Management Team
Jim Ayala
CEO/Founder
Father of a 17 year old son born with genetic hearing loss, Mr. Ayala created Rescue Hearing Inc (RHI) to achieve this vision: “Eliminate Hearing Loss as a Chronic Condition.” Mr. Ayala has over 30 years of healthcare industry experience and RHI is his 4th life science start up. As a self-funded Founder and CEO, Mr. Ayala built the team, drafted investor documents, developed and managed patent estates, established relationships with Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) and academic research institutions, conducted analysis of the hearing loss market, authored scientific research studies, negotiated Sponsored Research Agreements with academic research institutions, managed proof-of-concept studies, and negotiated license agreements with both investors and academic institutions. In March of 2022, RHI licensed it’s TMPRSS3 gene therapy asset to Myrtelle Inc. RHI is currently developing 4 gene therapy assets for the hearing loss market.
Business Development Team
Andrew Koopman
Business Advisor
Mr. Koopman specializes in academic tech transfer/licensing negotiations, investor relations, and biotech business development. Mr. Koopman has over 30 years in the Biotechnology and Biomedical industries with 14 years at NYU tech transfer and new venture development.
Dr. Lee Golden
Clinical Advisor
Dr. Lee Golden is a physician and clinical trial design and drug development specialist. Dr. Golden brings over 20+ years of experience in drug development and commercialization. He is currently the Head of Global Development at PTC Therapeutics.
Scientific Advisory Board
Dr. Hinrich Staecker
Chief Scientific Officer
Dr. Hinrich Staecker is RHI’s Chief Scientific Officer and a physician, surgeon, and researcher at the University of Kansas Medical Center. Dr. Staecker is a visionary and pioneer in the field of gene therapy for hearing loss. Dr. Staecker was the inventor and PI of the first human clinical trial of gene therapy for hearing loss (Novartis CGF166). In his role as RHI’s CSO, Dr. Staecker oversees the development of all gene therapy products at RHI.
Dr. Xue Zhong Liu
Founding Scientific Advisor
Dr. Liu is a founding member of RHI’s scientific team. Dr. Liu is a physician, surgeon, and Professor of Otolaryngology at the University of Miami’s Miller School of Medicine. Dr. Liu sees patients on a weekly basis at his hearing loss clinic and his research lab is focused on identifying the genetic causes of hearing loss. Dr. Liu is one of the top NIH-funded Otolaryngologists in the country.
Dr. Athanasia Warnecke
Scientific Advisor
Dr. Warnecke is an astounding RHI Scientific Advisor working from Hannover Medical School in Germany. Dr. Warnecke is a physician, surgeon, and researcher with expertise in developing novel gene therapy platforms and developing and presenting regulatory approval packages to the Paul Ehrlich Institute (Germany’s FDA).
Dr. Jeffrey Holt
Scientific Advisor
Dr. Holt is an RHI Scientific Advisor and a professor of Otolaryngology and Neurology at Harvard Medical School and operates at the Holt/Géléoc Laboratory at Boston Children’s Hospital. Dr. Holt’s research is focused on the physiology and molecular substrates of inner ear function and dysfunction. Dr. Holt brings expertise in developing vector constructs for the delivery of gene therapies to the inner ear.
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