Who We Are: The Genetic Resilience Company
Halia Therapeutics, headquartered in Lehi, Utah, is dedicated to advancing therapies that meaningfully improve lives through science rooted in human biology.
The company was founded in 2017 after Dr. John “Keoni” Kauwe identified a family with the high-risk APOE4 gene variant linked to Alzheimer’s, but none of them developed the disease. His research uncovered a protective mutation in the RAB10 gene, which appeared to guard against the harmful effects of APOE4. Initially, the focus was on transforming the protective gene mutation into a novel treatment for Alzheimer’s disease. This discovery sparked Halia’s founding mission: to decode genetic resilience and transform it into treatments. What began as an effort to develop an Alzheimer’s therapy quickly expanded when the same mutation showed protection against inflammation, one of the root causes of neurodegeneration. This became the foundation of Halia’s scientific platform.3,4
As research evolved, so did Halia’s vision. Recognizing that inflammation underpins a wide range of chronic illnesses—including Alzheimer’s, cancer, cardiovascular disease, and inflammatory disorders of the skin, liver, and gut—Halia began developing a pipeline of therapies targeting the RAB10 pathway. Their approach targets LRRK2 (upstream) and NEK7 (downstream) to regulate NLRP3 inflammasome activation, a key driver of systemic inflammation.29,30
Today, Halia is advancing multiple programs into clinical trials, testing the safety and effectiveness of this strategy across several disease areas. Early data from preclinical studies suggest the potential to reset the body’s inflammatory balance and provide lasting protection from the brain to the skin.
Dr. David J. Bearss, a serial entrepreneur and pharmaceutical innovator, has over two decades of experience spanning academic and industrial roles. His expertise lies at the intersection of structure-based small-molecule drug discovery and the utilization of genetic model systems for drug discovery. Dr. Bearss’s career is marked by significant achievements, with a strong foundation in translational research focused on drug advancement to the clinic and using genetic markers for predictive drug sensitivity.
Notably, Dr. Bearss has discovered 16 compounds that have successfully navigated from discovery in the lab to IND into clinical development. His entrepreneurial experience is evident through his roles as the co-founder of eight biotechnology companies. More importantly, his unwavering commitment to advancing novel drug development truly sets him apart.
Before taking on his role as chief scientific officer at Halia in January 2021 and assuming the CEO position in March 2022, Dr. Bearss served as the CEO of Tolero Pharmaceuticals, an organization later acquired by Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma in 2017. His tenure as chief scientific officer at Montigen Pharmaceuticals, followed by its acquisition by SuperGen Inc., demonstrates his dedication to driving early-stage drug discovery and development. At SuperGen, he continued to develop his expertise in these critical areas.
Dr. Bearss’s academic career is equally impressive. It led to his founding role as the Center for Investigational Therapeutics Co-Director at the Huntsman Cancer Institute. He also held academic positions as an Associate Professor in the Department of Oncological Sciences at the University of Utah and as an Associate Professor of Physiology and Developmental Biology at Brigham Young University, demonstrating his deep knowledge and expertise in these fields.
Dr. Bearss’s academic career began with a Ph.D. in cell biology from the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio, Texas, and a post-doctoral fellowship at the Institute for Drug Development at the Cancer Therapy and Research Center also in Texas. He has won several awards for his entrepreneurial and scientific achievements, including the Utah Governor’s Medal of Science and BIO Utah Entrepreneur of the Year.
David J. Bearss, Ph.D.
VP, Drug Discovery
Dr. David J. Bearss, a serial entrepreneur and pharmaceutical innovator, has over two decades of experience spanning academic and industrial roles. His expertise lies at the intersection of structure-based small-molecule drug discovery and the utilization of genetic model systems for drug discovery. Dr. Bearss’s career is marked by significant achievements, with a strong foundation in translational research focused on drug advancement to the clinic and using genetic markers for predictive drug sensitivity.
Notably, Dr. Bearss has discovered 16 compounds that have successfully navigated from discovery in the lab to IND into clinical development. His entrepreneurial experience is evident through his roles as the co-founder of eight biotechnology companies. More importantly, his unwavering commitment to advancing novel drug development truly sets him apart.
