Ensure team compliance with GLP, GCP, HSE, internal policies, and external regulations.
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• Identify and mitigate scientific, operational, and regulatory risks across translational activities.
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Experience & Skills

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• Education & Experience: PhD (or equivalent) in a relevant scientific discipline with 10+ years in pharmaceutical R&D and drug development.
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• Domain Expertise: Deep knowledge of immunology and/or respiratory disease biology, therapeutic mechanisms, and clinical development.
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• Translational & Biomarker Leadership: Proven track record in developing translational/biomarker strategies, leading laboratory assay development, and deploying assays into clinical trials.
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• HBS & Governance: Strong understanding of regulatory, ethical, and operational requirements for Human Biological Samples.
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• Leadership & Collaboration: Demonstrated experience leading scientific teams, managing external collaborations, and communicating effectively with senior leadership.
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Desirable

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• Experience in precision medicine, patient stratification, or companion diagnostics (CDx).
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• Track record of taking biomarkers from discovery through analytical validation to clinical implementation.
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• Hands-on experience with advanced molecular profiling technologies (e.g., multi-omics).
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• Experience supporting regulatory submissions/interactions or working in a fast-paced biotech environment.
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