BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc (Nasdaq:BMRN), a global biotechnology company, has named scientific luminary and MacArthur Fellowship winner, Kevin Eggan, PhD as its new group vice president, head of Research and Early Development, it was reported on Monday.

Dr Eggan has more than two decades of experience in ground-breaking scientific research in rare neurological disorders. He has served as a tenured professor in the Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology at Harvard University, director of Stem Cell Biology for the Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research at the Broad Institute, and an institute member of the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard. He also served on the Scientific Advisory Boards of Ipierian, Roche, and Angelini Pharma among others. He co-founded Q-State Bioscience, Quralis, and Enclear Therapies.

In the new role, Dr Eggan will be responsible for the implementation of the company's discovery research programs and will play an important role in shaping the vision of the firm's future research pipeline. He will lead the company's Research organisation and offer scientific leadership throughout the drug discovery process. He will be responsible for further building the company's leadership position in genetic medicines in support of people affected by rare genetic diseases and contributing to the long-term growth of firm through the oversight of a pipeline of first- or best-in-class therapies.