A new way forward for patients

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Kimberly Dulac, SHRM-CP, serves as the Associate Director of Human Resources at Belay Diagnostics, where she oversees all aspects of human resources, privacy compliance, and provides administrative support. With a strong foundation in organizational leadership and a background in legal studies, she brings expertise in HR strategy, accounting, and regulatory compliance, including HIPAA and cybersecurity. Kimberly holds a B.A. in Organizational Leadership, is a certified SHRM-CP professional, and is committed to fostering operational excellence and data privacy within the organization. Kimberly brings the skills and insights earned throughout her career as a performing artist for more than 15 years to the team, where she was a performer, union rep, equity lead, event coordinator, dance captain, onsite manager, choreographer, instructor, and served on the Safety and Green Teams at Disney World.

Brian Mintz, MBA, has 13 years of accounting and finance experience. He began his career as an auditor in public accounting with a focus on healthcare, manufacturing, and insurance. He eventually transitioned into financial reporting and FP+A roles where most recently he was a director of accounting and finance at GroupM before joining Belay Diagnostics. Brian holds an MBA from the Duke University Fuqua School of Business.

Noah Cohen is a designer turned marketer who has spent his career building brands from the ground up. He got his start running his own branding studio, working with clients across industries on everything from social media to TV ads, before spending three years at Hilco Global on omnichannel campaigns for major retail brands — from intake and audience research through ideation and execution. At Belay, he works across the marketing function, from campaign strategy to the company’s digital presence. He holds AI certifications from Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, and Microsoft, amongst others. When he’s not marketing, you’ll find him writing and producing music or cooking new recipes.

Steve brings over 18 years of experience in solid tumor oncology, precision medicine, and Next Generation Sequencing (NGS).
He has extensive knowledge in the areas of Breast, Lung, Colon, and Brain cancers. Originally trained in pathology diagnostics, he has since been a part of several tumor tissue & liquid biopsy-based start-up companies. Most recently, he was a successful oncology representative at UT Southwestern in Dallas, Texas, as well as an oncology representative at Genomic Health, Inc., specializing in early-stage breast cancer and stage II & III colon cancers. Having lost both parents to cancer, his work at Belay is deeply personal and incredibly gratifying.

Hillary Hough, RN, BSN, CBCN brings a unique blend of clinical and commercial expertise to Belay Diagnostics. As a former Oncology Nurse Navigator, she has firsthand experience supporting patients through complex cancer diagnoses, which enables her to engage with providers and care teams in a deeply meaningful and patient-centered way. Prior to joining Belay, Hillary spent four years as a Senior Account Executive at Guardant Health, where she advanced the adoption of ctDNA testing in both tissue and plasma across the oncology space. Her deep knowledge of genomic diagnostics and dedication to improving patient care make her a key asset to the Belay team.

Cameron L. Lilly, PhD Earned his PhD In molecular virology and was then introduced to the challenges of rare diseases and cancers during his post-doctoral research on oncolytic virotherapy. From his post-doc, he entered industry to leverage his passion for strong science and science communication in a sales role at Cell Signaling Technology, where he developed his commercial acumen. From there, the clear patient need lead to him joining the liquid biopsy space first as a Scientific Affair Liaison then as an MSL for cell-based and cell-free technologies for monitoring and characterizing cancer. He brings his 5+ years of experience in liquid biopsy and interfacing in the health care space with HCPs and KOLs to the team at Belay, where he has joined as MSL to bring his passion for cutting edge and patient-centered medical science to the challenging field of CNS tumors.

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.

Geri has worked in the cancer diagnostics and therapeutic markets for nearly 30 years as a sales professional and people leader. Over the last 10 years she has successfully launched multiple liquid assays for hematologic and solid tumors, most recently at BillionToOne. Prior to that, she spent 7 years at Adaptive Biotechnologies where she launched the first liquid assay for MRD tracking for hematologic malignancies and led a best-in-class team of diagnostic specialists. Her current focus harnesses the intersection of oncology and diagnostic expertise to drive strategic partnerships and centers on ensuring access to testing for all patients. Her dedication to advancing cancer diagnostics is deeply personal, inspired by her twin sister’s brain tumor diagnosis, and fuels her mission-driven work at Belay.

