Dr Polisky replaces Steven Quay, chief scientific officer, chairman of the board of directors and chairman of the scientific advisory board, who will be leaving the company on November 30, 2008.
The company also announced that Bruce Thaw, lead independent director of MDRNA, has been named chairman of the board of directors and James Rothman, a member of the board of directors and a member of the scientific advisory board, has been named chairman of the scientific advisory board.
Dr Quay will continue to serve as a member of the board of directors and a member of the scientific advisory board. Dr Polisky, who previously served as research vice president of Merck & Co and as chief scientific officer at Sirna Therapeutics, will oversee all research personnel and scientific activities. Dr Polisky will report to Michael French, MDRNA’s president and CEO.