Associate Director, Translational Medicine Lead, Haematology R&D

Associate Director, Translational Medicine Lead, Haematology R&D 

Location: Gaithersburg, MD USA 

Company Overview AstraZeneca is a global, science-led, patient-focused biopharmaceutical company that emphasizes the discovery, development, and commercialization of prescription medicines for some of the world's most serious diseases. We are more than just a leading pharmaceutical company; we cultivate an environment that fosters collaboration and innovation by attracting top talent and nurturing development. 

Department Overview Within Haematology R&D, we are dedicated to advancing science to deliver life-changing medicines to patients in need. Our combination-focused pipeline harnesses the power of multiple scientific platforms—immuno-oncology, tumor drivers and resistance, DNA damage response, antibody-drug conjugates, cell therapy, and epigenetics—to address unmet needs in haematological cancers. Our commitment to scientific discovery and collaboration drives our mission to eliminate cancer as a cause of death, managing the value chain from discovery to late-stage development. 

Translational Medicine (TM) Overview Translational Medicine (TM) transforms haematological cancer biology into actionable insights for therapeutic development and clinical decision-making within the Oncology space. Operating within the Haematology R&D division, TM is responsible for delivering innovative, strategic biomarker studies to support Haematology & Oncology project teams to make decisions. The TM team collaborates closely with preclinical bioscience and discovery, clinical development, and precision medicine & biosamples functions. TM provides robust, scientifically driven biomarkers for all Haematology projects covering leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. This includes assay development, technical validation, and biomarker analysis for clinical samples. TM conducts translational research across early and late-phase clinical engagements, integrating advanced biomarker strategies to enhance therapeutic outcomes. 

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities: 

• Develop and implement comprehensive translational science strategies encompassing patient selection, pharmacodynamics, mechanism of action, and mechanism of resistance for preclinical therapies through Phase 3 clinical studies 

• Deliver robust biomarker strategies and data for clinical studies based on best available science and technologies  

• Accountable for development and deployment of fit for purpose translational assays both internally and or externally  

• Measure target engagement, pharmacodynamic biomarkers, and mechanism of action reliably and quantifiably to inform clinical decisions. 

• Explore mechanisms of resistance of therapies and deliver data to guide decision making 

• Implement translational strategies into clinical studies, including sample collection protocols, laboratory manuals, clinical study protocols, and biomarker analyses in oncology and haematology studies. 

• Analyze target expression, cancer pathway interactions, feedback mechanisms, and tumor microenvironment features in clinical samples to guide rational drug combination strategies across oncology and haematology programs. 

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