Full-Time
Principal Scientist
Translational Medicine
Posted on 10/1/2025
Umoja Biopharma
201-500 employees
In vivo CAR T-cell cancer therapy
Compensation Overview
$157.3k - $194.3k/yr
Seattle, WA, USA
In Person
On-site required: 5 days/week; occasional travel for site visits/conferences.
 Medical, Clinical & Veterinary (1) |
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- PhD in Immunology, Cancer Immunotherapy, or related discipline with a minimum of 5+ years of relevant biotech/pharma experience in translational medicine or a Bachelor’s degree in biology, immunology, molecular biology, or related field and 15+ years of relevant industry experience.
- Demonstrated leadership in translational study design and execution for clinical studies.
- Expertise in flow cytometry, molecular assays, and ligand binding assay development and validation.
- Strong communication skills in technical writing and oral presentation.
- Proven ability to work in cross-functional teams and manage complex projects with tight timelines.
- Serve as translational study lead for designated clinical studies, collaborating cross-functionally with clinical, regulatory, and research teams.
- Drive assay development and validation for clinical biospecimen testing (hands-on and oversight).
- Interpret complex data sets and translate findings into actionable insights for pipeline advancement.
- Manage external collaborations and vendor relationships for assay implementation and sample analysis.
- Contribute to cross-program strategic planning within the Translational Medicine group.
- Maintain complete laboratory records in line with appropriate guidance documents and/or SOPs.
- Prepare technical data reports and presentations.
- Experience with cell and gene therapy development and/or clinical study development.
- Experience with single cell analytics, including high parameter flow cytometry, sequencing, spatial transcriptomics.
- Translational medicine experience spanning early Ph1 studies through pivotal study(ies) and commercial launch.
Umoja Biopharma develops immunotherapies that reprogram patients’ T cells inside the body (in vivo) to attack cancer. Its main product approach is a CAR T-cell gene therapy platform designed to be produced in-house and sold as off-the-shelf regimens, enabling scalable treatment for both solid tumors and blood cancers that have not responded to other therapies. The treatment works by modifying the patient’s immune system directly in the body to create CAR T cells that can target and kill cancer cells, aiming for lasting remissions. Unlike many therapies that extract cells from a patient, modify them outside the body, and then reinsert them, Umoja Biopharma focuses on in-body cell reprogramming and in-house manufacturing to streamline delivery. The company differentiates itself through its in vivo, off-the-shelf CAR T approach and its goal of broad applicability across cancer stages, seeking to provide accessible, scalable cancer treatments across solid and hematologic cancers.
Company Size
201-500
Company Stage
Series C
Total Funding
$363M
Headquarters
Seattle, Washington
Founded
2019
Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- FDA IND clearance for UB-VV111 enables Phase I recruitment in relapsed B-cell lymphomas and CLL.[6]
- AbbVie partnership validates VivoVec platform with exclusive options on CD19 and four discovery targets.[6]
- Board appointments of Dr. Marcela Maus and Dr. Athena Countouriotis strengthen clinical and commercial execution capabilities.[1]
What critics are saying
- Dr. Philip Low's March 2026 death removes foundational CAR T researcher; TumorTag program continuity threatened.[1]
- Single Louisville facility dependency creates supply chain vulnerability during Phase I/II scale-up expansion.[1]
- Interius INT2104 now in EU Phase 1; competitive in vivo programs compress Umoja's first-mover advantage window.[1]
- ENLIGHTen solid tumor trial lacks published efficacy data; negative results invalidate platform claims and burn $100M Series C.[1]
- Lentiviral vector manufacturing and safety remain regulatory flashpoints; FDA could impose costly additional requirements.[1]
- AbbVie exclusive options create dependency on single pharma partner for pipeline prioritization and commercialization control.[1]
What makes Umoja Biopharma unique
- In vivo CAR T generation eliminates weeks-long ex vivo manufacturing, reducing cost and complexity versus competitors.[5]
- Integrated VivoVec, RACR, and TumorTag platforms designed to work synergistically for enhanced potency and control.[4]
- Off-the-shelf allogeneic approach with Louisville lentiviral vector facility enables scalable production for broader patient access.[6]
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Benefits
Health Insurance
Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance
401(k) Retirement Plan
401(k) Company Match
Unlimited Paid Time Off
Commuter Benefits
Phone/Internet Stipend
Growth & Insights and Company News
6 month growth
↑ 0%1 year growth
↑ 0%2 year growth
↑ 0%Umoja Biopharma, a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing immunotherapies for cancer and autoimmune diseases, has appointed Dr Marcela Maus and Dr Athena Countouriotis to its board of directors. Dr Maus is a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and director of cellular immunotherapy at Massachusetts General Hospital. She is internationally recognised in immunology and T cell-based cancer therapies, having authored over 200 publications. Dr Countouriotis is co-founder, president and chief executive officer of Avenzo Therapeutics. She previously led Turning Point Therapeutics from IPO to acquisition in 2022 and has over 20 years of industry experience. The appointments will support Umoja's VivoVec platform, which generates CAR T cells directly in the body, aiming to simplify delivery and expand access to transformative cancer therapies.
