PhaseRx, Inc. announced the appointment of Michael Houston, Ph.D., as its Vice President, Therapeutics Development. Dr. Houston brings more than two decades of experience in the manufacturing and development of peptide and oligonucleotide-based therapeutics to PhaseRx. He has directed numerous programs ranging from research to GMP manufacture of clinical trials materials, including nanoparticle-based delivery vehicles for siRNAs.

In this new position, Dr. Houston will lead PhaseRx's therapeutics program, which focuses on the advancement of its SMARTT Polymer Technology(R) mRNA nanoparticles. Dr. Houston joins PhaseRx from Marina Biotech where he served as Vice President, Chemistry and Formulations and focused on the development of siRNAS and single stranded oligonucleotides. He has also served at Ascent Therapeutics as Vice President, Preclinical Chemistry and CMC; at MDRNA, Inc. as Vice President, Chemistry & Formulations; and at Nastech Pharmaceuticals as Senior Director, Chemistry and Formulations.