WILMINGTON, Del., March 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- DuPont today announced the addition of Dr. Jiayang Li to its external Biotechnology Advisory Panel. Li is a principal investigator with the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences. He joins the ranks of six other distinguished panel members who bring diverse viewpoints to the broad area of biotechnology and its application in agriculture, food and bio- based materials.
“Professor Li’s unique perspective as a leading scientist utilizing the tools of biotechnology in agriculture and bio-based materials applications will provide valuable insight as we bring new products to market,” said DuPont Chairman and CEO Charles O. Holliday, Jr. “His expertise and global perspectives, as well as those of our other panel members, are assets to our decision-making process.”
Li has been involved in many of China’s national scientific projects. In addition to his role at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, he holds several other leadership positions, including serving as a member of the Asia-Pacific International Molecular Biology Network and president of the Genetics Society of China. Formerly, he was secretary-treasurer of the International Association for Plant Tissue Culture & Biotechnology and director of the International Society of Plant Molecular Biology.
As a leading scientist in plant molecular genetics, Li has been selected as academian of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and fellow of the Third World Academy of Sciences. He also received the Ho Leung Ho Lee Foundation Award for Life Sciences.
Established in 2000, the DuPont external Biotechnology Advisory Panel is an independent panel charged with providing counsel to guide DuPont actions, help create positions on important issues, as well as challenge the organization in the development, testing and commercialization of new products based on biotechnology.
In addition to Dr. Li, the other panel members include: -- Dr. Marcelo Carvalho de Andrade, an accomplished advocate of sustainable community development and environmental preservation and restoration. He is the founding chairman of Pro-Natura, the first international nongovernmental organization headquartered in the southern hemisphere to specialize in sustainable development. -- Dr. Jason Clay, vice president for the Center for Conservation Innovation at the World Wildlife Fund. Clay has been engaged in detailed examinations of the social and environmental impacts of commodity production in land- and water-based agriculture, fisheries and bio-energy production systems. -- Father Kevin T. FitzGerald, S.J., Ph.D., research associate professor in the Department of Oncology at Georgetown University Medical Center. Father FitzGerald is internationally known and sought after for his expertise in human genetic engineering, cloning and stem cell research. -- Chebet Maikut, president of the Uganda National Farmers Federation (UNFFE), one of the largest farming organizations in Uganda. He has been a catalyst to improve agricultural practices, incomes and overall quality of life for farmers in Africa. -- Dr. V. Prakash, director of the Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI) in Mysore, India. He is internationally known for his work in sustainable food and nutrition security. As a scientist in the area of biotechnology, Dr. Prakash has won a large number of awards and is a member of several international committees. -- Dr. Sven Thormahlen, vice president of the Research and Development Organization of the Danone Group, a world leading company in the field of dairy products, biscuits and mineral water. Thormahlen’s experience covers product research, product development, clinical studies and quality assurance.
The work of the advisory panel is facilitated by the Keystone Center, a non-profit organization based in Keystone, Colo., which includes a regular audit of DuPont progress in the biotechnology arena. This public report is available at http://www.dupont.com/biotech.
DuPont is a science-based products and services company. Founded in 1802, DuPont puts science to work by creating sustainable solutions essential to a better, safer, healthier life for people everywhere. Operating in more than 70 countries, DuPont offers a wide range of innovative products and services for markets including agriculture and food; building and construction; communications; and transportation.
DuPont
CONTACT: Pat Arthur for DuPont, +1-800-247-6803, ext. 6515, orpat.arthur@pioneer.com
Web site: http://www.dupont.com/
