Director​/Sr. Director, Oligonucleotide Translational Science

Gondola Bio is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing breakthrough therapeutics for genetic diseases. Gondola Bio is an independent sister company to Bridge Bio, originally carved out in 2024 after securing $300M in private financing from external investors. Gondola Bio aims to leverage cutting‑edge biological research to discover, create, test, and deliver transformative medicines to treat patients who suffer from genetic diseases.

You are a seasoned translational scientist leader with deep, hands‑on experience in oligonucleotide drug development — not just discovery. You have owned or directly led IND‑enabling packages for siRNA and/or ASO programs, with personal experience running or closely directing preclinical pharmacology, DMPK, and safety studies rather than solely inheriting and interpreting data generated by others. You think in terms of program advancement: what data does the IND need, where are the gaps, and how do we get there rigorously and efficiently.

You are as comfortable reviewing a biodistribution dataset or a metabolite identification report as you are discussing oligonucleotide chemistry or off‑target risk. You set scientific direction, influence program strategy, and communicate complex preclinical findings clearly to cross‑functional partners and governance forums.

We are looking for someone whose core experience lies at the intersection of oligonucleotide pharmacology and IND‑enabling development. The ideal candidate has:

• Designed, managed, executed and analyzed preclinical in vitro and in vivo IND‑enabling studies on PK, PD, efficacy, MoA and immunogenicity evaluations.
• Hands‑on experience with in vitro and in vivo ADME and DMPK studies: biodistribution, PK recovery, drug‑drug interactions (DDI), plasma protein binding (PPB), metabolic stability, and metabolite identification.
• Deep familiarity with conjugated oligonucleotides (e.g., GalNAc‑siRNA, antibody‑oligo conjugates) as a strong differentiator.
• Experience managing bioanalytical CRO vendors on PK and PD assays across diverse matrices, including LC‑MS/MS, ELISA, MSD ECL, hybrid‑ELISA, qPCR, and/or NGS (nice‑to‑have, not required).

Preclinical DMPK & PK/PD Integration

• Lead or directly contribute to evaluation of oligonucleotide DMPK data: pharmacokinetics, biodistribution, tissue uptake, durability, and exposure‑response relationships.
• Collaborate with DMPK teams to assess PK/PD relationships and contextualize safety findings relative to systemic and tissue‑level exposure.
• Integrate DMPK insights into cohesive preclinical and translational narratives supporting candidate selection and IND filing.

Preclinical Safety & Off‑Target Risk Analysis

• Lead integration and interpretation of preclinical safety and pharmacology data, with a strong focus on off‑target effects and risk mitigation.
• Partner with toxicology and biology teams to distinguish target‑related from off‑target findings, assess dose‑limiting toxicities, and evaluate therapeutic index.
• Identify data gaps, recommend mechanistic or follow‑up studies, and support risk mitigation strategy.

IND‑Enabling Program Support

• Contribute directly to IND‑enabling study design and execution, including in vitro and in vivo pharmacology, ADME, and supporting safety packages.
• Serve as a senior scientific leader on siRNA and/or ASO programs, providing expert review of oligonucleotide design strategies, chemistry, modification approaches, and conjugation strategies.
• Critically evaluate complex preclinical datasets and synthesize data‑driven recommendations for program decisions.

CRO & External Partner Oversight

• Provide scientific oversight of CRO‑executed studies — preclinical safety, in vivo pharmacology, bioanalytical, and DMPK — including study design input, protocol review, data package review, and final reports.
• Serve as primary scientific point of contact with external partners to ensure scientific rigor, clear communication, and timely delivery.

Cross‑Functional Collaboration & Decision Support

• Collaborate closely with chemistry, DMPK, toxicology, translational, and clinical teams to support data‑driven program decisions.
• Clearly…