Meet our team

Management Team

RHI has assembled a team of internationally recognized physicians, surgeons, scientists, and drug development professionals who share a passion for developing gene therapies for persons with hearing loss.

Jim Ayala

Jim Ayala

CEO / Founder

Meet Our visionaries

Scientific Advisory Board

Dr. Hinrich Staeker

Dr. Hinrich Staeker

Chief Scientific Officer (CSO)

RHI Chief Scientific Officer and University of Kansas Medical Leader and Visionary. Dr. Staecker created the first and only gene therapy for hearing loss approved for human clinical trials (Novartis CGF166).

Dr. Athanasia Warnecke

Dr. Athanasia Warnecke

Scientific Advisor

RHI Scientific Advisor from Hannover Medical School in Germany. Dr. Warnecke is a Physician, Surgeon, and Researcher with expertise in developing novel gene therapy platforms and presenting regulatory approval packages to the Paul Ehrlich Institute (Germany's FDA).

Dr. Jeffery Holt

Dr. Jeffery Holt

Scientific Advisor

RHI Scientific Advisor from Boston Children’s Hospital at Harvard’s Medical School. Dr. Holt brings expertise in developing vector constructs for the delivery of gene therapies to the inner ear.

Meet Our Team

Business Advisors

Dr. Lee Golden

Dr. Lee Golden

Business Advisor

An MD Clinical Trial design and Drug Development Specialist bringing over 20+ years of experience in all phases of drug development. Currently the Head of Global Clinical Development at PTC Therapeutics

Andrew Koopman

Andrew Koopman

Business Advisor

Investor Relations and Business Development of more than 30 years in the Biotechnology and Biomedical industries. Investor Relations and Business Development of more than 30 years i