SENIOR SCIENTIST: Pre-clinical drug discovery in inflammatory disease at Orphagen Pharmaceuticals

Orphagen Pharmaceuticals is seeking an exceptional PhD level biologist, with a strong background in drug discovery, immunology and animal models of autoimmune disease and inflammation, to join our R&D team in San Diego. At Orphagen, our passion is to discover and develop first-in-class small molecule drugs for the treatment of cancer, neurodegeneration, and inflammatory disease. Our sweet spot is the nuclear receptor family of drug targets, a class of transcription factors that can be modulated by small molecule agonists and antagonists. We focus on target validation and translational research using internally generated lead molecules to characterize disease model pharmacology and advance novel therapeutic candidates into clinical development.

The Senior Scientist role at Orphagen provides a unique opportunity to create and test hypotheses that will drive the development of first-in-class drugs to unexplored members of the nuclear receptor family.

Primary responsibilities:

Develop and implement target validation strategies, including implementation of animal models of gastrointestinal inflammation (e.g. inflammatory bowel disease, graft versus host disease)

Integrate in vivo pharmacological data on first-in-class nuclear receptor-directed lead molecules with mechanisms of disease, developing hypotheses for characterizing pre-clinical disease efficacy and safety.

Execute related drug discovery and development projects ranging from molecular pharmacology assays to non-GLP preclinical safety studies.

Support academic and industry collaborations designed to advance target validation with Orphagen lead compounds in relevant disease models. Generate, interpret, and present data to the scientific community, in grant applications, and to the Orphagen R&D team and management.

Requirements:

• PhD in Immunology, Biology, Pharmacology, or a related field
• Experience developing animal models of inflammatory disease.
• Experience isolating and characterizing immune cells using multi-color flow cytometry and functional assays.
• A background in drug discovery and/or implementation of animal models of disease is strongly preferred.
• Track-record of scientific excellence as evidenced by publications, a patent record, and/or professional references. 
• As part of a small, highly interactive team with matrixed project responsibilities, you must demonstrate strong verbal and written communication skills and an ability to work independently.

ABOUT ORPHAGEN

Orphagen is a global leader in developing first-in-class drug candidates to unexplored members of the nuclear receptor family. We have a strong non-dilutive funding track record and an ongoing revenue stream based on grants and drug development partnerships.

We’ve developed a critical mass of know-how and small molecule I.P. at several orphan nuclear receptors, and our discovery engine has led to the development of multiple clinical candidates for autoimmunity and cancer.

Our culture is focused on innovation, and we strive to innovate every day, for the benefit of patients, to find new therapies, and for the joy of discovery.