maria cantorMaria Cantor, who led corporate affairs for ARIAD Pharmaceuticals, has decamped to Dutch gene therapy developer uniQure N.V. as senior VP of IR and communications, based in Lexington, Mass.

The Netherlands-based uniQure, publicly traded on the Nasdaq exchange, is developing therapies for diseases of the central nervous system, liver/metabolic, and cardiovascular diseases. CEO Dan Soland praised Cantor's experience "defining the long-term value proposition" for sucessful companies in the sector.

Cantor earlier directed corporate and product communications at Genzyme and handled marketing, PR and communications at the St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Boston and Optima Healthcare in New Hampshire.

At uniQure, she serves on the company's senior management team.