Advisor – RNA Preclinical Pharmacology, Ocular

Key Responsibilities

• Establish the ocular/sensory in vivo pharmacology capability from the ground up, including species and model selection, animal use protocols, SOPs, imaging and functional-testing infrastructure, and training team members
• Represent ocular RNA therapeutics on cross functional project teams to drive programs from target validation through candidate selection and IND-enabling studies
• Design, plan, and implement in vivo ocular pharmacology studies in rodents, and design and oversee large-animal studies with external partners, to define PK/PD, ocular biodistribution, duration of action, and tolerability of siRNA and ASO molecules
• Perform and optimize ocular dosing routes, including intravitreal and topical/periocular administration, and partner with chemistry and delivery teams to inform route, formulation, and dose selection
• Lead ocular sample collection and dissection, including aqueous and vitreous humor sampling and isolation of retina, RPE/choroid, optic nerve, and other ocular tissues for molecular, bioanalytical, and histological endpoints
• Implement and interpret in-life ocular endpoints, including ophthalmic examination, intraocular pressure, optical coherence tomography (OCT), fundus imaging, and electroretinography (ERG)
• Expertise in ocular tissue processing for target engagement and distribution endpoints (e.g., RT-qPCR, in situ hybridization, immunohistochemistry, ELISA, oligonucleotide quantification, novel assay development), with an emphasis on retinal layer- and cell type-resolved readouts
• Establish and validate disease-relevant retinal models (e.g., inherited or induced retinal degeneration, neovascular, inflammatory, and optic neuropathy models) to demonstrate pharmacodynamic and functional efficacy
• Shape translational strategy for ocular programs, including cross-species dose scaling, PK/PD inputs, and biomarker approaches, in conjunction with DMPK, toxicology, and clinical teams
• Identify, evaluate, and manage CROs and academic collaborators with specialized ocular and sensory capabilities
• Assist in troubleshooting technical challenges for team members
• Adherence to rigorous scientific standards, data QC, and data analysis methods
• Provide written and verbal communication of work in lab reports and team meetings
• Accurate recording of all practical work: completion of electronic notebook to Lilly procedure quality standards
• General laboratory assistance, including ordering and receiving lab supplies, preparation of reagents, and maintain laboratory equipment
• Ensure compliance with all health and safety regulations
• Passionate about contributing to a diverse and inclusive environment, every day

Basic Qualifications

• PhD in pharmacology, ophthalmology, neuroscience, biology, biochemistry, or related field
• 1+ years of post-doctoral training or industry experience
• Hands-on experience conducting in vivo ocular pharmacology studies, including ocular dosing and retinal tissue collection

Additional Skills/Preferences

• Direct experience advancing genetic medicines in a drug development or applied therapeutics setting, ideally siRNA or ASO programs targeting the retina; experience with gene editing, AAV gene therapy, or other genetic medicine modalities is also valued
• Proficiency with intravitreal injection in rodents along with broader in vivo pharmacology competencies, including common systemic dosing routes and blood/tissue collection techniques
• Hands-on experience acquiring and analyzing retinal structural and functional data (e.g., SD-OCT, fundus photography and autofluorescence, fluorescein angiography, ERG, optomotor or other visual behavior assays)
• Understanding of retinal cell biology and ocular barriers (e.g., inner limiting membrane, blood-retinal barrier, RPE) and how they shape oligonucleotide distribution and cell type-specific uptake
• Familiarity with ocular tolerability and safety assessment, including intraocular inflammation grading, and class considerations for intravitreally administered oligonucleotides
• Experience designing and overseeing ocular studies in non-human primates or other large-eyed species at CROs
• Experience with additional sensory systems (e.g., inner ear)
• Knowledge of drug delivery, ocular pharmacokinetics, basic pharmacology concepts, and awareness of the ocular genetic medicine clinical landscape
• Execution-focused, independent, and team-oriented, with the initiative to build a new capability and thrive in a fast-paced and innovative environment
• Ability to adapt to changing platform needs, workflows and projects
• Experience in processing, organizing, analyzing and visualizing data and information from disparate sources and ability to extract insight from data
• Embrace diversity of thought, background, and experience to deliver innovative solutions