Before taking on his role as chief scientific officer at Halia in January 2021 and assuming the CEO position in March 2022, Dr. Bearss served as the CEO of Tolero Pharmaceuticals, an organization later acquired by Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma in 2017. His tenure as chief scientific officer at Montigen Pharmaceuticals, followed by its acquisition by SuperGen Inc., demonstrates his dedication to driving early-stage drug discovery and development. At SuperGen, he continued to develop his expertise in these critical areas.
Dr. Bearss’s academic career is equally impressive. It led to his founding role as the Center for Investigational Therapeutics Co-Director at the Huntsman Cancer Institute. He also held academic positions as an Associate Professor in the Department of Oncological Sciences at the University of Utah and as an Associate Professor of Physiology and Developmental Biology at Brigham Young University, demonstrating his deep knowledge and expertise in these fields.
Dr. Bearss’s academic career began with a Ph.D. in cell biology from the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio, Texas, and a post-doctoral fellowship at the Institute for Drug Development at the Cancer Therapy and Research Center also in Texas. He has won several awards for his entrepreneurial and scientific achievements, including the Utah Governor’s Medal of Science and BIO Utah Entrepreneur of the Year.
Jeff Burton joined Halia Therapeutics as the Chief Financial Officer in December 2020.
Prior to coming to Halia, Jeff was with Tolero Pharmaceuticals where he helped guide the company through several rounds of funding, the acquisition of Tolero by Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma for $200 million upfront and $500 million in milestones, and provided support for the successful filing of five INDs and completion of nine clinical trials.
Jeff Burton, CPA/MAcc
Chief Financial Officer
Jeff Burton joined Halia Therapeutics as the Chief Financial Officer in December 2020.
Prior to coming to Halia, Jeff was with Tolero Pharmaceuticals where he helped guide the company through several rounds of funding, the acquisition of Tolero by Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma for $200 million upfront and $500 million in milestones, and provided support for the successful filing of five INDs and completion of nine clinical trials.
Prior to Tolero, Jeff was at Fusion-io, where he helped the company successfully complete its IPO, secondary offering, several acquisitions, key system implementations, and the eventual acquisition of Fusion-io by SanDisk for more than $1.1 billion.
Jeff holds Bachelor and Master of Accounting degrees from the University of Utah.
Han Myint joined Halia Therapeutics as the Chief Medical Officer in May 2026.
Han Myint is a physician-scientist and biopharmaceutical executive with more than three decades of leadership in hematology and oncology drug development. He has played a central role in the development and approval of multiple FDA- and EMA-approved therapies for myeloid disease, including IDHIFA (enasidenib) in IDH2-mutant AML, REBLOZYL (luspatercept) in MDS and β-thalassemia, and VONJO (pacritinib) in myelofibrosis. He joined Halia as Chief Medical Officer in May 2026, bringing directly relevant expertise as the company advances HT-6184 toward pivotal development in lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes.
Most recently, Dr. Myint served as Chief Medical Officer at NextCure, where he led clinical development across an immuno-oncology pipeline spanning solid tumors and AML, and previously as Chief Medical Officer at NexImmune, where he oversaw adoptive cell therapy programs in hematologic malignancies. From 2013 to 2020, he served as Vice President of Global Medical Affairs and Myeloid Disease Lead at Celgene and Bristol Myers Squibb, where he designed and executed the pivotal Phase II and Phase III programs behind several blockbuster myeloid therapies — including the MEDALIST and BELIEVE trials in MDS and β-thalassemia, the BEYOND study presented at the EHA 2021 Presidential Symposium, and the PERSIST-2 study that established pacritinib's FDA-approved niche in thrombocytopenic myelofibrosis. He also led global launches across multiple geographies and was instrumental in business development diligence for asset acquisitions including fedratinib (INREBIC).
Dr. Myint has held senior academic appointments throughout his career, including Professor of Hematology at King's College London's Centre for Bone Marrow Transplant and Haematological Malignancies, and Professor of Medicine and Director of the Bone Marrow Transplant Program at the University of Colorado Denver. He completed his medical degree at the Institute of Medicine in Rangoon, followed by residency and hematology fellowship training at the University of Glasgow and senior fellowship at the University of Southampton. He is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians, the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, and an Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists of London. At Halia, Dr. Myint leads clinical strategy and development across the company's pipeline of first-in-class inflammation therapies.
