Director, Translational Science; Neurology

Director, Translational Science (Neurology)

At Eisai, satisfying unmet medical needs and increasing the benefits healthcare provides to patients, their families, and caregivers is Eisai's human health care mission. We're a growing pharmaceutical company that is breaking through in neurology and oncology, with a strong emphasis on research and development. Our history includes the development of many innovative medicines, notably the discovery of the world's most widely-used treatment for Alzheimer's disease.

As we continue to expand, we are seeking highly-motivated individuals who want to work in a fast-paced environment and make a difference. If this is your profile, we want to hear from you.

Position Summary

The Director of Translational Science is a scientifically driven leader who contributes to and drives the execution of integrated translational strategies across neurology programs spanning discovery through early clinical development. This role focuses on enabling data-driven decision-making by linking disease biology, biomarkers, and clinical outcomes.

This position is designed to complement existing expertise in Alzheimer's disease by bringing deep knowledge in non-Alzheimer's neurodegenerative disorders, including Parkinson's disease, Lewy body dementia, primary tauopathies, and sleep-related neurobiology.

The successful candidate will combine strong scientific insight with hands-on engagement in biomarker strategy, data interpretation, and cross-functional collaboration.

Key Responsibilities

Translational Strategy & Execution

• Contribute to and drive execution of translational strategies across neurology programs
• Design and implement multi-modal biomarker approaches (e.g., biofluid, imaging, digital biomarkers)
• Help define data-driven decision frameworks in collaboration with translational and clinical leadership
• Translate emerging disease biology into testable clinical hypotheses and biomarker strategies

Clinical & Scientific Integration

• Lead translational components of programs from study design through data analysis and interpretation
• Interpret and contextualize biomarker and clinical data to inform program decisions and development strategy
• Partner with Clinical, Clinical Pharmacology, and Biostatistics teams to support trial design, dose strategy, and endpoint selection
• Bridge preclinical findings and clinical development through mechanistic and disease-relevant insights

Biomarker Development & Data Insights

• Contribute to development and implementation of biomarker strategies supporting clinical trials
• Work closely with internal teams and external partners to ensure robust biomarker performance and data quality
• Collaborate with data scientists to integrate datasets and deliver actionable insights from complex, multimodal data

Collaboration & Scientific Leadership

• Serve as a key translational representative on cross-functional program teams
• Influence program direction through scientific insight and data-driven recommendations
• Act as a scientific thought partner within the team and contribute to capability building
• Present findings internally and externally; contribute to scientific publications and congress presentations
• May mentor junior scientists or contribute to development of team expertise

Innovation & External Engagement

• Engage with academic and industry experts to stay at the forefront of emerging science in neurodegenerative diseases
• Apply innovative approaches (e.g., omics, AI/ML, digital biomarkers) to better understand disease heterogeneity and progression
• Integrate multimodal data to refine disease models, patient stratification approaches, and biomarker strategies

Regulatory Contributions

• Contribute to translational aspects of regulatory documents and submissions (e.g., protocols, investigator brochures, briefing materials)
• Partner with senior leaders to support Health Authority interactions and strategy
• Support development of companion diagnostic and biomarker qualification strategies

Qualifications

• PhD, MD, or equivalent in Neuroscience, Pharmacology, Molecular Biology, or related field
• ~8–10 years of relevant experience in pharmaceutical/biotechnology drug development
• Strong expertise in…