Head of Translational Medicine

cAMPfield Therapeutics, Inc.; San Diego (CA); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Equity participation

Hybrid work model

Job summary

cAMPfield Therapeutics in Boston, MA is seeking a Head of Translational Medicine to build and lead the translational strategy linking prifemilast’s mechanism to clinical outcomes in IBD. You will design and oversee biomarker, pharmacodynamic, endoscopic, and histologic plans across our clinical portfolio and inform dose selection and patient stratification.

This senior role reports to R&D leadership, collaborates across Clinical Development, Biostatistics, and external partners, and will build a

Qualifications

• PhD, MD, or MD/PhD in immunology, pharmacology, gastroenterology, or a related field.
• 12+ years of translational medicine experience in biotech or pharma, including IBD experience.
• Proven biomarker strategy design and execution influencing clinical decisions.
• Deep understanding GI mucosal immunology and/or PDE4/cAMP signaling biology is a strong plus.
• Experience working with endoscopic and histologic endpoints in IBD trials preferred.
• Strong publication record and experience representing translational science externally to KOLs, regulators, and scientific conferences.
• Demonstrated leadership experience building or managing a translational medicine or biomarker function.
• Excellent cross-functional collaboration skills and comfort operating in a lean, fast-moving biotech environment.

Responsibilities

• Define and lead translational medicine strategy across the prifemilast program from Phase 2 through registration-enabling studies.
• Design biomarker, pharmacodynamic, endoscopic, and histopathology sample strategies that link target engagement to clinical response in IBD.
• Partner with Clinical Development, Clinical Pharmacology, and Biostatistics to integrate translational endpoints into protocol design.
• Identify and validate biomarkers of disease activity, mucosal healing, and treatment response; explore predictive biomarkers for patient stratification.
• Evaluate and manage relationships with central reading, histopathology, bioanalytical, and companion diagnostic vendors and academic collaborators.
• Translate emerging biomarker data into actionable recommendations for program strategy and lifecycle opportunities.
• Represent translational medicine in regulatory interactions and health authority briefing documents.
• Contribute to scientific publications, congress presentations, and investor/board materials.
• Build and mentor a translational medicine function as the organization grows.

Skills

Translational medicine

Biomarker strategy

Leadership

Immunology

Education

PhD/MD/MD-PhD in immunology or related field

Job description

cAMPfield Therapeutics

Head of Translational Medicine

Department: Research & Development

Reports To: President, Research & Development

Location: Boston, MA (Hybrid)

About cAMPfield Therapeutics

cAMPfield is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing well-tolerated and highly effective oral medicines , founded and led by industry veterans with success developing therapies for immune-mediated inflammatory diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Prifemilast is an investigational, potentially best-in-class, once-daily oral preferential PDE4B inhibitor designed to set a new standard of care for IBD. Prifemilast has been well-tolerated in more than 1000 clinical trial participants to date and has demonstrated robust efficacy in Phase 3 trials for plaque psoriasis. Many clinicians and patients prefer the convenience and familiarity of oral therapies, but currently approved oral treatments for IBD are limited by poor tolerability, safety concerns, or modest efficacy. Prifemilast offers the potential to combine the convenience of an oral therapy with the safety and efficacy that patients deserve. cAMPfield was founded by a team with a track record of developing category-defining IBD and immunology therapies, and launched with a $180 million Series A to advance prifemilast through registration-enabling trials. We have offices in San Diego, CA and Boston, MA.

The Role

cAMPfield is seeking a Head of Translational Medicine to build and lead the translational strategy connecting prifemilast’s mechanism of action (PDE4B-selective inhibition and cAMP-mediated modulation of mucosal inflammation) to clinical outcomes in IBD This leader will design and oversee the biomarker, endoscopic, histologic, and pharmacodynamic strategy across our clinical portfolio, and will play a central role in informing dose selection, patient stratification, and mechanistic differentiation versus other IBD therapies. This is a senior, highly visible role reporting into R&D leadership with regular exposure to the executive team and board.

Key Responsibilities

• Define and lead cAMPfield’s translational medicine strategy across the prifemilast clinical program, from Phase 2 through registration-enabling studies.
• Design biomarker, pharmacodynamic, endoscopic, and histopathology sample strategies that link target engagement and mechanism of action to clinical response in IBD.
• Partner with Clinical Development, Clinical Pharmacology, and Biostatistics to integrate translational endpoints into protocol design and data analysis plans.
• Identify and validate biomarkers of disease activity, mucosal healing, and treatment response; explore predictive biomarkers to support patient stratification.
• Evaluate and manage relationships with central reading, histopathology, bioanalytical, and companion diagnostic vendors and academic collaborators.
• Translate emerging preclinical and clinical biomarker data into actionable recommendations for program strategy, including dose selection and lifecycle opportunities.
• Represent translational medicine in regulatory interactions and health authority briefing documents.
• Contribute to scientific publications, congress presentations, and investor/board materials describing prifemilast’s mechanism and differentiation.
• Build and mentor a translational medicine function as the organization grows.

Qualifications

• PhD, MD, or MD/PhD in immunology, pharmacology, gastroenterology, or a related field.
• 12+ years of translational medicine or translational research experience in biotech or pharma, including direct experience in immune-mediated inflammatory disease (IBD experience strongly preferred).
• Demonstrated track record of designing and executing biomarker strategies that influenced clinical development decisions (e.g., dose selection, go/no-go decisions, patient stratification).
• Deep understanding of GI mucosal immunology and/or PDE4/cAMP signaling biology is a strong plus.
• Experience working with endoscopic and histologic endpoints in IBD trials preferred.
• Strong publication record and experience representing translational science externally to KOLs, regulators, and scientific conferences.
• Demonstrated leadership experience building or managing a translational medicine or biomarker function.
• Excellent cross-functional collaboration skills and comfort operating in a lean, fast-moving biotech environment.

What We Offer

• A rare opportunity to shape the clinical and scientific strategy of a well-funded, Series A biotech advancing a differentiated oral therapy in a large, underserved market.
• A collaborative, science-first culture built by leaders who have taken IBD and immunology therapies from early development through approval.
• Direct exposure to the executive team and board, with real influence over pipeline and program decisions.
• Comprehensive health benefits, equity participation, and a flexible hybrid work model across our San Diego and Boston hubs.

cAMPfield Therapeutics is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to building a diverse team and an inclusive culture, and we welcome applicants of all backgrounds regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic.