Former VP of Trait and Technology Development Brings Top Level Agricultural Plant Genetics and Regulatory Experience

Chromatin, Inc. announced today that Anthony J. Cavalieri, Ph.D., has joined the company's board of directors. Cavalieri recently retired as vice president in charge of trait and technology development at Pioneer Hi-Bred, a DuPont company.

"Tony's understanding of the agriculture biotechnology business and what the key drivers are for profitability will be extremely valuable to the development of Chromatin," said Mich Hein, president and CEO of Chromatin. "His contacts in the industry and the respect that he commands are unequaled. Tony is known for developing and managing the premier commercial trait discovery and introduction program in the world."

"Chromatin's mini-chromosomes represent one of the most significant developments in agricultural genetics that we have seen in a generation," said Cavalieri. "I am extremely pleased to be working with this exciting company and I think we have the potential to change the nature and scope of agricultural crop development."

Cavalieri spent more than 20 years at Pioneer Hi-Bred International Inc., where he held a number of research leadership roles and had responsibility for many of the sciences contributing to crop improvement, regulatory affairs, technology acquisition and information management.

DuPont acquired Pioneer Hi-Bred International Inc., at the time the world's largest commercial seed company, for $7.7 billion in 1999, signaling DuPont's commitment to agricultural genetics.

As vice president of trait and technology development, Cavalieri led a large research group with responsibility for insect, disease and herbicide resistance, grain trait improvement, analytical biochemistry, transformation, gene expression, gene targeting and genomics research.

Cavalieri played a significant role in initiating, developing and implementing Pioneer's strategy in genomics. This included the formation of numerous research collaborations with leading genomics companies.

Following the acquisition of Pioneer by DuPont, he was heavily involved in the integration of the combined research groups.

Cavalieri has served on numerous university biotechnology advisory groups. Cavalieri is a fellow of the Crop Science Society of America and a member of the American Society of Plant Biologists and Sigma XI. He received his Ph.D. from the University of South Carolina in biology.

Chromatin, Inc. develops and markets novel proprietary technology that enables entire chromosomes to be designed and incorporated into plant cells. These engineered chromosomes make it possible for the first time to simultaneously introduce multiple genes into a plant cell while maintaining precise control of gene expression. Chromatin is employing these new genetic tools to design and market products that confer commercially valuable traits in plants, including improved nutritional and health characteristics, and can be used for industrial, agricultural and pharmaceutical product development.