Umoja Biopharma honors the life and legacy of scientific co-founder Dr. Philip Low. SEATTLE, WA, March 6, 2026 - Umoja Biopharma announces with deep sadness the passing of Dr. Philip Low, a pioneering scientist, entrepreneur, and one of its scientific co-founders, whose career reflected a lifelong commitment to translating innovative science into patient impact. Dr. Low passed away this week at the age of 78, leaving behind an extraordinary legacy in drug discovery and development, including Umoja's first clinical-stage program built on his foundational work at Purdue University. "Phil was a once-in-a-generation scientist whose work fundamentally reshaped our understanding of how CAR T cells can and should work in the body," said Andrew Scharenberg, M.D., co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Umoja Biopharma. "He brought not only extraordinary intellectual rigor to Umoja's early days, but a deep conviction that novel, groundbreaking science must ultimately serve patients. We are profoundly grateful for his scientific leadership and mentorship. Phil was a great friend and colleague. My thoughts are with his family, friends, and colleagues at Purdue." Over nearly five decades at Purdue University, Dr. Low became one of the world's most influential scientists in academic drug discovery. He joined Dr. Andrew Scharenberg and Dr. Ryan Crisman in the founding of Umoja Biopharma in 2019. Dr. Low's work was fundamental in the discovery and development of Umoja's early scientific exploration in solid tumors, including its TumorTag programs and Phase I ENLIGHTen clinical trial in partnership with Seattle Children's Research Institute. About Umoja Biopharma Umoja Biopharma, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company aiming to develop in vivo cell therapies that improve the reach, effectiveness, and access of CAR T cell therapies in both oncology and autoimmunity. Umoja's VivoVec(TM) in vivo gene delivery technology empowers a patient's own immune system to fight disease. Enabling its core technology is the Company's state- of-the-art lentiviral vector development and manufacturing facility in Louisville, Colorado. Umoja believes its approach can provide broader access and improved effectiveness of the most advanced immunotherapies, enabling more patients to live better, fuller lives. To learn more, connect with Umoja on LinkedIn and visit umoja-biopharma.com.
The 2025 GeekWire Award finalists for Health Innovation of the Year are dominated by ventures that aim to outwit cancer with groundbreaking new technologies. The contenders range from a newly formed startup to a leading U.S. cancer institute and companies in between. Joining the cohort is a business with technology to help healthcare providers better manage appointments and access to providers.This awards category recognizes pioneering health, life science, biotechnology or medical breakthroughs that hold great promise for improving peoples’ lives and enhancing the healthcare system.The finalists are Archon Biosciences, DexCare, Fred Hutch Cancer Center, Talus Bioscience and Umoja Biopharma.Last year’s winner was CalmWave, a Seattle health-tech startup that created a system for making sense of the alarms triggered by the devices that monitor hospital ICU patients.Continue reading for details on each of this year’s finalists, and vote here or below.Archon BiosciencesArchon Biosciences emerged from stealth last October with $20 million in funding. The Seattle biotech company is running with technology developed in the lab of University of Washington biochemist and Nobel Prize winner David Baker.Archon’s proprietary protein structures, known as Antibody Cages or AbCs, combine two biomedical tools — naturally occurring antibodies and custom-designed proteins — to create a single new protein structure. These protein structures, or AbCs, are optimized with the aid of generative AI to travel in the body in controllable ways and engage with target cells in a more specific manner.“What we like to say is, it’s not whether you’re given a drug, it’s how you’re given it,” said CEO and co-founder James Lazarovits
Tech Moves covers notable hires, promotions and personnel changes in the Pacific NW tech community. Submissions: [email protected] Smith, CFO of Starbucks. (LinkedIn Photo)— Starbucks announced Cathy Smith as its chief financial officer. Smith was most recently at Nordstrom for two years, and has held CFO roles at Bright Health, Target, Express Scripts, Walmart and others. Her longest role was at the defense and space juggernaut Raytheon.Smith succeeds Rachel Ruggeri, who was at Starbucks for more than two decades, ascending to the CFO role in 2021.The coffee giant announced layoffs of 1,100 corporate employees, including 612 in Seattle. It marks one of Starbucks’ largest layoffs and comes as CEO Brian Niccol turns to tech to help turn around the slumping business after taking over in September.— Avanade, a Seattle-based tech consulting and services company, announced a slate of C-suite hires
Umoja Biopharma announced a $100 million Series C financing to advance its in vivo CAR T cell therapy pipeline. The round was co-led by Double Point Ventures and DCVC Bio, with participation from investors like ARK Invest and SoftBank Vision Fund 2. The funds will support clinical development, including the lead CD22 UB-VV400 program. Campbell Murray, M.D., joins the Board of Directors. This financing highlights Umoja's potential to innovate in oncology and autoimmune treatments.