Contracts Manager, UK Dementia Research Institute: University College London

The UK Dementia Research Institute

Dementia is the biggest health challenge of our century – currently affecting fifty million people worldwide, projected to triple by 2050, with huge financial, emotional and social impact on patients, their carers, families and friends. Dementia is caused by a set of complex neurodegenerative disorders, with Alzheimer’s disease accounting for about 60% of cases. To date there is no way to prevent or even slow the rate of progression of dementia – this is because there is still a major knowledge gap in our basic understanding of Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases. The UK Dementia Research Institute (UK DRI) is the biggest UK initiative supporting research to fill this gap. Our mission is to become a globally leading multidisciplinary research institute into the spectrum of neurodegenerative disorders causing dementia, driving a step change in our understanding of the disease and accelerating the discovery, development and delivery of interventions that will help diagnose, treat and ultimately prevent dementia.

The UK DRI currently has around 60 Group Leaders. Over the next five years we are expecting the UK DRI to grow to over 70 Group Leaders and over 700 researchers focusing on different aspects of dementia and developing new technologies and approaches for research, diagnosis, treatment and care. The UK DRI’s research groups are based at University College London, the University of Cambridge, Cardiff University, Edinburgh University, Imperial College London and King’s College London. The UK DRI is a joint £290 million investment from the Medical Research Council, Alzheimer’s Society and Alzheimer’s Research UK.

Main purpose of the job

The UK DRI is a vibrant and rapidly growing research community that will soon number many hundreds of researchers. The Tech Transfer team, led by the Director of Innovation and Business, is responsible for the management of TT activities, educating the UK DRI’s research community on TT potential, negotiating and managing licenses and other partnerships, and building a successful TT and IP portfolio across the UK DRI’s six host institutions in order to fully exploit discoveries emerging from our world-class research activities.

The Contracts Manager will be responsible for, in collaboration with the Director of Innovation and Business, drafting, amending and negotiating contracts to support the UK DRI’s translation vision; this will include collaborative research agreements with commercial organisations, CDAs, MTAs, licensing and spin-out agreements. The role holder will work closely with UK DRI Group Leaders, the six host universities’ Tech Transfer and research offices and external funding companies and investors. Involvement in charity or grant research contracts will be minimal as these will be handled by the host university.

Requests for flexible working arrangements or part- time working are welcomed.

Duties and responsibilities

• Provide a high quality contract negotiation and advice service to the UK DRI community of researchers, industry partners and external funders and investors.
• Undertake effective negotiation with a wide range of national and international industry partners, funding organisations and investors to secure the best possible contractual terms and contract price in relation to intellectual property and other research contract-related issues.
• Draft, negotiate and amend a variety of research-related agreements including collaborative research agreements, CDAs, MTAs, licensing agreements and spin-out agreements.
• Review received draft agreements and negotiate appropriate changes, aiming to achieve the best possible terms.
• Build strong, collaborative working relationships with host university Tech Transfer and research offices to enable efficient and seamless progression of UK DRI contracts.
• Develop and maintain standardised contracting templates for UK DRI TT activity for use across the UK DRI’s six host universities.
• Maintain an up-to-date knowledge of and any changes to current issues in TT/IP, policies, procedures and legislation.
• Participate in the wider activities of the Innovation and Busines team, including representing the UK DRI at key external networking events.

General Duties

• Effective liaison with colleagues within UK DRI Headquarters and the centres to facilitate two- way communication and dissemination of information.
• Ensuring the highest standard of record keeping, maintaining accurate, complete, and up to date records.
• Ensuring confidentiality is maintained as applicable.
• Attending and contributing to Departmental, Institutional and other meetings as appropriate.
• Acting at all times in accordance with the highest professional standards and ensuring that these are maintained in the delivery of all aspects of research.
• Adhering at all times to the policies, rules and regulations of the Department, Institute and UCL.