Tommy Nguyen is a builder someone who takes ambiguous problems and turns them into structured, scalable solutions. As Sales Operations Manager at Belay Diagnostics, he sits at the intersection of commercial operations, data infrastructure, and sales enablement to steward commercial data, administer the CRM, and lead technical projects that support the sales team. Before joining Belay, Tommy spent three years at Tempus AI and overall carries years of experience within the product, operations, account management, and strategy domains. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience with Honors Distinction from the University of Pittsburgh as a first-generation professional.

Catherine Sellers has enjoyed over 25 years of oncology nursing, having worked with Medical Oncology in the care of both solid tumor and heme malignancy/stem cell transplant patients. She is a 2015 graduate of the Duke School of Nursing AGNP program with a concentration in oncology. She went on to find a special interest in the care of patients in the neuro-oncology and brain/spine metastases arenas due to her work as a NP at the Preston Robert Tisch Duke Brain Tumor Center, Duke Radiation Oncology, and more recent partnership with the Duke Center for Brain & Spine Metastasis (DCBSM). In her spare time, Catherine enjoys time outside with her husband (Jay) and their teenaged daughter (Caroline), horseback riding, fishing, and traveling.

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.

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.

Stephanie built her career bringing complex science to the people who need it. With a degree in microbiology and biochemistry, she began in physician-facing pharmaceutical and biotech sales before founding a healthcare marketing firm she led for nearly two decades. Today, she leads Belay’s marketing strategy and serves as Business Development Executive for the Blue Ridge Territory. Her work is deeply personal. In 1998, her dad was given 18 months to live based on imaging of an inoperable brain tumor. Thankfully, he is still here today, inspiring Stephanie to help families get clear molecular answers even when tissue is unavailable.

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.

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.

Julianna Ernst is a recent graduate of Loyola University Chicago, where she earned a B.S. in Biology with a minor in Biostatistics. While in school, she worked as a pharmacy technician, gaining experience in patient care and healthcare operations. She also interned at BioTechLogic, where she supported quality and regulatory projects, conducted documentation reviews, and gained exposure to cGMP standards and compliance processes. Now in her first professional role after graduation, Julianna is eager to apply her scientific knowledge, analytical skills, and commitment to excellence at Belay. She looks forward to growing professionally, learning from her team, and making a meaningful impact within the organization.

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.

Viriya Keo, PhD, is a bioinformatician specializing in transcriptomics and epigenetics, with extensive experience in analyzing next-generation sequencing (NGS) data such as RNA-seq, ChIP-seq, and DNA methylation assays. She received her PhD in Biomedical Informatics from Northwestern University, where her research focused on utilizing computational methods for multi-omics integration in prostate cancer. At Belay, Viriya applies her academic and technical background to support assay development and ensure the quality of clinical diagnostics. Her work helps bridge research and patient care by translating complex data into actionable insights. She is excited to be part of a highly collaborative and innovative team and values the opportunity to continually grow and learn from her colleagues as they work together to advance patient care.

Dr. Sakshi Khurana is a cancer epigeneticist who brings 10 years of diverse molecular and cellular biology experience. She holds an M.H.S in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Johns Hopkins University and a Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics from Northwestern University. She is a highly skilled assay developer, with extensive experience in next-generation sequencing (NGS). In addition to her technical skills, she is a team player, a critical thinker, an excellent scientific communicator and most importantly, a life-long learner. At Belay, Dr. Khurana leverages her scientific expertise to optimize and expand our cutting-edge diagnostic assay.

Alex Larson has over 6 years of experience at both the laboratory bench and patient bedside. Her research in biochemistry and genetics ignited a passion for genomic medicine and led her to seek a variety of roles in clinical genetics. She obtained her master’s in genetic counseling from the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health, where she also completed an internship with Ambry Genetics. At Belay Diagnostics, Alex exercises her specialized training in genomic analysis and patient health literacy to foster the advancement of personalized medicine in oncology.

Bay has a passion for building scalable, secure, and efficient infrastructure to support innovative applications. Starting out as a Junior DevOps Engineer, he quickly developed a love for automation and cloud technologies, mastering tools like Kubernetes, Terraform, and major Cloud Providers. His experience includes optimizing CI/CD pipelines, implementing Infrastructure as Code, and ensuring the reliability of mission-critical systems. Throughout his career, he has tackled diverse challenges, from reducing cloud costs to implementing advanced observability frameworks. He is dedicated to leveraging his expertise to build resilient, high-performance cloud environments and collaborating with Bioinformatics Engineers to drive impactful projects from concept to production.

