Location: BRAZIL
The Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DND*i*) is an international, not-for-profit research and development (R&D) organization that develops and delivers new treatments for neglected diseases that affect millions of the world’s poorest people.
Together with more than 200 public research and industry allies worldwide, we use the power of partnership, innovation, open science, and advocacy to find solutions to a great injustice: the lack of medicines for life-threatening diseases that disproportionately impact poor and marginalized people. Driven by collaboration, not competition, and by patients’ needs, not profits, we promote equitable access, foster inclusive and sustainable solutions, and advocate for a more effective global biomedical R&D system that meets the needs of neglected patients.
Since our inception, DND*i* has delivered nine new treatments for people with sleeping sickness, visceral leishmaniasis, Chagas disease, HIV, hepatitis C, and malaria that have saved millions of lives. We now aim to deliver an additional 15-18 new treatments by 2028 – addressing R&D gaps for neglected tropical diseases and viral infections, including new pandemic-prone diseases (such as COVID19) and climate-sensitive diseases (such as dengue) with a focus on the needs of patients in low- and middle-income countries.
With 250 employees of 37 nationalities located in nine offices on four continents, DND*i* is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion as essential parts of our culture and key drivers of our success. We encourage candidates of diverse profiles and backgrounds to apply.
Counting Brazil’s Fiocruz as a founding member and numerous collaborations with science and access leaders in Latin American region, DNDi established itself in Rio de Janeiro in 2004. An integral part of DNDi’s global network, DNDi Latin America nurtures R&D and access partnerships in the broad region eco-systems, including for Chagas disease, leishmaniasis, hepatitis C and dengue, while contributing to DNDi’s global strategy. It also undertakes advocacy in support of neglected patients and leads capacity-building projects through multi-country clinical research and drug discovery platforms, including the Chagas Clinical Research Platform and RedeLEISH and the Lead Optimization Latin America (LOLA).
Purpose of the position
The Drug Discovery Coordinator will play a key role in the discovery and development of new treatments for neglected patients. This position will conduct early-stage drug discovery activities aiming at the design and optimization of new chemical entities that satisfy criteria associated with in vitro potency, in vivo efficacy, DMPK profile, safety, and early CMC requirements. These activities will be conducted particularly in Latin America and in close collaboration with multiple external academic and industrial partners, with the overall goal of identifying new preclinical and clinical candidates for Chagas disease, Leishmaniasis and viral infections.
In parallel, this position will conduct activities to strengthen regional capacities, advocate through the DNDi model, support the obtention of new financial sources, map new partners, and building new strategic partnerships.
Specific Job Responsibilities
1st area
• Proactive point of contact for R&D project related science and process issues
• Play a key role in supporting LOLA consortium and other DNDi Drug Discovery projects, particularly in Latin America
• Liaise with other DNDi R&D staff on shared resources, reporting, scheduling etc.
• Ensure regular and clear communication between all external partners and internal DNDi staff to manage efficient flow of information/materials and decision making in support of DNDi projects
• Ensure a high level of engagement of scientists with DNDi projects to design appropriate experiments and protocols, complete the work and then provide not only the data but also expert commentary, analysis, and suggestions
• Arrange regular meetings to be able to provide updates on on-going work and take actions to arrange further studies as requested by the team. Invite key team members as appropriate to discuss recent/future studies
• Track screening and materials requests & provide feedback to DNDi & partners on progress
• Check data quality and ensure that this is uploaded into Science Cloud in a timely manner and in the correct folders
• Provide and update a clear list of external partners with contact details
• Ensure agreements, contracts, quotations, projects, and invoices are prepared and accurately labeled in accord with DNDi finance and legal requirements
• Protects organization’s value by keeping information confidential
Additional /specific/projects responsibilities
• Assist the Senior Discovery & R&D Partnerships Manager in a regional ‘landscape’ review of scientific and technical capabilities of research groups (academic and industrial/CRO) who may be willing and able to join DNDi projects to fulfill the needs for Chemistry, Biology, DMPK, Drug safety & toxicology, formulations and solid form, and other specialist services including data sciences and application of new AI/ML technologies
• Participate in regular Regional and Global Team R&D Meetings
• As member of the regional R&D team, this person will also have an active participation within DNDi in issues and discussions not restricted to early-stage drug discovery activities, such as strategic planning, advocacy, fundraising, risks assessment, and managing junior team at the regional office
• Act as an ambassador for DNDi in the region together with other disease and transversal areas, presenting at scientific and innovation events, evaluating opportunities by contacting potential partners, discovering and exploring network contacts
Reporting line
• Drug Discovery Coordinator reports directly to Senior Discovery & R&D Partnerships Manager in Latin America
• Drug Discovery Coordinator reports indirectly to Head and Director of Drug Discovery Global
Education
· Graduate or post graduate degree (ideally PhD-level qualification) in a relevant scientific field
Other Requirements
· Fluency in English and ideally Portuguese
· Proficiency in local languages desirable (Portuguese and Spanish)
· Good knowledge of Microsoft Suite