BHI Team Members

Dr. Kevin N. Heller is a distinguished physician-scientist and drug development executive with over 20 years of experience in oncology research and biopharmaceutical development. His career spans the complete drug development lifecycle from discovery through commercialization, with particular expertise in immuno-oncology, precision medicine, and regulatory strategy across academia and industry.

Dr. John K. Hsu is a distinguished intellectual property attorney and patent litigator with over twenty years of specialized experience in complex pharmaceutical and technology litigation. With a unique combination of advanced scientific training and extensive legal expertise, he has successfully represented clients in more than sixty high-stakes patent, trademark, and trade secret cases across diverse industries, with particular focus on pharmaceutical drugs, medical devices, computer software, and food processing technology.

Dr. Diane M. Ignar is a distinguished pharmaceutical executive and strategic advisor with over 25 years of comprehensive experience spanning the complete biopharmaceutical value chain from discovery research through commercialization. Her extensive expertise encompasses therapeutic development, business partnerships, emerging markets strategy, and technology innovation across multiple therapeutic areas including neuropharmacology, metabolic diseases, respiratory and allergic diseases, rare diseases, and oncology.

Jonathan B. Kay, MPP, is an Executive-in-Residence (EIR) at BioHealth Innovation, where he provides strategic technical assistance to biotech and life sciences startups to advance technological innovation and drive high-value job creation in the regional ecosystem. As a trusted advisor to the life sciences industry, he brings comprehensive expertise across biotech, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, diagnostics, vaccines, and digital health, including artificial intelligence applications in healthcare.

Catherine earned her Ph.D. in Microbiology from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN. Following her academic training, Dr. Leasure spearheaded the commercialization of a technology developed at Vanderbilt, gaining experience in technology transfer, entrepreneurship, and business strategy. With over 7 years of grant writing experience, she brings a unique blend of scientific expertise in infectious disease research and practical knowledge in translating innovations to market. Catherine’s diverse skill set allows her to effectively support clients in developing compelling grant proposals and strategic business plans, bridging the gap between groundbreaking research and commercial opportunities.

Douglas Liu is a distinguished business leader and operations executive with over 40 years of comprehensive experience in the biotechnology industry, specializing in manufacturing, quality assurance, regulatory affairs, and global operations management. His career spans the complete biotechnology value chain from early-stage development through commercial manufacturing, with particular expertise in molecular diagnostics, clinical research, and international business development.

Victoria Manax Rutson M.D. is a medical oncologist with over two decades of expertise in the pharmaceutical/biotech industry with a focus on global drug/device/diagnostic development, nanomedicines, novel immunotherapies, and product launch/commercialization.  Dr. Manax has made indelible contributions to the field with her expertise in shaping clinical trial landscapes, particularly in adaptive platform designs with biomarker integration from Phase I-IV.   She has most recently joined Eckuity Capital as a partner. Dr. Manax has played a pivotal role in the development, approval, and launch of billion-dollar products, including the standards of care for breast cancer, lung cancer, and most recently, pancreatic cancer.  She has held multiple executive medical positions in companies including Abraxis Bioscience and Celgene (BMS).  In addition to her pharmaceutical expertise, she was the inaugural Chief Medical Officer for the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. She has effectively overseen numerous multimillion-dollar global clinical trial programs, holds multiple clinical advisories, chair positions, and patents, exemplifying her commitment to advancing medical science and patient well-being. She is an internationally recognized speaker from programs through Harvard Business School and is a proud Belfast Ambassador recipient. Dr. Manax has received multiple distinguished honors including Who’s Who in Healthcare and was recently named as a government advisor to Northern Ireland for Health and Life Sciences.

Dr. Albine Martin is a seasoned C-level executive with over three decades of experience translating innovation from laboratory to clinic. She currently serves as an Executive in Residence, where she focuses on triaging innovations and intellectual property portfolios toward company formation strategies while supporting the regional startup ecosystem. Dr. Martin earned her Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of Maryland, College Park, with a thesis on the biochemistry of lipid-linked pathways in oligosaccharide-linked protein pathways. She also holds a B.S. from Trinity College, Washington, DC, and has completed executive education programs at Cornell University (Certificate in Financial Management) and Harvard Business School (Leadership & Strategy Program in Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology).

Dr. Kimberly E. Martin is a distinguished scientific and clinical affairs executive with over 25 years of comprehensive experience bringing drugs and medical devices to market. As an Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EIR) and advisor to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), she combines deep technical expertise in clinical trial design and regulatory strategy with innovative leadership in pharmaceutical and medical device development across multiple therapeutic areas.

Chris Mathia is a proven medical device and digital health executive with a distinguished track record of leading turnaround efforts and delivering exceptional shareholder value. Based in Olathe, Kansas, he brings over two decades of healthcare technology leadership experience, specializing in acquisition-proven CEO tenures with deep roots in sales leadership. Chris earned his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Kansas and built his career foundation through progressive sales roles at leading medical device companies including Medline Industries, Aesculap/B.Braun, and Specialty Medical Systems before transitioning into healthcare technology leadership. His most notable achievement came as CEO of Innara Health, where he led the organization through a comprehensive reorganization and recapitalization process that culminated in a successful acquisition by Cardinal Health, a Fortune 15 organization, in February 2023. Innara Health's NTrainer solution holds the distinction of being the only FDA-cleared medical device clinically proven to improve feeding outcomes for newborns and infants born prematurely.

Kelly earned her master's in biotechnology from the McCormick School of Engineering at Northwestern University, building on her bachelor's degree in neuroscience and analytical-organic chemistry from the University of Nevada, Reno. With over 2 years at BioHealth Innovation and 15 grant writing projects under her belt, Kelly has developed expertise in translating complex scientific concepts and commercialization strategies into successful grant proposals. Kelly's diverse background in biotechnology, neuroscience, and chemistry enables her to support a wide range of clients in the life sciences sector, helping them secure funding for innovative research and development initiatives.

Quan Nguyen is a Partner at Nguyen Tarbet Intellectual Property Law, representing inventors and organizations with impactful, cutting-edge technologies. Quan has a great passion for the process of commercializing new inventions. He works closely with his clients to build winning patent portfolios and helps identify strategic partners, screen for potential business deals, and analyze market opportunities. Quan is also an active member of the Tech Coast Angels (TCA), Desert Angels, and Life Science Angels, where he leads a number of investment deals. As a seasoned patent attorney, Quan concentrates his practice in patent procurement, opinion work (patentability and freedom to operate analysis), and intellectual property management of inventions in biotechnology, chemistry, medical devices, microfluidics, bioinformatics, and artificial intelligence. His clients include publicly traded companies, major corporations, universities, investors, and entrepreneurs. Prior to founding Nguyen Tarbet LLC, Quan was a Partner at Cozen O’Connor, an international law firm based in Philadelphia. Earlier in his career, Quan also worked in-house as an Assistant Director of Patents at Ionis Pharmaceuticals in San Diego, a leader in RNA-targeted therapeutics. Quan firmly believes in public service and works tirelessly to advance innovation and entrepreneurship. He is an active Member of the College of Science Dean’s Board of Advisors (University of Arizona), School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Dean's Leadership Council (University of California, Irvine) and Beall Applied Innovation (University of California Irvine), where he leads various university initiatives to promote innovation through industry partnerships. As Chairman Emeritus of the Advisory Board of the Chemistry and BioChemistry Board of Advisors (University of Arizona), he helped the department develop strategic industry relationships to advance faculty research. Quan regularly speaks at seminars about innovation, technology investments, and trends in patent law.