Associate Director, Drug Discovery - IAMI

Department:

SOM EVC Institute for Advancing Medical Innovation (IAMI)

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Institute for Advancing Medical Innovation

Position Title:

Associate Director, Drug Discovery - IAMI

Job Family Group:

Professional Staff

Job Description Summary:

The Associate Director, Drug Discovery will be a major contributor to the strategic development and shaping the success of the Institute for Advancing Medical Innovation (IAMI). He/she will work closely with the Director, leadership team, project managers, IAMI entrepreneurs-in-residence, and external collaborators to drive scientifically robust drug discovery within IAMI from the biology/chemistry interface through in vivo preclinical proof of principle and clinical proof of concept. Specifically, this translational science position will direct the scientific aspects of small molecule, cellular therapeutic, biologic, and radiopharmaceutical drug discovery and development projects from conception into clinical development. This position will also serve to train and educate graduate students, postdoctoral trainees, tenure-track faculty and clinician scientists in the principles of entrepreneurship and innovation to further develop the pipeline of medical innovation technologies. The Associate Director for Drug Discovery will report directly into the Director of IAMI. The role will hold adjunct or tenure-track appointment(s) in appropriate department(s) within the University of Kansas Medical Center. This position will direct IAMI’s immunotherapeutic discovery and development programs and will provide necessary input to IAMI investment decisions required to translate laboratory and bedside discoveries into medical innovation technologies. The Associate Director for Immunotherapeutic Drug Discovery and Development will work closely with product development teams, KUCTC, and IAMI’s private sector partner, BioNovus Innovations LLC, to define drug discovery and development plans, patenting, and licensing strategies necessary to advance IAMI projects through early development. This position will support the University’s major research priorities including but not limited to the University of Kansas Comprehensive Cancer Center (KUCC), Frontiers Institute for Clinical and Translational Research, other research initiatives across University of Kansas campuses, as well as in support of our consortium partners, notably Children’s Mercy Kansas City and the Stowers Institute for Medical Research. Additionally, this position will interact with both local and national key opinion leaders, entrepreneurs, and business development partners in the private and not-for-profit sectors to further advance KUCC priorities. Tenure track appointments are full-time with an initial probationary period of seven years. Criteria for promotion includes significant achievements in teaching, research/scholarship, and service. The award of tenure is based on potential for sustained contributions, performing beyond expected duties, and demonstrating leadership and innovation in activities that enhance the reputation of the University.

Job Description:

Key Roles and Responsibilities:

• Lead the creation and advancement of all new IAMI drug discovery programs

• Lead development and refinement of strategic plans which define internal drug discovery competencies and capabilities as well as partnerships with external partners to support a rich project portfolio

• Support execution of licensing and partnering strategies

• Monitor the management of alliance relationships as the relationship manager

• Assist the Director in establishing and managing partnerships and collaborations with government agencies, philanthropic organizations, patient advocacy groups, academic institutions and industry

• In conjunction with the University’s General Counsel’s Office and KUCTC, support negotiations of legal agreements including contracts, material transfer agreements and patent filings

• Communicate and collaborate with KUCTC on IAMI projects

• Participate in providing learning opportunities to undergraduate and graduate students, professional students, postdoctoral trainees, residents, fellows, tenure-track faculty as well as research staff in therapeutic, diagnostic, and medical device development including pursuit of NIH training grants

• Working with faculty across KU and KUMC campuses as well as partner institutions, assisting teams in translating laboratory and bedside discoveries into drug discovery and development projects through external grants, through the utilization of university research infrastructure

• Support advancement of immunotherapeutic drug discovery and development projects from conception through clinical proof of concept across all therapeutic areas including