Study Physician, Medical Director – Neuroimmunology, Immunology, BioPharmaceuticals R&D

AstraZeneca • Cambridge, MA

6d • $241,613 - $362,420 • Hybrid

About The Position

This is an expert clinical-development role within the Neuroimmunology therapeutic area. The Study Physician will serve as the study-level clinical authority within a program, providing expert medical and scientific input across neuroimmunology programs. The role will initially focus on multiple sclerosis and may expand to other indications, modalities, and clinical development programs. The successful candidate will collaborate closely with Clinical Scientists and cross-functionally with other departments and development partners. This role requires a strong communicator and collaborator who thrives in a fast-paced, proactive culture. The position reports to the Global Clinical Head, Neuroimmunology, or their designee, and works in close partnership with the Global Clinical Program Lead.

Requirements

• MD, or equivalent degree from an accredited university, or an MD (or equivalent) plus a PhD, with specialty or experience in the immunology or neuroimmunology therapeutic area.
• Cell-therapy experience is ideal.
• Postgraduate subspecialty training and board certification in a relevant field such as neurology, with a history of substantive clinical positions at attending or consultant level, preferably at a major academic medical center.
• Minimum of 2 years of relevant experience.
• Prior biotechnology or pharmaceutical clinical-development experience, including hands-on involvement in the design, delivery, interpretation, and oversight of industry-sponsored clinical studies.
• Experience working effectively within cross-functional drug development teams and operating with the level of autonomy expected of a study physician.
• Sound understanding of the full drug-development process, clinical research methodology, and biostatistics principles.
• Knowledge of FDA, EMA, MHRA, and ICH GCP guidelines for the conduct of global clinical studies.
• Adaptive problem-solving and the ability to navigate complex organizations, influence internal and external stakeholders, and frame clear, succinct messages.
• Attention to detail, a drive for high-quality work, a sense of urgency, and a demonstrated track record of delivering results.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in CAR-T or other engineered cell therapies, and/or T-cell engagers, in autoimmune or inflammatory indications.
• Familiarity with cell-therapy operational constraints such as chain-of-identity/control and vein-to-vein logistics, and with CMC-clinical interfaces.
• Experience working effectively with cross-functional partners across clinical development and commercial organizations.
• Awareness of the evolving external landscape in neuroimmunology, including scientific, clinical, competitive, and regulatory developments.
• Ability to travel nationally and internationally.

Responsibilities

• Provide expert medical and scientific input to cell-therapy and immunotherapy clinical-stage assets in development for multiple sclerosis and additional immune-mediated diseases.
• Act as clinical authority representative for the study team, responsible for the design, delivery, and interpretation of clinical studies from Phase 1 through pivotal, ensuring compliance with GCP.
• Lead the medical assessment of causality, severity, and benefit-risk for safety events, and provide medical sign-off on safety-related decisions.
• Own ongoing review and monitoring of clinical data for quality, data integrity, data-trend investigation, and safety, including SAEs, SUSARs, protocol deviations, and periodic review of emerging safety, efficacy, PK, and biomarker data.
• Represent the study at the Safety Review Committee, IDMC/DMC, and internal safety governance.
• Adjudicate complex clinical cases, including MS relapse adjudication, and sign off endpoint definitions and thresholds.
• Support the clinical development strategy from early target identification through late phase, and secure cross-functional alignment.
• Provide clinical and disease expertise to research, clinical pharmacology, translational medicine, regulatory, biostatistics, safety, the cell-therapy delivery team, and commercial colleagues.
• Follow medical developments in cell therapy and immune-mediated disease closely, and disseminate insight to translate emerging data into innovative clinical plans.
• Support the program at internal governance interactions and with external partners, including investigators, key external experts, patient-advocacy groups, regulators, sites, and CROs.
• Contribute medical content and final medical review to clinical sections of study- and program-level documents.
• Support qualification of pharmacodynamic and disease markers for early assessment of efficacy.
• May provide clinical strategic feedback on in-licensing opportunities.

Benefits

• Short-term incentive bonus opportunity
• Equity-based long-term incentive program (salaried roles)
• Retirement contribution (hourly roles)
• Commission payment eligibility (sales roles)
• Qualified retirement program (401(k) plan)
• Paid vacation and holidays
• Paid leaves
• Health benefits including medical, prescription drug, dental, and vision coverage

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree