Head Research Innovation China, Shanghai

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Job Description

Objective / Purpose: Describe at the highest level the team where this job sits and how this role will contribute to the team’s delivery of critical function.

This scientific leader is responsible for designing and implementing a strategy for Takeda to harness innovation in China for measurable pipeline impact.  This leader will integrate input from Takeda’s global Research Leadership Team (RLT), their functional groups (including Portfolio Strategy, Global Advanced Platforms (GAP), Preclinical and Translational Sciences (PTS), and Computational Sciences (CS)), and with key partners including Takeda’s Center for External Innovation (CEI).

This leader will:

• Oversee biomarker experts in TDC-Asia to identify unique patient-derived datasets within China and guide integration of cutting-edge translational platform into global Preclinical Translational Sciences in order to support the R&D pipeline deliverables across therapeutic areas (TAs)
• Collaborate with DDUs and CEI to drive the evaluation of new technology platforms in China aiming to deliver novel therapeutic candidates with translational strategies fit for each TA’s need
• Prioritize evaluation of emerging AI/ML capabilities as they relate to target, pathway and biomarker ID, as well as molecular design​
• Accelerate early-stage innovation through strategic partnership with startups focusing on AI/ML assisted human data-driven target identification and validation   
• Guides the establishment of scientific interaction and collaboration with leading academic centers and consortia in China/APAC region to form a strong foundation for sustained innovation in therapeutic development
• Maintain close collaboration with all DDUs for better understanding of pipeline strategy i.e. from PE to CS for TDC-Asia management’s awareness and preparation of China/Asia Development Team’s establishment.
• Lead a group within TDC-Asia focused on integrating preclinical and translational innovation from China with global preclinical research to support innovative therapeutic discovery and development across therapeutic areas (TA)

Accountabilities:

Strategic vision and implementation   

• Develop a strategic roadmap with clear deliverables aiming to leverage China innovation to contribute to global Research pipeline advancement
• Articulate a “Year-one” plan to deliver at least one innovative platform effort (e.g. unique biomarker datasets) and/or one novel target/asset for DDUs accelerated by linking internal capabilities with capabilities in the China ecosystem
• Partner with CEI to support the development of frameworks (e.g. bioparks, innovation grants) for Takeda to have precompetitive access to innovation in China

Support global Research deliverables

• Identify urgent needs from global Research functions including DDUs, PTS, GAP and assess potential contribution opportunities from China
• Lead TDC-Asia biomarker team to integrate preclinical and translational innovation from China with global research, e.g.
  • Identify opportunities to leverage translational datasets to support target and biomarker discovery efforts
  • Contribute to assessment of 'wet lab' translational capabilities within Asia, selection of clinical assays and related vendors to support R&D activities
• Work in partnership with CEI to enable drug target evaluation, tool molecule patent information for chemistry feasibility, translational readiness aiming to accelerate therapeutic target fits for DDU’s need
• Identify and partner with external centers of innovation in China (e.g. ATLATL) equipped with state-of-the-art laboratory instrumentation to collaboratively support startups for novel target discovery and validation  
• Provide regular updates to senior leadership on progress, key milestones and strategic recommendations

Bridge with Therapeutic area units

• Support effort to accelerate early clinical development in China by helping potential partners / investigators understand the MOAs of our programs
• Support program Translational Medicine Lead (TML) in relevant TAs to develop and implement biomarker strategy for early and late clinical studies in Asia and provide scientific support to regional clinical development
• Under global translational development strategy and in partnership with CEI identify potential investigators in Asia and support execution of investigator-initiated patient cohort studies

Build scientific leadership in TDC-Asia

• Serve as a SME in TDC-Asia with regard to target biology in the context of disease, with deep understanding of pathway MOA and disease-relevant biomarker research plans
• Drive scientific communication among clinical development, marketing and portfolio management and other cross-functional groups in TDC-Asia
• Establish and maintain scientific engagement with academic and clinical KOLs, as well as Health Authorities in Asia to pave the way for early clinical development in TDC-Asia

Stay abreast of evolving China policies and represent Takeda at key interfaces with Health Authorities, KOLs, Consortia, etc.                                                                                                                                            

• Develop a strategic roadmap for integrating innovative compound generation platforms and translational research from China to support urgent needs from global Research in each TA
• Define preclinical and translational focused area in China and other TDC-Asia region countries, provide scientific input in evaluation of innovative technologies in collaboration with CEI
• Lead TDC-Asia team to drive collaboration between global Preclinical Translational Science (PTS) and leading consortia in China in novel biomarker development and validation, leveraging large cohort studies organized by the consortia.
• Drive collaborate with global R&D, TDC-J and other Takeda R&D capabilities to accelerate therapeutic target validation and asset development, including finding tool molecules, patent information for chemistry feasibility, and expected mechanism of target modulation.
• Drive collaboration between global Core Biology, Global Advanced Platforms (GAP) and China innovation as regards to human cell-based in vitro screening platforms to support therapeutic development with precision in target and patient selection
• Develop talents with expertise in data science to be a counterpart of global data science functional group to augment ability for robust evaluation of innovative drug development platform in China
• Substantiate scientific capability of development team in TDC-Asia leveraging global research discussions and augmenting scientific interaction with leading academic centers in China  

Qualifications & Skills:

• MD, and/or PhD with >15 years of pharmaceutic experience including preclinical research, early- and late-phase clinical development in more than one therapeutic area
• >6-8 years of leadership roles in translational science including forward translation (e.g. biomarker development to advance preclinical pipeline) and reverse translation, i.e. leveraging human multi-omics data and system biology approach to support novel therapeutic target discovery and validation
• >8 years of management experience leading strategic initiatives with track records of delivering impact at therapeutic area level
• Strong leadership and communication skills, with ability to drive and influence a matrix team to achieve goals via effective collaboration at all levels
• Proficiency in Chinese and English

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