Senior Advisor - Heart Failure Research

Role Summary

Senior Advisor - Heart Failure Research. Provides strategic leadership for heart failure drug discovery and clinical development from target identification through IND-enabling studies. Leads design, execution, and interpretation of in vivo and in vitro pharmacology studies to assess the efficacy, pharmacokinetics (PK), pharmacodynamics (PD), and safety of therapeutic candidates, including cardiac functional and electrophysiologic endpoints. Serves as a subject matter expert on disease-area biology, pathology, current treatments, and next-generation approaches to therapeutics, and contributes to Lilly’s scientific community through publications and presentations. Shapes the long-term scientific roadmap for heart failure, pulmonary hypertension, and atrial fibrillation within Cardiometabolic Research, driving cross-functional collaboration and innovation, including leveraging AI tools to accelerate discoveries and communications.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and problem-solving for heart failure drug discovery and clinical development programs, from target identification through IND-enabling studies.
• Lead and advise on the design, execution, and interpretation of in vivo and in vitro pharmacology studies to assess the efficacy, pharmacokinetics (PK), pharmacodynamics (PD), and safety of therapeutic candidates, including cardiac functional and electrophysiologic endpoints.
• Identify robust animal models, cell-based assays, and translational approaches for heart failure (including HFpEF and HFrEF), pulmonary hypertension, atrial fibrillation and other cardiac diseases, using internal and external resources.
• Serve as a subject matter expert on disease area biology, pathology, current treatments and next generation approaches to therapeutics, and contribute to the scientific community and represent science at Lilly through publications and presentations.
• Provide input into portfolio strategy and help shape the long-term scientific roadmap for heart failure, pulmonary hypertension, and atrial fibrillation within CMR.
• Maintain awareness of scientific advances, new concepts, enabling technologies, and external competitive intelligence to ensure the company's research remains innovative.
• Champion innovation by launching new initiatives, driving cross-functional execution, and leading collaborative scientific programs across multiple areas.
• Capitalize on AI tools to streamline and accelerate scientific discoveries and communications.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing team of scientists (junior through senior levels) with a ‘team first’ mentality to discover and validate targets, elucidate mechanisms of action, and advance programs that expand and deliver the heart failure, pulmonary hypertension, and atrial fibrillation pipeline.
• Set clear priorities, drive decision-making, and align resources to deliver high-quality outcomes on timelines.
• Develop and maintain integrated project plans, proactively identify scientific and operational risks, and implement mitigation strategies.
• Communicate complex scientific concepts and program updates clearly and concisely to senior leadership and cross-functional governance teams.
• Enable efficient outsourcing and external execution through CROs and partners, ensuring scientific strength and delivery.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including medicinal chemistry/genetic medicines/bioproducts, toxicology/ADME, bioinformatics, and regulatory affairs, to integrate data and drive program results.
• Represent the preclinical function in external engagements with key opinion leaders, scientific collaborators, and potential partners.
• Contribute to regulatory documentation and filings, including materials supporting IND submissions.
• Support business development activities through scientific diligence and evaluation of external opportunities for potential partnering or in-licensing.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in cardiovascular biology, pharmacology, molecular/cellular biology, or a related scientific area
• 6+ years of industry experience in preclinical drug discovery and development

Skills

• Deep expertise in heart failure pathophysiology, including a strong understanding of preclinical models, translational endpoints, and the therapeutic landscape.
• Experience with cardiovascular electrophysiology, myocardial excitability/conduction, and cardiac bio-signal interpretation (preclinical and/or translational).
• Demonstrated people leadership, including mentoring, performance management, and talent development.
• Strong collaboration and influencing skills with internal customers, external vendors/partners, and cross-functional governance.