Robert J. Heine, M.D., Ph.D., F.R.C.P., will join Eli Lilly and Co. in January, 2008, as executive medical director for the diabetes and endocrine division responsible for development of Lilly's expanding diabetes and obesity R&D portfolio. Dr. Heine replaces Dr. Meng Hee Tan, who will retire at the end of September after 8 years of service to the company.

“Lilly has a growing and exciting diabetes and obesity R&D portfolio that demands exceptional clinical leadership to guide and successfully develop," said Vince Mihalik, vice president and global brand development platform leader, diabetes, obesity and endocrine. "Robert is widely recognized and respected in the diabetes community for his scientific and clinical excellence and his considerable leadership abilities. He'll be a fantastic addition to the Lilly team."

Dr. Heine is currently professor of diabetology in the Department of Endocrinology and director of the Diabetes Centre at the VU (Vrije Universiteit) University Medical Center in Amsterdam, Netherlands. He also holds positions within the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD), the European Foundation for the Study of Diabetes (EFSD) and the American Diabetes Association (ADA), including chair of the EASD subcommittee for Clinical Research Training, president of the organizing committee for the 2007 EASD annual meeting, and a member of the ADA Expert Committee on guidelines for the treatment of hyperglycemia in type 2 diabetes. Dr. Heine's primary research interests include the epidemiology and pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes.