Drug Development & Research Strategy Intern

Drug Development & Research Strategy Internship

About Mission: Cure

Mission: Cure was founded in 2017 to find effective treatments and, ultimately, a cure for pancreatitis, an extremely painful, degenerative, and costly disease. We work at the intersection of patient advocacy, data science, and drug development to accelerate the path from scientific promise to real treatments for people living with chronic and hereditary forms of the disease.

Our Cures Strategy team functions as a scientific catalyst and drug-development partner, identifying promising therapeutic opportunities, generating real-world evidence, supporting clinical trial execution, and engaging biopharma partners to make pancreatitis a viable and investable indication.

Job Description

Position Summary

This internship is an exciting opportunity for anyone interested in applying research and analytical skills to the world of drug development, rare disease, and health innovation. As a Drug Development & Research Strategy Intern, you will support Mission: Cure’s Cures Strategy team in the research, tracking, and synthesis work that drives our scientific programs forward. You will learn from leaders in rare disease strategy and drug development, contribute meaningfully to active programs, and gain hands-on experience with the tools and methods used in modern clinical and translational research.

What You’ll Do

The intern will support Mission: Cure’s Cures Strategy team across a range of research and analytical tasks. Specific responsibilities may include:

• Conduct literature reviews on therapeutic candidates, clinical trials, and emerging science relevant to pancreatitis and adjacent rare disease areas
• Support pipeline tracking by researching and documenting biopharma programs, drug repurposing candidates, and clinical trial developments
• Use AI tools to help synthesize large volumes of scientific, clinical, and regulatory information efficiently and accurately
• Assist in drafting summaries, briefing documents, and internal research reports to support strategy and partner engagement
• Contribute to data collection and documentation for registry and evidence generation programs
• Help prepare background materials and research for meetings with investigators, clinical partners, and biopharma companies
• Support day-to-day research tasks across multiple active programs as they arise

What You’ll Learn

• How a nonprofit scientific catalyst drives rare disease drug development, from opportunity identification through evidence generation and biopharma engagement
• Real-world evidence methodologies including N-of-1 and single-case experimental design, and how they are applied in small patient populations
• The rare disease drug development landscape: clinical trials, regulatory pathways, precision medicine approaches, and drug repurposing strategies
• Practical use of AI tools for research synthesis, scientific analysis, and knowledge management in a professional healthcare setting
• How to translate complex scientific and clinical information into clear, actionable materials for researchers, clinicians, partners, and patients

Qualifications

• Current undergraduate or graduate student in biological sciences, public health, health policy, or a related field
• Genuine interest in drug development, rare disease, clinical research, or health innovation
• Strong research and writing skills; able to synthesize complex information clearly and quickly
• Self-starter who identifies what needs to be done and moves projects forward without waiting to be asked
• Ability to meet deadlines, prioritize independently, and manage multiple projects simultaneously
• Full-time access to a reliable internet connection

We especially welcome applicants from communities or backgrounds that have been subject to discrimination or underrepresented in the healthcare system. We also welcome applicants with experience living with chronic disease, rare disease, or pancreatic disease.

Dates:

June 1 – July 31, 2026

Location:

Remote or Hybrid in NYC or Seattle

While this is a volunteer position, we will support applications for funding from your school or other programs.

To Apply:

Submit your resume, a cover letter describing your interest in this internship, and a sample of your work to hiring@mission-cure.org.