Han Myint, MD, FACP, FRCP(Edin), FRCP(Glasgow), FRCPath(London)
Chief Medical Officer
Han Myint is a physician-scientist and biopharmaceutical executive with more than three decades of leadership in hematology and oncology drug development. He has played a central role in the development and approval of multiple FDA- and EMA-approved therapies for myeloid disease, including IDHIFA (enasidenib) in IDH2-mutant AML, REBLOZYL (luspatercept) in MDS and β-thalassemia, and VONJO (pacritinib) in myelofibrosis. He joined Halia as Chief Medical Officer in May 2026, bringing directly relevant expertise as the company advances HT-6184 toward pivotal development in lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes.
Most recently, Dr. Myint served as Chief Medical Officer at NextCure, where he led clinical development across an immuno-oncology pipeline spanning solid tumors and AML, and previously as Chief Medical Officer at NexImmune, where he oversaw adoptive cell therapy programs in hematologic malignancies. From 2013 to 2020, he served as Vice President of Global Medical Affairs and Myeloid Disease Lead at Celgene and Bristol Myers Squibb, where he designed and executed the pivotal Phase II and Phase III programs behind several blockbuster myeloid therapies — including the MEDALIST and BELIEVE trials in MDS and β-thalassemia, the BEYOND study presented at the EHA 2021 Presidential Symposium, and the PERSIST-2 study that established pacritinib's FDA-approved niche in thrombocytopenic myelofibrosis. He also led global launches across multiple geographies and was instrumental in business development diligence for asset acquisitions including fedratinib (INREBIC).
Dr. Myint has held senior academic appointments throughout his career, including Professor of Hematology at King's College London's Centre for Bone Marrow Transplant and Haematological Malignancies, and Professor of Medicine and Director of the Bone Marrow Transplant Program at the University of Colorado Denver. He completed his medical degree at the Institute of Medicine in Rangoon, followed by residency and hematology fellowship training at the University of Glasgow and senior fellowship at the University of Southampton. He is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians, the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, and an Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists of London. At Halia, Dr. Myint leads clinical strategy and development across the company's pipeline of first-in-class inflammation therapies.
Jared Bearss co-founded Halia Therapeutics in 2017. His prior industry experience includes co-founding Wasatch Scientific and managing the genomic biology department and projects for Code Nutrition.
Jared Bearss, MBA
Chief Operating Officer
Jared Bearss co-founded Halia Therapeutics in 2017. His prior industry experience includes co-founding Wasatch Scientific and managing the genomic biology department and projects for Code Nutrition. Jared also has experience working in the academic field of life sciences and was Sr. Research Analyst, Lab Manager at the Huntsman Cancer Institute.
Jared’s experience in both industry and academic sectors of the life sciences field provided him with many areas of expertise including genomics, cell biology, cell culture, western blotting, and molecular biology. His science background and entrepreneurial spirit got him interested in scaling pharmaceutical startups and managing technical and organizational aspects of company development.
Jared has Bachelor of Science in neuropsychology/neurophysiology from Utah Valley University and is an MBA Business Executive from the David Eccles School of Business at the University of Utah.
Bringing over 30 years experience in clinical research and drug development, Tracey Clayton joined Halia in 2024.
Tracey Clayton, MBA
VP Clinical Operations & Program Management
Bringing over 30 years experience in clinical research and drug development, Tracey Clayton joined Halia in 2024. Tracey started her career in 1990 as a student at the University of British Columbia, working at the Clinical for Alzheimer Disease and Related Disorders, UBC Hospital, where she stayed for 9 years working on various clinical trials, including those of donepezil, galantamine and memantine. She then moved into industry, joining Angiotech Pharmaceuticals in 1999. Throughout her career she has gained experience across many different therapeutic areas and indications while working at small to mid-sized companies including Hemosol, NPS Pharmaceuticals, Lipocine, Recursion, Tolero, and most recently as Executive Director, Program Management at Sumitomo Pharma Americas. She also has a wealth of knowledge and experience of the CRO world, having spent a third of her career at ICON, IQVIA, and Covance, primarily focused in the area of oncology. Her experience spans all trial phases, including both IND and NDA submissions, as well as executing trials in all global regions.
