>>LOS ANGELES, March 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Craig Mello, Ph.D., co- discoverer of the revolutionary RNA interference technology (RNAi), also known as "gene silencing," has joined the Scientific Advisory Boards of CytRx Corporation (Nasdaq: CYTR - News) and its subsidiary, Araios, Inc.
Known as a technological innovator in the field of molecular genetics, Dr. Mello, of the University of Massachusetts Medical School, along with Andrew Fire, Ph.D., of Stanford University, is a key inventor on the first approved patent for the use of double stranded RNA for gene silencing, a technology that has come to be known as RNAi
RNAi has already become a groundbreaking tool for drug discovery that allows researchers to rapidly uncover the function of specific genes. In addition, many scientists believe that the RNAi technology will lead to the development of important new therapies for debilitating and often life- threatening diseases such as ALS (commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease), diabetes, obesity and cancer.
Steve Kriegsman, CEO of CytRx, said, "The class-leading RNAi technologies under development by and for CytRx to treat diseases such as ALS, obesity and diabetes will benefit greatly from the knowledge and experience Dr. Mello brings to our Scientific Advisory Boards. As the co-discoverer of RNA interference and inventor of the use of double-stranded RNA for gene suppression, Dr. Mello has an enormous depth of scientific knowledge and will act in an advisory capacity helping CytRx to develop therapies for major diseases."
Dr. Mello is the Blais University Chair and Distinguished Professor of Molecular Medicine and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, in Worcester, Massachusetts. In this capacity, Dr. Mello studies both the biochemical pathway responsible for RNAi and the regulation of gene expression; he has numerous publications credits including 16 in the prestigious journals Science, Nature, Cell, and the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Prior to joining the University of Massachusetts Medical School, Dr. Mello was a post-doctoral fellow in the lab of Dr. Jim Priess at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle. Dr. Mello received a Ph.D. from Harvard University and a Sc.B. from Brown University. He also conducted graduate studies in the laboratory of David Hirsh, Ph.D., at the University of Colorado. In 2003, Dr. Mello shared the Wiley Foundation Prize and the prestigious National Academy of Sciences Award in Molecular Biology with Dr. Fire for their work on RNAi.
Dr Louis Ignarro, Nobel Laureate, CytRx board member, and Chief Scientific Spokesman said, "With the addition of Dr. Mello to our scientific advisory team, we have dramatically increased our leadership position for developing drugs using RNAi. Dr. Mello's unparalleled knowledge of RNAi and the power of its use permits CytRx to potentially develop a cure for such major medical conditions as obesity -- the Holy Grail of healthcare -- Type 2 Diabetes, and ALS. I have had an opportunity to observe his scientific acumen, and consider Dr. Mello a unique and brilliant scientist."
RNAi was named the "Breakthrough of the Year" for 2002 by Science magazine. Excitement within the scientific community has built for two reasons: First, with the sequencing of the human genome, RNAi should rapidly yield a rough idea of what each of our genes does. Second, the potency of RNAi-based therapeutics are estimated as being 100 to 1000-fold more potent than anti-sense, meaning small amounts of RNAi inducers can very effectively silence genes. This could not only simplify delivery, but also may mean that even modestly effective ways of getting RNAi-based medicines into targeted cells may yield therapeutic benefits while potentially limiting any negative side-effects.<<
snip
Cheers, Tuck |
