Senior) Director, Translational Medicine and Diagnostics

Position: (Senior) Director, Translational Medicine and Diagnostics
The Opportunity The unprecedented convergence of multi-modal data, advanced disease modeling, and computational power is revolutionizing drug discovery. insitro is harnessing this moment to redefine how medicines are developed for complex diseases. Our AI/ML-enabled platforms integrate and scale data to rapidly discover novel biological insights, identify new targets and drugs, and redefine complex diseases. To enable this vision, we are seeking a Director (or Senior Director) of Translational Medicine and Diagnostics.

This role is an opportunity to directly improve patients' lives by leading translational medicine across our three therapeutic areas — neurology/neurodegeneration, metabolism/cardiovascular, and ophthalmology — and by making clinical trials more efficient and beneficial for patients and drug developers through AI/ML and innovative translational strategies.

Reporting directly to the Chief Medical Officer, you will lead the translational medicine function at insitro, supporting the development of multiple therapeutics — biologics, oligonucleotides, and small molecules — along with multimodal biomarkers and diagnostics. This position can be onsite (three days per week) or hybrid (~one week per month) in our South San Francisco office, with additional travel to relevant medical and translational science conferences and health authorities.

Responsibilities Translational Strategy & Leadership Build the Function:
Build and lead insitro's translational medicine function, from IND/CTA through clinical proof-of-concept, across biologics, oligonucleotides, and small molecules

Lead Key Assets:
Serve as translational lead for advanced pre-clinical and initial clinical-stage assets

Own End-to-End Strategy:
Be accountable for translational medicine strategy, GCP adherence, and regulatory-authority interactions, including biospecimen CRO selection and oversight

Biomarker Science & Patient Stratification Design Stratification Strategies:
Design innovative approaches to patient stratification using laboratory and digital biomarkers

Generate Proof-of-Mechanism Evidence:
Generate proof-of-mechanism evidence that drives objective, data-driven, and timely go/no-go decisions

Regulatory Strategy, Partnership & Influence Interpret Regulatory Requirements:
Interpret regulatory translational medicine requirements and quantify the return on investment of translational strategies

Partner Across Functions:
Collaborate closely with preclinical, clinical, regulatory, and computational teams

Shape the Field:
Influence emerging AI/ML policy in translational science through original publications, presentations, and stakeholder engagement

About You Experience & Qualifications Advanced Degree:
Advanced degree in life sciences, technology, chemistry, or a related discipline, or equivalent practical experience

Proven Tenure: 10+ years of experience in translational science in biotech and/or pharma, including direct experience as a translational lead delivering therapeutics and diagnostic biomarkers from FIH through proof-of-concept to NDA/BLA submission AI/ML Exposure:
Experience applying AI/ML approaches to drug discovery and development

Technical Breadth:
Deep understanding of diagnostic and device regulations, good clinical practice, clinical trial design and execution, clinical pharmacology, biostatistics, and the application of computation to drug development

Core Competencies Cross-Functional Collaborator:
Track record of communicating and collaborating effectively with diverse stakeholders across clinical, translational, computational, and life sciences functions

Motivating Leader:
Strong interpersonal skills that inspire others to do their best work Patient-Driven:
Genuine passion for bringing better medicines…