Head of Clinical

Retro develops therapies for diseases driven by the biology of aging. We focus on cellular reprogramming and autophagy to rejuvenate cell and tissue function with the ultimate aim of adding 10 years to healthy human lifespan.

As Retro takes an exciting leap into the clinical stage with our first program entering first in human trials this year, we are looking to bring on an experienced new team member who will lead Clinical Development efforts at Retro. As the inaugural member of this team, you will work across Retro programs and help guide them into the clinical stage, leading clinical program and study design efforts with speed, accuracy, and a bit of pirate spirit. You will report directly to the CEO.

This position is an onsite role based in Redwood City.

About you:

You are a translational strategist, eager to help Retro move its science from pre-clinical into the clinical stage. You know how to build clear clinical strategies, designs, and plans, but are also extremely enthusiastic about being hands-on in the execution of the work. You are adept at prioritization and can pivot your focus between programs, modalities, and stages. You understand the importance of patient safety and the need for rigor in our work, but you’re also energized by the chance to challenge assumptions and reimagine what’s possible in clinical development.

You’ll thrive in this role if you’re not content to simply replicate the well-trodden paths of traditional drug development. Longevity science is still being defined - and you want to help define it. You ask “Why” at every step: Why do we run studies this way? Why do we collect these endpoints? Why does this process take so long? You bring creativity and courage to clinical development plans, balancing scientific discipline with a willingness to invent new approaches that move faster, test smarter, and ultimately serve patients better. You are both a clinician and a builder; someone who leads with safety and ethics, but who also pushes the boundaries of how clinical development can be done.

in this role you will::
• Expand the clinical function at Retro; owning the clinical development strategy across programs, starting with a heavy focus on early-stage trials, translating preclinical findings into human proof-of-concept and clear go/no-go decision points.
• Bring expert clinical judgment to bear on disease area focus, target product profiles, and pipeline strategy.
• Define the clinical development plans for individual programs from pre-IND through early and late development, with an eye not just for disease indications but also the ultimate path towards aging.
• Design and own the clinical protocols for First-in-Human Phase 1 trials (healthy volunteers and patients), Proof-of-Concept Phase 2 trials, and later phase trials as relevant (design, endpoints, inclusion/exclusion criteria, PK/PD, biomarkers, etc.) .
• Serve as Retro’s Medical Monitor with day-to-day medical oversight of clinical trials (dose escalation decisions, safety review committee membership, subject eligibility adjudication, adverse event/serious adverse event review, protocol adherence).
• Lead medical and clinical interpretation of study data and results, including efficacy, safety, PK/PD, and biomarker results.
• Build and maintain a network of clinical experts, investigators, and key opinion leaders (KOLs); contribute to publications, conference presentations, and clear narratives for partners and investors.
• Provide executive oversight of global clinical operations, including study start-up, site selection, monitoring, data quality, and trial close-out across all programs, in collaboration with clinical trial managers and contract research organizations (CROs).
• Serve as the company’s clinical safety lead with overall accountability for patient safety and medical interpretation of safety events (signal detection, case review, etc.), partnering closely with Regulatory Affairs (and external PV vendors) for regulatory reporting and submissions, to ensure a cohesive, compliant, and proactive safety strategy.
• Lead clinical components of regulatory submissions and represent the clinical function in health authority meetings in collaboration with Regulatory Affairs.
• Partner closely with preclinical, CMC, biomarker, and regulatory teams on assays/endpoints, translational hypotheses, and dose selection (e.g., the recommended Phase 2 dose (RP2D)).
• Establish lean, Good Clinical Practice (GCP)-compliant processes (fit-for-purpose standard operating procedures and a scalable quality management system) that will grow with the portfolio.

You will excel in this role if you::
• Have an MD or MD/PhD and the ability to maintain an active, unrestricted U.S. medical license (any state).
• Are board certified in a relevant therapeutic area such as neurology or hematology.
• Have 10+ years of experience in early development with proven FIH leadership and study design capabilities.
• Thorough understanding of clinical trial design, especially early-stage trials, having designed/completed at least 3 studies as a medical lead or principal investigator, at least 1 of those being a FIH.
• Have experience designing and leading studies involving an aged population.
• Have people management experience building and leading small, high-performing clinical or cross-functional teams, including hiring, mentoring, and developing talent.
• Experience and understanding of clinical trial data monitoring and all aspects of drug development.
• Knowledge of GCP and ICH guidelines.
• Have a strong interest in longevity and the biology of aging, and are energized by working in a field where the playbook is still being written.

It's a bonus if you: :
• Have worked on clinical trials or conducted research on aging and longevity.
• Experience with innovative clinical trial designs, including adaptive designs, umbrella/basket trials, etc.
• Experience with multiple therapeutic modalities including small molecules and cell and gene therapies.

We take pride in cultivating an environment that fosters collaboration, open communication, and authenticity. We believe that great results are best delivered by a highly creative team working in concert. We are an equal opportunity employer; we do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We are diverse in background and singular in mission.