INDIANAPOLIS, June 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Eli Lilly and Company today announced that Dale M. Edgar, Ph.D. has been hired to serve as executive director and chief scientific leader of Lilly's discovery sleep research program. Dr. Edgar brings over 25 years of experience in the field of sleep research to Lilly's efforts to expand its research in this important disease state.
"We are delighted that Dale has decided to bring his considerable expertise to Lilly," said David Bredt, M.D., vice president of integrated biology. "He brings a wealth of experience in sleep research as well as innovative insights into preclinical and clinical drug discovery. We look forward to having him join the team here at Lilly, and to adding renewed emphasis to our sleep disorder research program."
Edgar was formerly chief science and technology officer at Hypnion, Inc., a Lexington, Massachusetts-based biopharmaceutical company focused on treatments for sleep disorders. Edgar co-founded Hypnion with three other sleep and biological rhythms experts in 2000; Lilly subsequently acquired Hypnion in January of this year. Prior to founding Hypnion, Edgar was Associate Professor of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University, and faculty investigator at the Stanford University Sleep Disorders Research Center in California.
Edgar joins Lilly effective June 12 and will report to Dr. Bredt.
About Insomnia
Insomnia is a serious worldwide condition that affects a large number of individuals. According to the National Sleep Foundation's Sleep in America Poll 2005, approximately 50 percent of the U.S. adult population reported experiencing at least one symptom of insomnia for several nights a week during the last year. This represents more than 100 million Americans, a figure supported by several reviews in Sleep Medicine. An estimated 30 percent to 40 percent of all adults complain of transient insomnia, generally defined as a complaint lasting up to three weeks, while 10 percent to 15 percent complain of chronic insomnia, generally defined as a complaint lasting approximately four weeks or longer. In addition, sleep maintenance insomnia, or the inability to stay asleep throughout the night, is significantly more prevalent than sleep onset insomnia.
About Lilly
Lilly, a leading innovation-driven corporation, is developing a growing portfolio of first-in-class and best-in-class pharmaceutical products by applying the latest research from its own worldwide laboratories and from collaborations with eminent scientific organizations. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Ind., Lilly provides answers -- through medicines and information -- for some of the world's most urgent medical needs. Additional information about Lilly is available at http://www.lilly.com/.
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