Roche announced the appointment of Robert B. Stein as president of Roche Palo Alto, effective September 22. Dr. Stein succeeds James N. Woody, who is leaving the company after seven years in his current position.

Dr. Stein joins Roche from Incyte Corporation where he was president and chief scientific officer. Dr. Stein has spent more than 20 years in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries at companies including Merck, Ligand and Merck DuPont and DuPont Pharmaceuticals, in addition to Incyte. He has participated in the discovery and development of six marketed medicines.

After receiving undergraduate degrees in biology and chemistry from Indiana University, Dr. Stein studied at Duke University where he received a Ph.D. in physiology and pharmacology and an M.D. He completed residency training and is board certified in anatomic and clinical pathology. He joined the pharmaceutical industry in 1982 at Merck Laboratories. In his new position, Dr. Stein will report to Jonathan Knowles, head of Global Research for Roche.

"Dr. Stein brings to Roche tremendous knowledge in diverse areas of drug discovery," said Knowles. "He has extensive experience in disease areas including virology, inflammation and central nervous system disorders. He has worked with leading edge technologies and has headed both large and small research organizations. Building on the legacy of Jim Woody, I expect that Dr. Stein will contribute extensively to our drug discovery endeavors, both in his role as the leader of Palo Alto research and as a member of our global research management organization."

Dr. Stein serves on the University of California President's Advisory Board for Science and Innovation.