Bringing over 15 years of experience in human resources leadership, Kayti Patterson joined Halia Therapeutics in 2025. Throughout her career, she has specialized in organization development, employee benefits, performance management, and global HR across diverse industries and company sizes.
Kayti Patterson GPHR, PHR
VP and Global Head of HR
Bringing over 15 years of experience in human resources leadership, Kayti Patterson joined Halia Therapeutics in 2025. Throughout her career, she has specialized in organization development, employee benefits, performance management, and global HR across diverse industries and company sizes. She holds both Global Professional in Human Resources (GPHR) and Professional in Human Resources (PHR) certifications, demonstrating her commitment and expertise in the field.
Kayti’s career progression demonstrates her expertise across diverse industries and organizational sizes. She has held senior leadership positions including Corporate VP of Organization Development at Xenter, Inc., Head of Human Resources at NeuroStar Investment Funds, and VP of Human Resources at Dentive. Her pharmaceutical industry experience includes roles as Associate Director of Human Resources Business Partner at Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Oncology and Senior Human Resources Manager at Tolero Pharmaceuticals. She has also served as Director of Human Resources at ARIIX, HR Business Partner at Sun Products Corporation, and spent nearly five years in benefits administration and HR generalist roles at MonaVie, where she managed comprehensive benefits programs, compliance, and HRIS implementation.
She is passionate about building company cultures that enhance the employee experience while aligning with business goals. Kayti enjoys thinking outside the box to solve HR challenges and foster communication and collaboration among teams, employees, and managers. She leverages her global HR knowledge and network to support international expansion and adapts to different cultural contexts and practices.
Kayti earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Anthropology from Brigham Young University and is an active member of the Forbes Human Resources Council since 2019. Her mission is to empower and enable people to achieve their full potential and contribute to company success through innovative HR strategies and strong organizational development.
Dr. Alexis Mollard joined Halia Therapeutics in 2018 to lead the drug discovery efforts. Initially focused on medicinal chemistry, his responsibilities now encompass many aspects of preclinical work, including computational chemistry, discovery biology, DMPK, formulation, toxicology, intellectual property, and more.
Alexis Mollard, Ph.D.
VP, Drug Discovery
Dr. Alexis Mollard joined Halia Therapeutics in 2018 to lead the drug discovery efforts. Initially focused on medicinal chemistry, his responsibilities now encompass many aspects of preclinical work, including computational chemistry, discovery biology, DMPK, formulation, toxicology, intellectual property, and more. He is an experienced small-molecule drug discovery researcher with close to 15 years of translational research experience in the fields on oncology, immunology, and metabolic disorders.
Alexis met Dr. Bearss in 2009 while working as a postdoctoral fellow in his lab at the Huntsman Cancer Institute’s Center for Investigational Therapeutics. He then joined Tolero Pharmaceuticals to direct the early drug discovery efforts of the company, working on several programs which yielded clinical assets. Alexis then returned to the Huntsman Cancer Institute to strengthen his understanding of early-stage clinical research, holding positions within the Clinical Trials Office as data manager, clinical research coordinator, research compliance officer, and eventually working on clinical protocol development. He then moved back to preclinical research with Halia Therapeutics.
Alexis holds a dual Masters in Chemistry and Chemical Engineering from CPE Lyon, France, and a PhD in Chemistry from the University of Utah.
Taylor Avei has been a driving force at Halia Therapeutics since 2019, advancing from Laboratory Technician to Director of Business Development through his exceptional ability to bridge complex scientific concepts with actionable business strategies.
Taylor Avei, MBA
Director of Business Development
Taylor Avei has been a driving force at Halia Therapeutics since 2019, advancing from Laboratory Technician to Director of Business Development through his exceptional ability to bridge complex scientific concepts with actionable business strategies. His unique combination of scientific expertise and business acumen has enabled him to drive successful outcomes across multiple therapeutic areas, making him instrumental in the company’s growth and strategic positioning in the biopharmaceutical industry.
