Austin director joins Prima board

Immunologist Prof Mark Hogarth has been appointed to the board of Melbourne biotech Prima Biomed (ASX: PRR).

Hogarth, deputy director of the Austin Research Institute, will take up a role as non-executive director of the company, which is developing and commercialising some of his research.

The position, which does not require involvement in Prima's day-to-day business, follows board memberships with company subsidiary, Arthron, and ARI subsidiary and Arthron shareholder, Ilexus.

Announcing the appointment, Prima chief executive officer Marcus Clarke said Hogarth would bring a mixture of management and technical skills to the board.

"Mark Hogarth's appointment is ideal for Prima Biomed at a time when the company is rapidly developing major new projects and growing in size," Clarke said.

"His depth of knowledge in immunology and inflammatory disease will be of great value as our research and development efforts come to fruition."

As well as a deputy directorship at ARI, Hogarth also heads the institute's Inflammatory Disease Laboratory.

With a research focus on the immune system that spans 20 years, Hogarth's work has led to the discovery of new therapeutic targets for the treatment of inflammatory diseases, particularly in the area of rheumatoid arthritis.

He was the lead researcher on Prima's identification of a new human receptor involved in the early development of inflammation, which the company announced in February.

The company also announced today that chartered accountant Phillip Hains would replace Richard Revelins as company secretary.