Officials at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies announced Monday that they have appointed Dr. William R. Brody, retiring president of Johns Hopkins University, as the institute’s new president. “He has an incredible record as an academic leader, having served the last 12 years at Johns Hopkins University,” said Mauricio Minotta, media liaison for the Salk Institute. “And he has a stellar background as a research scientist and business leader as well.” Brody is a member of the National Academy of Engineering and the Institute of Medicine. As president, Brody will oversee 870 staff members and research teams, Minotta said. “He also has a great record as a fund-raiser,” Minotta said. While at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, Brody raised $3.4 billion for the university in a capital campaign. “He will officially start March 1 [2009],” Minotta said, adding that the institute’s interim president will continue until that time. Jonas Salk, M.D. — a discoverer of the polio vaccine — founded the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla in 1960 on land the city of San Diego gave to the doctor for his research. The nonprofit institute at 10010 N. Torrey Pines Road continues to research diseases. For more information about Salk, go to www.salk.edu.