In my previous roles, I have led multidisciplinary teams in both small molecule and biomarker discovery in the Biotechnology Industry, as well as an academic research team focused on the cellular and molecular mechanisms of age-related muscle atrophy and weakness. From these roles, my successes are measured in high quality publications, grant awards, invited speakerships at national and international conferences, setting the scientific vision of new drug discovery programs targeting previously ‘undruggable’ targets, and building the team to implement the vision. Importantly, my successes demonstrate my effectiveness in people and project management, stakeholder engagement and collaboration, innovation and problem solving, and my communication skills.
In my previous role as Associate Director of US Discovery Biology at Exscientia (now Recursion Pharmaceuticals), I successfully led multiple AI-enabled cross-functional matrixed teams focused on small molecule drug discovery in the Oncology/Immuno-Oncology (IO) space (solid tumors). Specifically, I led the team that identified a small molecule Best-in-Class GPCR-targeting drug candidate (DC). In addition, I spearheaded an effort (leading a team of 6) to identify a blood-based patient enrichment biomarker for a novel tumor microenvironment (TME) modulating small molecule discovery program. Importantly, my background in the ‘Hallmarks of Aging’ gave me the insights to think outside of the oncology-box to identify factors (subsequently validated for both ‘age related’ and ‘patient enrichment’ biomarkers) in order to identify pancreatic or breast cancer patients highly likely to respond to the small molecules I was developing. In order to succeed, I talked with knowledge and opinion leaders (KOLs), forged and sustained collaborations with clinical research organizations (CROs), industry peers and academic bodies, built internal teams, established budgets and timelines, and set the vision for these programs at all levels. Importantly, I coached my team through the develoMore...