Senesco Technologies, Inc. ("Senesco" or the "Company") (AMEX:SNT) announced the appointment of Richard S. Dondero to the position of vice president, research & development, effective today. He will report jointly to Bruce C. Galton, president and chief executive officer, and John E. Thompson, Ph.D., previously Senesco's executive vice president of research & development, who assumes the newly created position of executive vice president and chief scientific officer.

Mr. Dondero brings to Senesco a strong background in new product development combined with demonstrated leadership and a commitment to innovation in addressing a variety of business challenges during his career. Most recently, Mr. Dondero for the past two years was a Group Leader in the Proteomics Reagent Manufacturing arm of Molecular Staging, Inc., a Connecticut based biotech firm engaged in measurement and discovery of new biomarkers. In this capacity, Mr. Dondero was responsible for the manufacture of 1,500 reagents within the Proteomics Chip Biomarker Discovery Group.

From 1985 to 2001, Mr. Dondero held increasing levels of responsibility at Cistron Biotechnology, Inc., a New Jersey based firm, leaving the firm as Vice President of Operations and Product Development where he reviewed new technologies, directed R&D in cytokine related areas and the subsequent manufacturing of products for sale to the research market, and was charged with other responsibilities including technical support of scientific projects and responsibility for scientific staffing. He also brings eight years of experience with Johnson & Johnson (Ortho Diagnostics) and two years with Becton Dickinson & Co.

Since late 2001, Mr. Dondero has consulted with Senesco on a project basis.

"We are fortunate to be able to tap the talents of Richard on a full time basis, and we are excited to welcome him to Senesco," commented Ruedi Stalder, chairman of the board. "We believe his demonstrated ability to direct scientific programs towards commercial application will be of great benefit as we continue to develop our R&D initiatives in both human health and agriculture."

Mr. Dondero is a named inventor on three patents and has authored several publications and scientific abstracts. He holds a Master of Science Degree in Biology from Seton Hall University, South Orange, New Jersey and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Biology/Chemistry from New Jersey City University, Jersey City, New Jersey.

Senesco takes its name from the scientific term for the aging of plant cells: senescence. The Company has developed technology that regulates the onset of cell death. Delaying cell breakdown in plants extends freshness after harvesting, while increasing crop yields, plant size and resistance to environmental stress for flowers, fruits and vegetables. The Company believes that its technology can be used to develop superior strains of crops without any modification other than delaying natural plant senescence. Senesco has begun to explore ways to trigger or delay cell death in mammals (apoptosis) to determine if the technology is applicable in human medicine. Accelerating apoptosis may have applications to development of cancer treatments. Delaying apoptosis may have applications to certain diseases such as Alzheimer's, glaucoma, ischemia and arthritis, among others. Senesco partners with leading-edge companies and earns research and development fees for applying its gene-regulating platform technology to enhance its partners' products. Senesco is headquartered in New Brunswick, New Jersey, and utilizes research laboratories at the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada and the University of Colorado in Denver, Colorado, as well as other institutions.