Co-Founder in Residence, Therapeutics for Paediatric Cancer (Open Application)

Job title:

Co-Founder in Residence, Therapeutics for Paediatric Cancer (Open Application)

Company

Deep Science Ventures

Job description

This is an open application for expressions of interest. Hiring for the role will begin later in the year.Join Us as a Founder in Residence in PharmaWe’re on the lookout for entrepreneurial individuals with technical and commercial domain expertise with keen interest in founding, and building a global scale, impact driven, high growth company from ground up (full-time).We are seeking applications from experienced industry, startup and/or new science or engineering based technology development professionals from anywhere in the world to work with us on immune strategies for paediatric cancer.You’ll work closely with the DSV team and the current Founder in Residence for this area to co-found and spin-out a new company. Once the new venture is incorporated with pre-seed investment from DSV, you and your co-founders will own the majority stake in the business and continue receiving support from the DSV team post-spinout.The role is full-time, remote initially until venture incorporation and spin-out.The OpportunityAlthough rare, paediatric cancers have a large collective impact and remain one of the leading causes of death in children and adolescents. Drugs specifically designed for paediatric indications are limited: fewer than a dozen novel paediatric-specific therapies have been developed in the past 45 years, whilst for adult cancers, an average of twelve new drugs reach the market every year. Children are often treated using the same modalities as adult cancer patients, with 35% of FDA-approved adult targeted therapies having been repurposed for novel off-label uses for paediatric patients. However, childhood cancers differ greatly from their adult counterparts – incidence rates, initiator and driver mutations, overall mutational burdens, as well as the immune response all vary between these two groups. Moreover, some cancer drugs affect child and adolescent development, and their long-lasting side effects are particularly problematic when treating young people.Children have a less mature, more innate-like immune system than adults, which, coupled with the low mutational burden and neoantigen load in paediatric tumours, renders them less capable of mounting an effective anti-tumour immune response. Moreover, solid tumours in paediatric patients are heavily infiltrated by tumour-associated macrophages (TAMs), with few tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs). These characteristics explain why certain immunotherapeutic approaches which aim to stimulate the host’s immune response, such as immune checkpoint blockade, have been largely unsuccessful in children.We believe there is a significant scientific and commercial opportunity to revolutionise the way we treat paediatric cancer patients. Can we harness the highly innate-driven immune system of children to create novel approaches to combat these tumours? Are there alternative approaches in which we could supplement or modify the adaptive arm of the immune system, alone or in combination? By exploiting the unique characteristics of paediatric immunity and developmental biology, can we devise optimal strategies to prevent or cure disease across multiple indications, simultaneously?Our ApproachWe’re developing an approach that will solve common challenges within the paediatric oncology field by leveraging the unique aspects of paediatric immune systems. We aim to develop novel therapies that can more effectively target and treat paediatric cancers by harnessing or modifying immune responses.RequirementsWho Should ApplyMost suitable candidates will likely meet multiple of the following criteria:

• PhD or equivalent industry R&D know-how focused on immunology, cancer biology or immuno-oncology;
• In-depth knowledge of state-of-the-art (SOTA) technologies and constraints in at least one of the following areas: paediatric oncology, paediatric immunology, immune-related strategies for cancer treatment;
• Broad knowledge in cancer biology and immunology;
• Industry-specific know-how, commercial knowledge (e.g. strategic partnerships, clinical trials, regs etc.) and strong network within pharma;
• Experience in biotech, building and scaling new technologies from concept to demonstration;
• Experience in raising funds from early stage investors/VC;
• Experience in building and scaling a high-growth enterprise (leadership/c-suite roles).

BenefitsOur OfferBy joining DSV, you will be part of a team of operators who have founded companies and led the translation of science at some of the most respected universities, charities, funds, and government agencies. Here’s what we offer:

• Access to optimised, purpose-built, proprietary tools, resources, and processes to help create high-impact ventures from scratch;
• Opportunity area-specific know-how from our network of Partners and Advisors;
• Up to £250k in investment to incorporate the new venture and develop early proof-of-concept data;
• Guaranteed income of £4,166 per month paid as a consultancy fee until the company is launched and the pre-seed investment is secured;
• Majority equity stake in the new company for you and your co-founders;
• Continuous post-spinout support, including fundraising, commercial partnerships, recruitment, and team-building;
• Collaborative support from dozens of Founders currently at DSV across sectors.

About DSVDeep Science Ventures (DSV) is on a mission to create a future in which both humans and the planet can thrive. We use our unique venture creation process to create, spin-out, and invest in science companies, combining available scientific knowledge and founder-type scientists into high-impact ventures. Operating in four sectors—Pharmaceuticals, Climate, Agriculture, and Computation—we tackle the challenges defining these areas by taking a first principles approach and partnering with leading institutions.

Expected salary

Location

London

Job date

Sat, 22 Jun 2024 22:48:08 GMT

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