Dr Damian O'Connell MB B.Sc Ph.D has been appointed Chair of Molecular Medicine Ireland. Dr O'Connell is Executive Director and Global Development and Clinical Leader for Pfizer Analgesic Portfolio and has been a director of the Board since February 2007.

He replaces Dr Mike Kamarck PhD, President, Technical Operations and Product Supply, Wyeth who has stepped down from the chair and membership of the Board after four years service.   On taking up his appointment, Dr O’Connell paid tribute to Dr Kamarck’s outstanding contribution as Chair to the development of the company over the past four years, in particular to his leadership in overseeing the transformation of the Dublin Molecular Medicine Centre into a national organisation, Molecular Medicine Ireland. Dr Ruth Barrington, Chief Executive of Molecular Medicine Ireland, congratulated Dr O’Connell’s on his appointment as Chair.  On her own behalf and that of the staff, she thanked Dr Kamarck for his strategic leadership of the organisation and unfailing courtesy. She wished him well in his important new role with Wyeth.

The Board of Molecular Medicine Ireland has also appointed Dr Stevo Knezevic MD PhD, Dip.Pharma.Med as a Director. Dr Knezevic is Chief Medical Officer, Wyeth Europa, Middle East and Africa and has extensive experience of clinical research, both from as an academic and industry perspective.

The Board accepted the resignations of Professor Brian Harvey, Professor of Molecular Medicine and Director of the Research Institute, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and Mr Frank Kenny, Founding Partner, Delta Partners. Dr O’Connell thanked Professor Harvey and Mr Kenny for their contributions as directors to Molecular Medicine Ireland.