Associate Director - AAV Technology

Over 900+ clinical trials validate that gene therapies are transforming the practice of medicine. You will have an opportunity to join the NIBR Biologics Center (NBC) and be at the cutting edge, leading the development of innovative medicines that can improve lives of patients.<br><br>NBC builds the biologics pipeline in collaboration with NIBR Disease Areas and Platforms via a breadth of technologies for discovery of antibody, protein and gene therapy-based therapeutics.<br><br>The Biotherapeutic Engineering and Gene Therapy (BEGT) group within NBC drives a diverse portfolio of modalities including therapeutic proteins, multi-specific antibodies, CAR-T, RNA therapeutics and rAAV. Through cell and viral engineering as well as innovative and rational protein design, the BEGT group is a global team that works collaboratively with disease area groups to broaden the use of biologics into therapeutic applications where conventional antibodies have limitations.<br><br>What you'll be doing:<br><br>As a Senior Principal Scientist part of the NBC/BEGT Next Generation AAV group in San Diego, CA, you will have an unique opportunity to be at the cutting edge of cell and gene therapy field, and lead and contribute to the development of innovative medicines for patients devastated by diseases in collaboration with partners across the global Novartis research and development network.<br><br>Responsibilities:<br><br>• Lead, oversee and/or participate in next generation AAV projects across multiple Novartis sites to enable gene therapy platform advances and novel therapeutic capabilities in close collaboration with disease area leaders and global project teams.<br>• Undertake and lead efforts to develop more potent, safer and tolerable AAV vectors. The mechanisms in scope include, but are not limited to, reduction of immune response, spatial/temporal regulated expression control strategies, circuit engineering, transcriptional/post-transcriptional aspects and strategies for high throughput optimization of AAV vector components.<br>• Enable translation from in vitro/in vivo POC studies to therapeutic disease programs for preclinical development.<br>• Initiate, lead and contribute to interdisciplinary research programs in a highly collaborative and matrixed manner across internal groups and with external partners.<br>• Experience and familiarity with neuromuscular, cardiovascular, liver, and/or lung diseases are a plus.<br>• Prepare reports, manuscripts and protocols, adhering to the good research practices and quality culture across NIBR. Present results at appropriate internal and external meetings and conferences.<br>• Other related duties as assigned.<br>[#video#https://youtu.be/ggbnzRY9z8w{#400,300#}#/video#]