Head of Biomarkers

ProQR Therapeutics is a biotechnology company listed on NASDAQ with offices in Leiden, the Netherlands and Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. ProQR is focused on the development of life changing RNA therapies to meet the unmet need of individuals and families with common and rare diseases. A team of 170+ enthusiastic ProQRians from all walks of life and more than 30 different nationalities is up to this challenge. We have the passion and commitment to make a difference in the lives of the communities we serve. Our proprietary Axiomer® RNA editing technology platform enables the editing of specific single nucleotides in RNA using the cells own editing machinery. Axiomer® RNA editing technology harnesses ADAR (Adenosine Deaminase Acting on RNA), which is machinery present in all human cells to repair G-to-A mutations, modulate protein, and enable protective mutation functions. Axiomer could potentially yield a new class of innovative medicines and treat currently untreatable diseases.

Our Development department is currently looking for an experienced and visionary Head of Biomarkers (Full-time) to lead biomarker strategy and execution across our pipeline, with a focus on central nervous system (CNS) and liver diseases. This role is critical for driving the strategic use of biomarkers as tools to inform and enable translational science, clinical decision-making, and disease understanding.

Reporting directly to the CMO, the Head of Biomarkers will define a comprehensive biomarker vision that bridges mechanistic insight, patient biology, and clinical application. The ideal candidate will combine deep scientific expertise, a strategic mindset, and cross-functional leadership skills to integrate biomarker science into all stages of drug development.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership in Translational & Disease Biology

• Define and execute an integrated biomarker strategy rooted in the mechanism of action, target biology, and disease pathophysiology, especially in CNS and liver indications.
• Champion the use of biomarkers to enable translational hypotheses, patient selection, pharmacodynamic assessment, and early signals of efficacy.
• Act as a cross-disciplinary thought partner to Translational Medicine, Discovery, Clinical Development, and Regulatory teams to ensure biomarker plans are aligned with both therapeutic hypotheses and clinical objectives.
• Drive internal alignment around biomarker value propositions in the context of overall development strategy and portfolio decision-making.

Operational & Scientific Excellence

• Lead biomarker development from discovery through clinical application, ensuring scientific rigor, operational feasibility, and regulatory readiness.
• Oversee biomarker assay development, validation, and deployment across platforms (genomic, proteomic, imaging, digital, etc.).
• Manage external collaborations (CROs, academic labs, consortia) to access novel technologies and accelerate biomarker development.
• Ensure data integrity and integration across studies and modalities to support translational learnings and clinical interpretation.

Leadership & Collaboration

• Foster a culture of scientific curiosity, strategic thinking, and delivery excellence.
• Represent biomarker function in internal governance, program teams, and external meetings with partners and regulators.
• Contribute to scientific publications, conference presentations, and biomarker thought leadership initiatives.

We expect our Head of Biomarkers to have:

• PhD, MD, or equivalent in a relevant life sciences discipline (e.g., molecular biology, neuroscience, internal medicine, systems biology).
• Minimum 6 years of industry experience in biomarker development, translational medicine, or precision medicine, including strategic and operational roles.
• Demonstrated track record of integrating biomarkers into translational development and disease-informed strategies.
• Deep understanding of biomarker technologies across multiple platforms and their relevance in CNS and liver diseases.
• Experience with cross-functional teams across discovery, nonclinical, and clinical development phases.
• Strong leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.

ProQR as an employer

As an employer, we are a true believer of the value of a workforce in which people from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to develop themselves, personally and professionally. We believe that happy and energized people, working well together in an environment in which they thrive, will do phenomenal and awesome things.

We are committed to ensuring that no employee, candidate, or job applicant receives less favorable treatment on the grounds of race, age, disability, pregnancy, religion, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, marriage or civil partnership status. At ProQR we want to create an inclusive culture where everyone can be valued for who they are and in which individual differences and the contributions in all forms are recognized and valued.

We offer an exciting and innovative working environment in a very committed organization, with the following benefits:

• 8% holiday allowance
• 30 vacation days
• An annual performance bonus
• Stock options
• A premium-free pension plan
• A commuting allowance
• A subsidized staff restaurant
• Unlimited (un)healthy snacks and drinks
• Employee events (boot camp, Rebel Café and other social events)

Do you think you can contribute to achieving our mission? If so, we’re looking forward to receiving your application by filling out our application form.

You can contact Silvia Catellani via recruitment@proqr.com if you have any questions.