Section Head for Multiple Sclerosis and Fluid Biomarkers, pRED Neuroscience and Rare Diseases (NRD)

Roche fosters diversity, equity and inclusion, representing the communities we serve. When dealing with healthcare on a global scale, diversity is an essential ingredient to success. We believe that inclusion is key to understanding people’s varied healthcare needs. Together, we embrace individuality and share a passion for exceptional care. Join Roche, where every voice matters.

The Position

A healthier future. It’s what drives us to innovate. To continuously advance science and ensure everyone has access to the healthcare they need today and for generations to come. Creating a world where we all have more time with the people we love. That’s what makes us Roche.

In Roche’s Pharmaceutical Research and Early Development organization (pRED) , we make transformative medicines for patients to tackle some of the world’s toughest unmet healthcare needs. At pRED, we are united by our mission to transform science into medicine. Together, we create a culture defined by curiosity, responsibility and humility, where our talented people are empowered and inspired to bring forward extraordinary life-changing innovation at speed.

Within Roche’s Pharma Research and Early Development (pRED), Neuroscience & Rare Diseases (NRD) represents a major focus area where we are committed to realizing our long-term vision of changing the lives of patients with severe brain disorders. Our preclinical research and early clinical development activities center around large and rare indications within the four major pillars of neurodevelopmental and neuromuscular disorders, movement disorders, dementias, and multiple sclerosis (NRD). With unparalleled strengths across diverse disciplines, Roche is uniquely positioned to lead in transforming science into medicines for patients with disorders of the nervous system.

The Opportunity

We are searching for a fully experienced Section Head for MS and Fluid Biomarkers within the Department of pRED NRD Biomarkers. The position will be accountable for the strategy and implementation of MS biomarkers and a subject matter fluid biomarkers expert.

As the successful candidate, you will become part of an industry-leading Neuroscience & Rare Disease organization with an extensive portfolio of preclinical and clinical-stage projects. You will leverage Roche’s robust internal assay development capabilities, along with an expanding network of external scientific and clinical collaborations. This will enable you to expand and enhance the application of fluid biomarkers in Neuroscience and Rare Diseases, supporting key decisional milestones such as proof of mechanism, patient stratification and differentiation. You will be the primary catalyst for internal investments and will ensure the coordination of both internal and external efforts in the MS and fluid biomarkers domain.

This position reports directly to the Global Head of pRED Neuroscience and Rare Disease Biomarkers.

• As the MS and Biofluid biomarker Section Head, you serve as the single point of contact for cross-functional MS and biofluid stakeholders and are in charge of the scientific, technical and strategic alignment of pRED MS and biofluid biomarker strategies.

• You serve on the NRD Biomarker Leadership Team

• You have expert knowledge of MS disease etiology, progression, biomarkers and clinical trial design as well as strong technical knowledge of ligand binding, biofluid omic (proteomic, metabolomic, transcriptomic, scRNAseq), genomic, mass spectrometry, flow cytometry and other biofluid-based technologies (e.g. exosomes etc) in both non-regulated and regulated domains.

• You manage biomarker experimental medicine leaders who provide biomarker strategy support for pRED NRD asset teams.

• You may also conduct project-specific work as a biomarker experimental medicine leader

  • Liaise with cross-functional study team members and provide biomarker data review, analysis and interpretation with an emphasis on technical biomarker oversight, biomarker disease-specific insights and maintaining compliance with biomarker regulatory guidance where needed.

  • Work with statisticians and modelers on biomarker analysis plans involving endpoints provided to regulatory agencies.

  • Provide biomarker content for clinical development plans, INDs, IBs, clinical protocols, ad boards and other regulatory documents/interactions from lead through post-marketing.

  • Partner with Roche Diagnostics on Neuroscience and rare disease diagnostic tools.

  • Publish, attend and present at scientific meetings

Who you are

• You hold a PhD and/or MD, or PharmD with a strong focus on the development and application of biomarkers in neuroscience with some experience in multiple sclerosis.

• You bring at least 4+ years of experience in pharmaceutical/biotechnology industry-based research

• You can analyze and interpret complex high-density biomarker data sets and contribute biomarker sections of clinical/regulatory documentation (e.g. protocols, clinical development plans, clinical study reports, health agency query responses etc).

• You have experience working in clinical development and translational medicine with good knowledge of regulatory guidelines and quality requirements for the submission of biomarker data to health agencies globally.

• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English are required

Who we are

At Roche, more than 100,000 people across 100 countries are pushing back the frontiers of healthcare. Working together, we’ve become one of the world’s leading research-focused healthcare groups. Our success is built on innovation, curiosity and diversity.

Basel is the headquarters of the Roche Group and one of its most important centres of pharmaceutical research. Over 10,700 employees from over 100 countries come together at our Basel/Kaiseraugst site, which is one of Roche`s largest sites. Read more.

Besides extensive development and training opportunities, we offer flexible working options, 18 weeks of maternity leave and 10 weeks of gender independent partnership leave. Our employees also benefit from multiple services on site such as child-care facilities, medical services, restaurants and cafeterias, as well as various employee events.

We believe in the power of diversity and inclusion, and strive to identify and create opportunities that enable all people to bring their unique selves to Roche.