David J. Bearss, President and CEO of Halia Therapeutics
Dr. David J. Bearss is the President and CEO of Halia Therapeutics, a biotechnology company pioneering therapies that target chronic inflammation and neurodegeneration through insights into genetic resilience. With over 25 years of experience in academia and industry, Dr. Bearss has led the discovery and development of 18 clinical-stage compounds, contributed to the development of two FDA-approved drugs, and co-founded eight biotech startups, including Tolero Pharmaceuticals. He holds a Ph.D. in cell biology from the University of Texas Health Science Center and has authored over 85 peer-reviewed publications and 100 patents. Dr. Bearss is a recipient of the Utah Governor’s Medal of Science and BIO Utah’s Entrepreneur of the Year award.
