Technology Transfer Associate

Fondazione Telethon ETS Milano Italy Research and development
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Company Description

Fondazione Telethon is a major Italian charity focused on rare genetic diseases. Founded in 1990, its mission is to fund biomedical research advancement towards the cure of rare genetic diseases neglected by major public and private investments. Its ultimate goal is to make therapies available to all patients in need. Committing to clinical development requires increasing economic support and access to a wider set of expertise reached through the cooperation with key players in the national and international context. Among Fondazione Telethon’s success cases, Strimvelis® was the first ex-vivo gene therapy approved worldwide that was brought to the clinic in one of Fondazione Telethon’s institutes and completed the registration process in the frame of a collaboration with Glaxo SmithKline. The Business Development Office is working to add value to the know-how, intellectual property, human resources and research facilities arising from Telethon-funded research in order to generate new therapies and diagnostic products for the benefit of patients affected by rare genetic diseases. We achieve this through mutually successful partnerships with pharma and biotech industries as well as through the generation of new ventures.

Position

The TTA will operate within the Business Development Office and should report to the Technology Transfer Manager responsible for overseeing the technology transfer activities related to research conducted outside the Telethon institutes.

Fondazione Telethon is a partner in the European Joint Project on rare diseases, a consortium of over 80 partners co-funded by the European Commission that kicked-off in January 2019. Among its objectives, the project is aimed at developing and implementing an efficient model of financial support to research coupled with an accelerated exploitation of research results for the benefit of patients. The Business Development Office has a major role in coordinating technology transfer activities for the research projects funded under the EJP-RD.

The TTA will work closely with the relevant partners within the EJP to identify translational research projects and define the best development path and strategy for each project. With the same aim, the TTA will collaborate with Telethon Program Managers overseeing Telethon-funded research on the exploitation of the results arising from such research.

 

The TTA will participate in particular to:

  • assessment of critical aspects of the projects with regard to intellectual property protection and business opportunities;
  • definition of a development and exploitation plan including considerations on the market and on the competitive landscape as well as identification of potential partners for research development;
  • support in the preparation of material to present the projects to potential partners (including Pharma and biotech companies);
  • draft business plan of the projects to be presented to investors;
  • support scientists in the interaction with potential for profit partners;
  • support scientists in the drafting proof of concept applications;
  • support scientists in the presentation and discussion of the non-scientific aspects of their projects;
  • establish contact and keep relations with for profit players in the field;
  • support the technology transfer team in the negotiation of intellectual property related agreements (NDA, MTA, Consortium/Collaboration agreements) and agreements arising from marketing activities;
  • support work with the Marketing and Communication team to keep the Technology Transfer marketing material (including website) up to date;
  • set-up of a panel of relevant experts to support in the identification of the definition of a development strategy.

Requirements

Applicants should have:

  • Background in life sciences and chemistry;
  • PhD degree preferred;
  • Specific training or relevant experience in translational research, drug development or technology transfer preferred;
  • Project management experience, in the industrial setting or within European consortia;
  • Excellent oral and written English communication;
  • Self-motivated, highly organized, detail-oriented and able to deliver multiple tasks working under strict timelines;
  • Strong interpersonal skills, capacity to work cross-functionally and to influence people without direct authority.

 

Other information

The position will be located in Milan, Italy.

 

Please, send a motivation letter along with your CV including copies of academic credentials, together with names, addresses and fax numbers/e-mail addresses of three referees.

We thank you in advance for expressing your interest in the Organization. We inform you that, due to the huge amount of applications received, we will be able to provide a feedback only to those who will be contacted from Fondazione Telethon.