Scaling new heights in neurologic insights

Dr. Bettegowda has been practicing as a neurosurgeon at Johns Hopkins University since 2005, where he is an endowed professor of neurosurgery and oncology. He is an internationally recognized leader in brain cancer genetics and liquid biopsies. His work has helped define the molecular landscape of numerous nervous system cancers and he has been a pioneer in applying these discoveries for diagnostic benefit. He has published extensively in his respective field and leads the research setting the foundation for our molecular testing platform.

Brian Coe, MBA, co-founded two healthcare companies and successfully led them through commercialization prior to co-founding Belay Diagnostics with Dr. Bettegowda. He sold his first company, Litholink Corporation, to LabCorp in 2006, and then led Talis Biomedical through several funding rounds totaling $500M prior to taking the company public in early 2021. Brian also teaches as an adjunct professor of entrepreneurship at the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business.

Manu Bettegowda has been at Olympus Partners since 1998 and became a partner in 2004 before being promoted to managing partner in 2021. He has been involved in investing in numerous companies in a variety of fields, including Symmetry Medical, Pregis Corp., and Tank Holdings.

Dr. Jon Dudley is a molecular pathologist and runs an independent research lab at Johns Hopkins University, where he is an assistant professor of Pathology and Oncology. He is the recipient of the Young Investigator Award from the Association for Molecular Pathology and the Benjamin Castleman Award from the United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology, and his research focuses on molecular diagnostic assay development.

Chris Douville is an assistant professor in the Department of Oncology at Johns Hopkins University within the Division of Quantitative Sciences. His research group uses computational models to design, interpret, and improve molecular diagnostics for earlier detection of cancer and monitoring of minimal residual disease. His work has resulted in several bioinformatics software packages, and he is an active member of the AI-X colloquium.

Yuxuan Wang is a physician-scientist interested in developing novel technologies to improve patient care. She received her combined M.D. and Ph.D. degrees at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. She did her Ph.D. work under the mentorship of Drs. Bert Vogelstein and Ken Kinzler on earlier cancer detection. She then completed her Residency in Internal Medicine and Fellowship in Hematology and Medical Oncology at Johns Hopkins Hospital. She developed several diagnostic approaches that are being commercialized for cancer detection, including the MethylSaferSeqS technology.

Dr. Reddi, a highly accomplished professional, previously served as a Professor and Chief of the Division of Clinical Genomics at the Medical College of Wisconsin before joining Belay Diagnostics as SVP and Medical Director. With a background in biotechnology and specialized training in Clinical Molecular Genetics, she led a translational research program on thyroid cancer at the Mayo Clinic. Recognized for her outstanding contributions, Dr. Reddi received the 2023 Outstanding Graduate Educator award and the 2018 “Women of Innovation Award” for her leadership in bioscience and technology.

Alex De los Reyes has 20 years of sales leadership experience in the life sciences industry, including 14 years at LabCorp and two years at Talis Biomedical, where he was recruited to build out the commercial sales organization from the ground up. Alex has successfully led sales organizations with a national footprint from inception through pre-commercial deployment (including remote recruitment and training during the pandemic). He is very passionate about finding exceptional talent and assembling world-class sales organizations that deliver exceptional results.

Jerry Conway, Senior Vice President of Market Access, joined Belay Diagnostics in April 2024 with over 34 years of sales and executive management experience in the routine clinical and esoteric laboratory marketplaces. His experience includes physician sales and marketing, payer contracting and reimbursement in a wide range of business environments, including Fortune 500 and start-up companies. Jerry was previously with GeneDx, Scipher Medicine, CDx Diagnostics, Inc., Foundation Medicine Inc. (FMI), Metamark Genetics, and Genzyme Genetics in senior Market Access leadership roles. At FMI, Jerry was responsible for reimbursement of all diagnostic products, including successful achievement of the FDA-approved FoundationOneCDx universal companion diagnostic platform and National Coverage Determination (NCD) by CMS under the Parallel Review Program. Under his leadership at Genzyme Genetics, Jerry helped to favorably position the company for a $975 million acquisition by Laboratory Corporation of America® Holdings on December 1, 2010. Prior to his career in market access and reimbursement, Jerry was employed by Damon Clinical Laboratories, Metpath/Corning and Long Term Care Services, Inc. in various diagnostic field sales and management roles in the physician and long term care markets.

