Incubation & Acceleration Lead, Discovery, Frontier Biology (Associate Director) About Astellas: At Astellas we are a progressive health partner, delivering value and outcomes where needed. We pursue innovative science, focussing initially on the areas of greatest potential and then developing solutions where patient need is high, often in rare or under-served disease areas and in life-threatening or life-limiting diseases and conditions. We work directly with patients, doctors and health care professionals on the front line to ensure patient and clinical needs are guiding our development activities at every stage. Our global vision for Patient Centricity is to support the development of innovative health solutions through a deep understanding of the patient experience. At Astellas, Patient Centricity isn't a buzzword - it's a guiding principle for action. We believe all staff have a role to play in creating a patient-centric culture and integrating an awareness of the patient into our everyday working practices, regardless of our role, team or division. We work closely with regulatory authorities and payers to find new ways to ensure access to new therapies. We deliver the latest insights and real-world evidence to inform the best decisions for patients and their care‑givers, to ensure the medicines we develop continue to provide meaningful outcomes. Beyond medicines, we support our stakeholder communities to drive initiatives that improve awareness, education, access and ultimately standards of care. The Opportunity: As the Incubation & Acceleration Lead, Discovery, Frontier Biology you will be involved in nurturing ideas from internal and external sources, including academic and biotech companies in UK/EU area, into drug discovery programs. You will liaise closely with UK based biologists, acting as a hub to effectively connect small ideation teams, identify promising seeds, and manage incubation research effort to create drug discovery projects (DC) while promoting collaboration with chemistry and biologics functions. This role is responsible for overseeing and driving three or more incubation research projects concurrently. It does not include any direct reports. The position sits within Oncology Research and reports to the Head of Discovery, Frontier Biology - Oncology & Immunology Discovery. It is based in Cambridge, United Kingdom. Hybrid Working: At Astellas we recognise the importance of work/life balance, and we are proud to offer a hybrid working solution allowing time to connect with colleagues at the office with the flexibility to also work from home. We believe this will optimise the most productive work environment for all employees to succeed and deliver. Hybrid work from certain locations may be permitted in accordance with Astellas' Responsible Flexibility Guidelines.
* Providing strategic leadership; as a leadership member of the Tumor Immunity biology team, being responsible for developing research strategies and ideation directions, ensuring alignment with the overarching strategy of Cancer Biology.
* Developing a plan for accessing external seeds in collaboration with the CI&PRM team in Oncology Research and Business Development.
* Providing Scientific Leadership & Oversight by identifying the next area of biology to address, considering the linkage between disease pathology and biology. Working with I&A Leads and biologists to provide scientific insights for cancer biology incubation research strategies.
* Committing to create 1 or more DC program a year from the incubation research portfolio.
* Fostering a collaborative, transparent, and creative team environment that drives innovation and invention.
* Working with Head of Frontier Biology to manage team priorities, resources, and investments in alignment with Oncology Research overall strategy and objectives. This position is based in Cambridge UK and will require on‑site work/management in principle. Participation in meetings scheduled for early mornings and late nights is regularly required.
* This position follows our hybrid working model. Role requires a blend of home and a minimum of 3 days per week in our local office. Flexibility may be required in line with business needs. Candidates must be located within a commutable distance of the office.
Extensive experience in the pharmaceutical industry, with deep expertise in relevant areas such as cancer biology, immunology, and immuno‑oncology. Includes several years in research leadership roles.
* Expertise in oncology drug discovery research is a must with a clear track record in the successful preclinical development of therapeutics in Oncology therapeutic area
* Understanding of pharmaceutical product development, manufacturing, and regulatory science
* Contributed to the successful transition of drug candidates to the clinical‑development phase resulting in favourable outcomes.
* Education: PhD, MD or equivalent advanced degree in a life science discipline
* Preferred Experience: Author of over 8 peer‑reviewed publications in biology
* Worked cross‑functionally and within matrix teams.
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