Taylor’s career progression at Halia demonstrates his versatility and dedication to the company’s growth. He began as a Laboratory Technician in 2019, conducting in vivo and in vitro research related to inflammation and NLRP3 inflammasome targets while supporting scientific validation of HT-6184 and preclinical candidates. He advanced to Business Development Representative in 2021, then Finance and Business Development Analyst in 2023, before assuming his current leadership role in 2025. During his tenure in finance and business development, he developed financial models, conducted due diligence on potential partners, and supported fundraising efforts while presenting to senior leadership and the board of directors.
In his current position, Taylor leads investor relations and external communications strategy, manages corporate branding and visibility at key conferences including JPM Healthcare Conference & BIO International, and drives strategic partnerships and licensing deals. He oversees award submissions for prestigious recognitions such as Golden Ticket Award and Pharmavoice 100, directs social media engagement efforts, and negotiates confidentiality agreements, licensing terms, and vendor contracts aligned with corporate growth objectives.
Taylor holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Brigham Young University and an MBA emphasis in Technology Commercialization from Westminster University. His journey with Halia began during his time as a Research Assistant in Dr. Kauwe’s lab at BYU, which studies population genetics, focusing specifically on the genetics of human disease, such as Alzheimer’s Disease. Dr. Kauwe’s discovery of Rab10 occurred while Taylor was working in the lab, and Taylor contributed to the initial research that would later lead to his joining Halia Therapeutics. His ability to translate complex scientific concepts into strategic business opportunities has been instrumental in Halia’s corporate development and external positioning efforts.
Board of Directors
David J. Bearss, Ph.D.
CEO, Co-Founder
Dr. David J. Bearss, a serial entrepreneur and pharmaceutical innovator, has over two decades of experience spanning academic and industrial roles. His expertise lies at the intersection of structure-based small-molecule drug discovery and the utilization of genetic model systems for drug discovery. Dr. Bearss’s career is marked by significant achievements, with a strong foundation in translational research focused on drug advancement to the clinic and using genetic markers for predictive drug sensitivity.
Notably, Dr. Bearss has discovered 16 compounds that have successfully navigated from discovery in the lab to IND into clinical development. His entrepreneurial experience is evident through his roles as the co-founder of eight biotechnology companies. More importantly, his unwavering commitment to advancing novel drug development truly sets him apart.
Before taking on his role as chief scientific officer at Halia in January 2021 and assuming the CEO position in March 2022, Dr. Bearss served as the CEO of Tolero Pharmaceuticals, an organization later acquired by Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma in 2017. His tenure as chief scientific officer at Montigen Pharmaceuticals, followed by its acquisition by SuperGen Inc., demonstrates his dedication to driving early-stage drug discovery and development. At SuperGen, he continued to develop his expertise in these critical areas.
Dr. Bearss’s academic career is equally impressive. It led to his founding role as the Center for Investigational Therapeutics Co-Director at the Huntsman Cancer Institute. He also held academic positions as an Associate Professor in the Department of Oncological Sciences at the University of Utah and as an Associate Professor of Physiology and Developmental Biology at Brigham Young University, demonstrating his deep knowledge and expertise in these fields.
Dr. Bearss’s academic career began with a Ph.D. in cell biology from the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio, Texas, and a post-doctoral fellowship at the Institute for Drug Development at the Cancer Therapy and Research Center also in Texas. He has won several awards for his entrepreneurial and scientific achievements, including the Utah Governor’s Medal of Science and BIO Utah Entrepreneur of the Year.
Gary Sabin
Executive Chairman
Gary Sabin brings more than four decades of leadership in capital markets and asset-intensive businesses to Halia. He previously served as Chairman and CEO of Excel Realty Trust and Excel Trust, both listed on the New York Stock Exchange, and is founder and chairman of Sabin Holdings, an Asia-Pacific–focused real estate investment firm. He has served on the boards of public companies including CareTrust REIT and Extra Space Storage.
