April 23, 2002
Gurney Adds Pharma, Genomics Expertise
to ALS Center
Pharmacologist and genomics expert Mark Gurney, Ph.D., has become the
newest member of the Scientific Advisory Board for The Center for ALS
Research at Johns Hopkins. "Gurney's ability to apply genomic research
to drug development and his expertise in moving promising therapies from
bench to bedside make him an ideal addition to the Center," says
Director Jeffrey Rothstein.
Currently Vice President of Pharmaceutical Discovery at DeCODE Genetics
in Reykjavik, Iceland, Gurney oversees the development of downstream value
and products utilizing DeCODE's disease-gene research. He's been instrumental
in expanding the company's activities directed toward drug development.
Prior to signing on with DeCODE, Gurney served as director of genomics
research with Pharmacia Corporation. At Pharmacia he lead the company
team that discovered beta-secretase, a key enzyme linked with Alzheimer's
disease.
Gurney's undergraduate degree in biology was from the University of California
at San Diego. He completed doctoral work at the California Institute of
Technology in 1980. In 1994, he earned an M.B.A. at Northwestern University's
Kellogg School of Management.
As a member of the Scientific Advisory Board, Gurney will generate new
research ideas, evaluate the Center's progress and provide a general appraisal
of research proposals, assuring the Center funds only research of the
highest merit.
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