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.

Tarin Peltier, MLS (ASCP), is a Medical Laboratory Scientist whose career has been defined by precision, adaptability, and a drive to push diagnostic science forward. She began her work in molecular diagnostics at the height of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, mastering complex molecular assays and techniques under high-pressure conditions. Since then, Tarin has contributed her expertise across virology, hematology, and chemistry, serving in diverse clinical environments across four states as a traveling scientist. At Belay Diagnostics, Tarin channels her curiosity and technical skill into advancing reliable, high-impact laboratory solutions. Her passion for precision and innovation helps power Belay’s vision to redefine what’s possible in diagnostic science.

Daniel Sanchez is a skilled laboratory technician with experience in Next-Generation Sequencing and molecular biology. He has worked for six years in academic laboratories, mastering various molecular assays and wet lab bench skills at Princeton University and the University of Chicago. He has worked as a medical technician in a hospital core laboratory, carrying out various chemistry and hematology tests for patients and their practitioners within the hospital and to many outreach areas. He is now committed to his passion: combining his years of experience in molecular biology in order to provide quality patient results here at Belay Diagnostics.

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.

Samantha Vo, BS in cellular and molecular biology, is a driven professional with a
passion for studying life sciences and biotechnology. She brings years of hands-on
experience working on the bench in quality health sciences as well as diagnostic
research and development. Her recent years of expertise now focuses on improvement
of laboratory operations and management. Samantha brings her commitment, drive, and
determination to continuously take on new challenges for success at Belay Diagnostics.

Abby Ecker is a thoughtful and detail-oriented Customer Service Representative with a strong foundation in cross-functional collaboration. She brings experience across public- and private-sector roles, including healthcare and policy research in mission-driven environments. Abby is committed to handling every interaction with diligence, empathy, and a solution-oriented mindset. She holds a BA in Economics with a minor in Neuroscience from Macalester College, where she also played Division III soccer.

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.

Amy Lux, CPA, is an accounting graduate from Michigan State University. She brings 16 years of accounting and finance experience in staff and managerial roles. She began her career as an auditor in a public accounting firm with a focus on manufacturing and distribution. After spending several years raising two sons, working part time for neighborhood CPA firms, she continued her career in international multi-entity accounting. She comes from Harris & Harris, a receivables management firm, as Director of FP+A.

Aaron Manewith has over 10 years of experience working in the US health care sector, primarily in academic medicine and with system-based cardiovascular service lines. He began his career in 2013 at Northwestern’s Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute as a non-clinical patient liaison for their advanced cardiac therapies programs, scheduling surgeries and related care, heart transplant workups, and routine post-transplant care. In 2018, he joined the University of Chicago’s Cardiac Surgery and Heart & Vascular Center, providing administrative support to the Chief of Cardiac Surgery and the HVC Executive Director. After seven years at UC and having had the opportunity to hold several positions with progressive responsibilities, he decided to make the leap into biotechnology. Aaron is passionate about helping patients navigate the complexities of US healthcare as well as working to improve the patient experience.

Tom Miller brings over 10 years of expertise in molecular biology, life sciences technology, and laboratory informatics consulting. Prior to joining Belay, Tom served as a consultant for Accenture Life Sciences and other firms, where he supported large, global pharmaceutical clients in optimizing their small molecule and biologics drug discovery pipelines through new and existing software technologies. Tom specializes in bridging the gap between scientific requirements and technology solutions, having served in technical, business analyst, management consultant, and project management roles. He holds an MS in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology from East Carolina University and a BS in Biological Science with a Neuroscience focus from Carnegie Mellon University. Tom is excited to leverage his skills in technology implementation to support the talented team at Belay in improving patient care.

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.

With over 30 years of experience in the information technology sector, Jim is a seasoned IT leader with a proven track record of driving innovation, building high-performing teams, and delivering enterprise-scale solutions. He played a key leadership role at NAVTEQ, a pioneering Chicago-based startup in digital mapping and navigation, where he helped shape the company’s technology strategy during a period of rapid growth and transformation. In addition to his private-sector accomplishments, Jim also brings valuable experience from his work in local government, where he applied his expertise to modernize systems and improve public services.