Kyle Hernandez leads the bioinformatics and data platform team at Belay Diagnostics, bringing a diverse background in evolutionary biology, statistical genetics, and large-scale bioinformatics. Prior to joining Belay, Kyle led cross-functional teams at the University of Chicago building biomedical data science platforms and was co-chair of a Blood Profiling Atlas in Cancer (BLOODPAC) working group focusing on increasing the quality and consistency of cfDNA analysis through inter-laboratory testing. Kyle received his Ph.D. from Purdue University and was an NSF Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Texas at Austin where he utilized statistical genetics and next-generation sequencing to explore gene-environment interactions.

Kara Scheer, MBA, University of Chicago Booth School of Business, has over ten years of healthcare experience. She started her career at Epic Software Systems in 2012, and, in 2017, she founded Salus Consulting, where she provided strategy and tailored guidance to clients comprising some of the leading healthcare organizations in the US. She has advised digital health and biotech startups in technology development, business model strategy, process improvement, financial modeling, and strategic execution. She is passionate about bringing innovation to market, improving the world through technology, and helping mission-based organizations succeed.

Evelyn Grau MBA, University of Pennsylvania Wharton School of Business, has 25 years of marketing, market research and product management leadership experience in the health care sector including 15 years’ experience in clinical lab diagnostics and 10 years’ experience in consumer brand management. At Quest Diagnostics, she directed all aspects of the $350M immunology and autoimmune portfolio, turning around a declining business to a growth story 3x the industry average. She championed many new products and spearheaded launch of a $100M multi-tiered algorithm screen test in primary care, which was selected for the Empowering Better Health Award. Evelyn has led marketing organizations and implemented successful product strategies with high impact campaigns that accelerate growth for both F500 and VC companies. Her experience includes senior roles at Myriad Genetics, Opentrons Labworks, Adaptive Biotechnologies, and NMS Labs. Previously she was a management consultant for Towers Watson, where she improved client competitiveness in a diverse set of industries through strategic and operational change. Her passion is bringing disruptive technologies to market to improve outcomes for clinicians and patients.

Kala Schilter, has 10 years of genetics experience across translational research, clinical diagnostics and precision medicine. Kala has been involved in the development and launch of multiple clinical assays, experienced in interpreting and classifying genetic variants, and has a keen interest in clear communication of genetic results through comprehensive reporting. Kala’s passion has been consistent throughout her career with a focus on helping individuals understand the genetic answers to their medical concerns.

Highly motivated cancer biologist with rich experience in the clinical and research application of genomics, pharmacogenomics and high throughput molecular technologies for integrated cancer genomic diagnosis. A proven team leader with great success in designing experiments/protocols and coordinating lab projects. Passionate about molecular diagnosis and personalized medicine.

Marta Mota brings over 8 years of diverse experience in healthcare and technology, with a strong focus on data analytics and strategy consulting. Prior to joining Belay Diagnostics, she was a consultant at Deloitte, where she led cross-functional teams and implemented innovative solutions for Fortune 500 healthcare and life sciences clients. With a strong analytical mindset and a passion for enhancing patient outcomes, Marta is committed to leveraging insights to drive impactful results. At Belay, she focuses on strategic initiatives in product and business development, utilizing her expertise to optimize organizational effectiveness and improve patient care. Marta holds an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and a Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Engineering from Boston University.

Dean Ellis is a Bioinformatics Engineer with a passion for taking complex biological datasets through next generation computational workflows. Having started out as a bench scientist, with extensive experience in assay development in infectious diseases, and transitioned to oncology research, he discovered his passion for bioinformatics by diving into the data from his research. Later in his career, he was heavily involved in applying this experience to evaluating molecular oncology as a bioinformatician behind cutting-edge next-generation sequencing platforms in the liquid biopsy space. He is excited to be working with such a talented and passionate team at Belay, pushing a purpose driven molecular oncology test from the bench to the patient’s bedside.

