Principal Scientist PK/PD

Principal Scientist PK/PD

UCB - Union Chimique Belge

Slough, United Kingdom

About the role

The Non-Clinical PKPD group sits within the Quantitative Clinical Pharmacology (QCP) function of Early Clinical Development & Translational Science (ECD-TS) Department. Our goal is to use integrated quantitative approaches as an essential strategic driver from target to market to bring differentiated solutions to patients. We are driving the quantitative integrated strategy of pharmacokinetics and pharmacology (e.g. PKPD, Systems modelling and clinical pharmacology/pharmacometrics) together with DMPK activities throughout the entirety of the lifetime of projects, from target identification through to life cycle management.

Who you’ll work with

We operate and collaborate closely with colleagues in Development Sciences, which, as a department, is responsible for providing strategy and support in bioanalysis, immunogenicity, safety, pathology, and regulatory activities. Work with external partners, academic institutions, CROs and consultants as required.

What you’ll do

• Develop and drive the nonclinical PKPD strategy for projects. Communicating effectively ensuring implementation in projects.
• Ensure translation from in vitro data and in vivo nonclinical studies to prediction of efficacy and safety in patients.
• Initiate and engage in multifunctional collaborations to facilitate the advancement of drug candidates and build a thorough knowledge of drug pharmacology and PKPD, leading to quantitative translation to the clinic.
• Build PKPD models of sufficient complexity to allow hypothesis testing and inform decision-making.
• Represent the interests of QCP internally and externally in matters relevant to mechanistic PKPD and contribute to enhancing the scientific reputation of Non-Clinical PKPD, QCP and UCB.
• Provide required support and input into regulatory study protocols, reports and summaries, and regulatory submission documents.

Interested? For this role you will need the following education, experience and skills

• PhD in relevant discipline (pharmacology, pharmaceutical sciences, pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics, system biology or related fields).
• Good understanding of pharmacology and pharmacologic processes related to disease and drug mechanisms.
• Expertise and proven application of PKPD methods and concepts in support of drug discovery and development; systems modelling experience would be advantageous.
• Demonstrated experience in developing and executing effective non-clinical PKPD strategies from early discovery through to clinic.
• Demonstrated experience and leadership skills working within a matrix environment with a wide range of internal stakeholders including Non-Clinical Safety, Bioanalysis, Clinical Pharmacology and Translational Medicine.
• Experience in using modelling and simulation packages such as Phoenix, Berkeley Madonna, R and Monolix.