Top scientists join Benitec's scientific advisory board
Two eminent US scientists have joined the scientific advisory board (SAB) of Australian company Benitec.
Two eminent US scientists have joined the scientific advisory board (SAB) of Australian company Benitec.
Professor Cy Stein and Professor David Engelke bring a wealth of RNAi knowledge and experience in the practical use of RNAi against disease targets.
Professor Engelke is director of the program in biomedical sciences at the University of Michigan, where he also has an appointment as professor of biological chemistry. He has world class expertise in the cellular synthesis, localisation and processing of small RNAs, key among which are the small RNAs that induce RNA interference.
Professor Stein is head of medical genitourinary oncology and professor of medicine, urology and molecular pharmacology at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York. For the past 15 years he has been involved with leading preclinical and clinical trials of nucleic acid therapies for cancers, with increasing emphasis on RNA interference.
'Between them, these new members have a wealth of knowledge and expertise in cell and molecular biology gained over more than 50 years working in a range of academic and medical settings,' said Benitec SAB chairman Professor John Rossi, of the City of Hope National Medical Center in California. 'With members of this exceptional calibre, Benitec can be sure the SAB will provide the best possible guidance as the company continues to develop novel therapeutics for serious diseases based on its proprietary DNA-directed RNAi (ddRNAi) technology and to drive these into clinical trials.