Mr. Sabin's nonprofit leadership has been equally consequential. Over twenty years on the board of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation — including as Vice Chairman of the Board and Chairman of the Executive Committee — he helped guide the Foundation during a period in which it was instrumental in facilitating FDA approval of Trikafta, Tobi, Pulmozyme, Symdeko, Orkambi, Kalydeco, and Cayston.
He joined Halia's Board of Directors in January 2025 and was appointed Executive Chairman in May 2026, working closely with the leadership team on financing, strategy, and long-term growth. He holds a Master's in Management from Stanford University, where he was a Sloan Fellow, and a BS in Finance from Brigham Young University.
John "Keoni" Kauwe, Ph.D.
Co-founder
Keoni Kauwe is an internationally recognized geneticist whose research has advanced understanding of both Alzheimer's disease risk and the genetic basis of disease resilience. His discovery of a protective RAB10 variant helped inspire the founding of Halia Therapeutics in 2017 and remains foundational to the company's platform.
Dr. Kauwe currently serves as the 11th president of Brigham Young University–Hawaii and holds a faculty appointment in biology, where he continues to lead an NIH-funded research program in Alzheimer's disease genetics. Over his career, he has contributed to the discovery of numerous genetic risk factors for Alzheimer's disease and has authored more than 100 peer-reviewed publications in the field.
He earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from Brigham Young University and completed his PhD in evolution, ecology, and population biology at Washington University in St. Louis, followed by a postdoctoral fellowship in Alzheimer's disease genetics at Washington University School of Medicine. As a co-founder and member of Halia's Board of Directors, Dr. Kauwe provides scientific and strategic guidance grounded in the protective genetics that anchor the company's pipeline.
Preston Campbell, MD
Preston Campbell is a physician-executive whose career spans clinical practice, translational research, and leadership of one of the most successful disease-focused nonprofits in modern medicine. He served as President and CEO of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation from 2015 to 2019, capping more than two decades at the organization. As Executive Vice President for Medical Affairs and in subsequent roles, he oversaw the Foundation's research portfolio, drug discovery and development efforts, accredited care-center network, and national patient registry — the infrastructure behind many of the pivotal studies that transformed cystic fibrosis care.
Dr. Campbell trained in pediatrics and pediatric pulmonology at Vanderbilt and has more than 25 years of clinical experience treating cystic fibrosis patients at institutions including Johns Hopkins. He brings to Halia deep expertise in clinical development, patient registries, and translational medicine — capabilities directly aligned with the company's genetically informed pipeline.
David Checketts
David Checketts is a veteran chief executive and investor with more than four decades of experience across sports, media, entertainment, and private equity. At age 28, he became president and general manager of the Utah Jazz — at the time the youngest chief executive in NBA history — and later served as President and CEO of Madison Square Garden, overseeing its sports franchises and media networks. He subsequently served as Chairman and CEO of Legends Hospitality and as managing partner of Checketts Partners Investment Management. He was also a founding board member of JetBlue Airways.
At Halia, Mr. Checketts contributes brand-building, governance, and capital-formation experience as the company transitions to a growth-stage organization preparing for pivotal development and expanded operational readiness.
Mary Beckerle, Ph.D.
Mary Beckerle is an internationally recognized cancer biologist and scientific leader. She served as CEO of Huntsman Cancer Institute from 2006 to 2025 and is Distinguished Professor of Biology and Oncological Sciences at the University of Utah, where she has been on the faculty since 1986. Her research is recognized for pioneering contributions to the understanding of cell adhesion, migration, invasion, and metastasis.
Dr. Beckerle is an elected member of the National Academy of Sciences and has served on the Advisory Committee to the Director of the National Institutes of Health. She currently serves on the boards of Johnson & Johnson and Exelixis. At Halia, she brings deep scientific judgment and translational research leadership to a board guiding a pipeline grounded in protective human genetics.
Careers
We appreciate your inquiry into careers at Halia Therapeutics. If you desire to contribute your unique expertise, talent, and abilities to our team and help change the world of drug discovery, we encourage you to contact us for information about career opportunities and job openings. Correspondence pertaining to job inquiries, opportunities, and offers will only be sent to candidates and applicants through a bonafide company email address that contains an “@haliatx.com” email extension.
