Erin Xie, PhD, Managing Director, is head of the Health Sciences team within BlackRock Fundamental Equities and lead portfolio manager for the Health Sciences equity portfolios.

Ms. Xie's service with the firm dates back to 2001, including her years with State Street Research & Management (SSRM), which merged with BlackRock in 2005. At SSRM, she was a Senior Vice President and portfolio manager responsible for managing the State Street Health Sciences Fund. Prior to joining State Street Research in 2001, Ms. Xie was a research associate with Sanford Bernstein covering the pharmaceutical industry. From 1994 until 1997, she was a post-doctoral research scientist at Columbia University.

Ms. Xie earned a BS degree in chemistry from Beijing University, a PhD degree in Biochemistry from the University of California, Los Angeles, and an MBA degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Sloan School of Management.

Xiang Liu, PhD, Director, is a member of the Health Sciences team, part of Blackrock's Active Equity Group. He is a co-portfolio manager for the Health Sciences equity portfolios and is responsible for coverage of the medical devices sector.

Prior to joining BlackRock in 2008, Mr. Liu was a partner and biotech analyst at Mehta Partners. From 2002 to 2005, he was a Director in the corporate development department at Cubist Pharmaceuticals. Mr. Liu began his investment career in 2000 at the Boston Consulting Group as a health care consultant.

Mr. Liu earned a BS degree in Chemistry from the University of Science & Technology, China in 1993, a PhD degree in Chemistry from Yale University in 1997, and a MBA degree in finance, strategy, and accounting from the University of Chicago in 2000.

Kyle G. McClements, CFA, Managing Director, is Head of the Equity Derivatives team within BlackRock's Fundamental Active Equity division. He is a portfolio manager for equity derivatives overlay and hedging assignments, including BlackRock's equity closed end funds.

Mr. McClement's' service with the firm dates back to 2004, including his years with State Street Research & Management (SSRM), which merged with BlackRock in 2005. At SSRM, Mr. McClement's was a Vice President and senior derivatives strategist responsible for equity derivative strategy and trading in the Quantitative Equity Group at State Street Research. Prior to joining State Street Research in 2004, Mr. McClement's was a senior trader/analyst at Deutsche Asset Management, responsible for derivatives, equity program, technology and energy sector, and foreign exchange trading Mr. McClement's began his career in 1994 as a derivatives analyst with Donaldson Lufkin & Jenrette responsible for pricing and performance analytics for the derivatives trading desk.

Mr. McClements earned a BA degree in economics and political science from the University of Pennsylvania in 1993 and an MBA degree in finance and corporate accounting from the University of Rochester in 1998.

Christopher M. Accettella, Director, is a member of the Equity Derivatives team within BlackRock's Fundamental Active Equity division. He is a portfolio manager for equity derivatives overlay and hedging assignments, including BlackRock's equity closed end funds.

Prior to joining BlackRock in 2005, Mr. Accettella was an institutional sales trader with American Technology Research. From 2001 to 2003, he was with Deutsche Asset Management where he was responsible for derivatives and program trading. Prior to that, he was a senior associate in the Pacific Basin Equity Group at Scudder Investments Singapore Limited. Mr. Accettella began his investment career in 1997 as a portfolio analyst in the European Equity group of Scudder Kemper Investments, Inc.

Mr. Accettella earned a BA degree in economics and Asian studies from Colgate University in 1997.