Marijn Dekkers, Ph.D., Elected to FNIH Board of Directors

NORTH BETHESDA, MD, July 24, 2018 — The Board of Directors of the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH) has elected world-renowned scientific leader Marijn Dekkers, Ph.D., Chairman of Unilever, as its newest member. Dr. Dekkers’ appointment took effect on May 17, 2018.

“We are privileged to welcome Marijn to the FNIH Board of Directors,” said Steven M. Paul, M.D., Chairman of the FNIH Board. “His wealth of experience in scientific research and business management will help shape the Foundation’s future as we work together to improve human health through pioneering biomedical research.”   

A world-class businessman with more than three decades of corporate governance and scientific research experience, Dr. Dekkers is currently the Chairman of Unilever and the Founder and Chairman of Novalis LifeSciences LLC, an investment and advisory firm for the life science industry. He served as CEO of Bayer AG, a global life sciences company, from 2010 to 2016 and as CEO of Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., a global leader in the manufacturing of laboratory instruments, from 2002 to 2009. Prior to that time, he managed various business units at Honeywell International. Originally from The Netherlands, Dr. Dekkers started his career working as a scientist at General Electric. He holds a Ph.D. and M.S. in chemical engineering from the University of Eindhoven and a B.S. in chemistry from the Radboud University, both in The Netherlands.

“The FNIH has a long history of building effective partnerships that unite the public and private sectors to propel innovative biomedical research,” said Dr. Dekkers. “I am honored to join the FNIH Board of Directors and work with this great Foundation to further meaningful partnerships that can improve the quality of people’s lives.” 

For more information about the FNIH Board of Directors, please visit fnih.org/about/directors.

 

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About the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health
The Foundation for the National Institutes of Health creates and manages alliances with public and private institutions in support of the mission of the NIH, the world’s premier medical research agency. The Foundation, also known as the FNIH, works with its partners to accelerate biomedical research and strategies against diseases and health concerns in the United States and across the globe. The FNIH organizes and administers research projects; supports education and training of new researchers; organizes educational events and symposia; and administers a series of funds supporting a wide range of health issues. Established by Congress in 1990, the FNIH is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) charitable organization. For additional information about the FNIH, please visit fnih.org.

 

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