Dübendorf, Zurich, Switzerland
I am passionate about drug development with a strong interest in early discovery of immunotherapies for cancer, fibrosis and other debilitating diseases and aspire to contribute to the advancement of novel therapies.
1. Drive pre- and post-launch medical readiness for belantamab mafodotin (ADC) in multiple myeloma across Switzerland — including KOL mapping, scientific exchange and HCP education. 2. Built and maintain peer-to-peer scientific partnerships with 15+ national and regional hematology KOLs, translating emerging clinical evidence (DREAMM programme) into actionable medical insights informing strategy. 3. Educated 70+ hematologists/oncologists and 15+ ophthalmologists plus pharmacists and oncology nurses on mechanism of action, efficacy data and ocular adverse-event management, supporting safe and effective product use. 4. Planned and executed 2 satellite symposia and multiple onco-lunch sessions at national and regional congresses to advance physician education and disease awareness. 5. Cover 30+ accounts in close partnership with Key Account Managers, contributing scientific perspective to strategic account planning and cross-functional alignment. 6. Generate field insights feeding into medical strategy, advisory board agendas and publication planning; capture and report activity via Veeva Vault CRM.
1. Led cross-functional translational research projects across ADCs, multispecific antibodies and small molecules, from target discovery to IND-enabling stage. 2. Performed scientific, clinical and competitive analyses (mechanism of action, market landscape, back-translation) to define and strengthen project rationale and inform portfolio decisions. 3. Engaged international KOLs as scientific advisors — presenting program updates, integrating expert input into program direction and maintaining ongoing scientific dialogue. 4. Built and managed external R&D collaborations with biotech, academic and CRO partners — overseeing scientific plans, timelines, budgets and outsourced activities. 5. Reviewed external grant proposals and partnered with Business Development to evaluate out-licensing opportunities, supporting strategic decisions on portfolio assets.
1. Hands-on experience in characterizing therapeutic antibodies and ADCs through functional and cell-based assays * Perform screening campaigns for antibody discovery * Carry out in vitro immune co-culture killing, internalization and other functional assays (xCELLigence, Incucyte, FACS) * Conduct immune cell characterization – Multi-color FACS analysis on activated T and NK cells, tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, primary TH1 cells, and cytokine analysis * Mouse ex vivo analysis of tumor and blood samples * Establish and optimize various assays, incl. 3D tumor spheroid assays, bystander killing assays * Analysis of patient-derived TMA staining 2. Project proposal for internal triaging * Define project plan, including experimental activities, timelines and budget * Present project proposal and milestones to group heads, management and medical directors
1. Functional characterization of therapeutic antibodies for cancer indications: * Antibody engineering, including humanization of murine antibodies * Characterization of antibodies through performing binding and functional studies 2. Patent preparation and filing: * Drafting patent application * Patent filing for sequences of 3 antibodies under PCT (WO 2023/136779 A2) * National phase filings ongoing
1. Continuation of PhD project: Development of therapeutic antibodies: * Defining binding profiles of anti-cancer antibodies 2. Research on DNA damage and cancer signaling pathways: * Investigating the role of the STING signaling pathway in immune-mediated rejection of prostate cancer * Publication: "cGAS–STING cytosolic DNA sensing pathway is suppressed by JAK2-STAT3 in tumor cells", Suter et al., Scientific Reports (2021)
1. Support research activities studying a contagious disease affecting apples, termed fire blight (Feuerbrand): * Field and laboratory studies * Report writing * Support organizing agricultural produce exhibitions
1. Internship in the laboratory of Prof. Dr. Esther Stoeckli (Department of Molecular Life Sciences) * Performing laboratory experiments supervised by PhD student * Studying Wnt and sonic hedgehog pathways in neuronal development in chicken embryos