MedImmune appoints Dr Christopher Rhodes

AstraZeneca's biologics research and development arm MedImmune has appointed Dr Christopher Rhodes as vice president, cardiovascular and metabolic disease (CVMD) research.

Dr Rhodes will be responsible for developing and growing MedImmune's research base in CVMD in both the US and UK, as well as contributing to the unit's product development goals.

He joins MedImmune from the University of Chicago, where he held a research director's role that covered diabetes, endocrinology and molecular metabolism and nutrition.

In that position he led a large team of researchers focused on molecular mechanisms that control key functions in the pathogenesis of diabetes and obesity.

YongJun Liu, senior vice president of R&D at MedImmune, said: “I am delighted to welcome Dr Rhodes, a world-renowned researcher in the diabetes field, to MedImmune at this extremely exciting time for our Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease therapeutic area.

“With his wealth of experience, we know he will propel MedImmune to the next level in metabolic disease, guiding our overall CVMD research strategy and driving results to ensure a seamless process for the progression of new drug candidates through the development process, with the ultimate goal of delivering novel medicines to patients.”