Jocelyn has 15+ years of success as a sales leader and individual contributor for leading healthcare, biotechnology, and global life sciences organizations selling into almost every medical specialty. She has proven success assembling a talented team of sales professionals for imminent product launch in the biotech/life sciences industry.

Ryan Stites, MBA has 20 years of sales and leadership experience, including 9 years at GeneDx where he led the western sales team and a successful market expansion through the end of 2023. He is passionate about advancing the field of diagnostic testing and empowering patients and healthcare providers with accurate and timely information to better impact care and treatment decisions.

Jennifer Siegel is an accomplished global business leader with over 25 years in healthcare, biotechnology, genomics, and personalized medicine. She has held key roles, including Vice President of Sales at SpeeDx, where she led North American sales, and Vice President of Commercial Global Labs at PerkinElmer Genomics (now RevvityOmics), managing multinational teams and driving commercialization strategies. As Director of Sales at Sema4, she significantly expanded the Women’s Health division. Jennifer also founded GenomicVentures, leveraging her expertise to deliver transformative genomics solutions. Her clinical background in genetic counseling enhances her ability to meet diverse client needs.

Michael Mauer is a highly skilled professional with over ten years of experience in healthcare and consulting. He specializes in data analytics, sales operations, financial modeling, and business development, leading numerous successful initiatives throughout his career. Michael holds an MBA from Indiana University Kelley School of Business, and his work is characterized by a commitment to excellence and innovation. He is dedicated to driving growth and improving operations through strategic vision and effective leadership.

Stephanie Reiners, MS CCRP has over 10 years successful experience in academic research. Stephanie received her Masters of Science in Clinical Research Management from Washington University in St. Louis. She has successfully managed over 45 clinical trials in pediatric Neuro-Oncology. Stephanie is passionate about advancing the current practice of diagnosing brain and spinal cord cancers to be less invasive for the patients and their loved ones.

Dr. Stella Hartmann brings over a decade of experience in research and healthcare, with a strong interdisciplinary background that blends life sciences innovation with business strategy. She holds a Ph.D. in Microbiology from the University of Chicago and M.S. in Applied Life Sciences from Keck Graduate Institute. Throughout her career thus far, she has served as a Laboratory Manager, Department Coordinator, and Instructor, alongside various research positions in academic, industry, and government settings. At Belay Diagnostics, Stella leverages her diverse expertise to advance the development of cutting-edge diagnostic solutions aimed at improving patient outcomes.

Katie Mitchell is a dedicated histotechnologist with over 7 years of experience in the field of histology and laboratory medicine. Upon receiving an undergraduate degree in dietetics, she started her career at Pinnacle Dermatology. While completing an MA, Katie began her tenure at Northwestern Memorial Hospital as a senior/lead histotechnologist. Katie gained a unique blend of experience in Anatomic Pathology and laboratory management and looks forward to bringing her skills and expertise to the Belay Diagnostics team.

Jennifer Adams is a technically skilled laboratory professional with over 6 years of experience in Next-Generation Sequencing. She has spent years learning from and training others in a variety of molecular laboratory processes across clinical NGS and Molecular Diagnostics laboratories. She has extensive experience in day to day laboratory operations, troubleshooting instrument and quality control issues, and training of new employees in both hospital and reference laboratory settings. Jennifer is passionate about the laboratory aspects of patient care.

Rakshitha Jagadish is an accomplished professional with a master’s degree in medical biotechnology from the University of Illinois at Chicago. She has more than 6 years of experience in the field of healthcare, with a robust understanding of assay development, quality assurance, and regulatory compliance. Throughout her academic and professional journey, she has honed her ability to optimize, validate processes, and implement continuous improvement strategies. Her commitment to innovation and quality in the biotech field empowers her to contribute effectively to advancing healthcare solutions, enhancing product quality, and safety for patients worldwide.

Brett Domagala is an experienced lab expert holding a master’s degree in microbiology and cell science. Throughout his career in the scientific sector, he has explored various areas, from food science to molecular research. He has gained four years of experience in molecular diagnostics and Next-Generation sequencing, mastering both hands-on and automated techniques. In his academic and professional path, Brett has been involved in different aspects within the lab, such as quality assurance, product development, and the validation of assays. He is dedicated to fostering innovation and enhancing lab procedures to support patient care.