Job Description

++Position Summary++

The Scientific Director plays a pivotal leadership role in shaping and advancing CureGRIN Foundation's scientific and research agenda. This individual will foster strong partnerships across academia, industry, and the patient community, guiding research efforts from early discovery through therapeutic development. The Scientific Director will manage research portfolios, oversee grant programs, and serve as a scientific ambassador for the organization.

This role is ideal for a passionate scientist committed to rare disease research who thrives at the intersection of science, patient advocacy, and collaborative innovation.

++Key Responsibilities++

+Scientific Strategy & Research Leadership+
-Develop, refine, and implement a comprehensive research roadmap focused on key scientific questions and therapeutic opportunities in GRI disorders.
-Oversee the foundation’s grant program, including soliciting proposals, managing the peer review process, and monitoring the progress of funded research projects to ensure alignment with CureGRIN's mission.
-Identify promising preclinical and clinical research initiatives, supporting their advancement through strategic partnerships.
-Act as a scientific advisor, providing guidance on preclinical development and clinical trial design. This includes understanding and leveraging opportunities like orphan drug designations and patient registries.

+Community & Stakeholder Engagement+
-Build and maintain strong relationships with a global network of scientists, clinicians, and patient families.
-Facilitate and participate in scientific meetings and conferences, such as the GRI Genes Roundtable and GRICON, to promote collaboration and knowledge sharing.
-Translate complex scientific findings into accessible communications tailored for patients, families, donors, and the broader community.

+Partnership Development & External Relations+
-Collaborate with industry partners, including pharmaceutical and biotech companies, to accelerate therapy development and facilitate regulatory progress.
-Serve as a trusted scientific representative of CureGRIN, engaging with industry leaders, academic researchers, and other rare disease organizations to foster collaboration and share best practices.
-Support fundraising initiatives by articulating CureGRIN’s scientific vision and impact to donors and grant-making entities.

+Qualifications+
-Advanced degree (PhD, MD, or equivalent) in Neuroscience, Genetics, Pharmacology, Molecular Biology, or a related field.
-Minimum 3-5 years of experience in rare disease research, translational science, clinical research coordination, or related areas.
-Proven ability to engage patients and families as partners in research.
-Experience managing scientific grant programs and multidisciplinary projects.
-Strong science communication skills, able to effectively convey information to scientific and lay audiences.
-Demonstrated success in building and maintaining diverse stakeholder partnerships.
-Ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities, and collaborate as part of a dynamic team.
-Willingness to travel occasionally for conferences and stakeholder meetings.
-Knowledge / experience of ion Glutamate Receptors or GRI Disorders preferred

++About CureGRIN Foundation++
CureGRIN Foundation is a Patient Advocacy Organization focused on driving treatments and cures for people living with GRI Disorders. We are a Colorado-based 501(c)(3) but our focus is global with volunteers, donors and staff around the world. CureGRIN is dedicated to improving the lives of people around the world with GRI Disorders, and their families, through research, education and connectivity. We work closely with scientists and the medical community to drive patient-centered research that will lead to treatments and cures.

CureGRIN drives treatments and cures for GRIN, GRIA, GRIK and GRID Disorders by 1) Helping scientists to prioritize and fund patient-centered research, 2) Partnering with pharmaceuticals to develop treatments and cures for GRI Disorders 3) Advancing clinical-trial readiness across the global GRI community.4) Championing advocacy for people with GRI and their families to governments, regulators and funding agencies, and 5) Educating and connecting the global GRI community of patient families, researchers, clinicians and industry.


++About GRI Disorders++
GRI Disorders are a set of rare, genetic, neurodevelopmental disorders involving pathogenic variants in one of the genes that encode ion glutamate receptors (NMDA, AMPA, Kainate or Delta receptors. These disorders include GRIN1, GRIN2A, GRIN2B, GRIN2D, GRIA2, GRIA3 and GRIK2-related neurodevelopmental disorders. GRI disorders present with a spectrum of symptoms including intellectual and physical disabilities, epilepsy, movement disorders, dysautonomia, and complications related to vision, sleep and gastrointestinal health.