Leen Kawas, Ph.D. is an inventor of several drug candidates at Athira Pharma, including lead candidate, ATH-1017. As co-founder and President and CEO of the company, her role was to lead the enterprise's technological and financial growth.
In addition to her experience at Athira, she's on the board of a number of organizations, including the Scientific Review Board for the Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation and the Alzheimer's Assoication's Washington Chapter Board. Over the course of her career, she's received numerous honors for her accomplishments, including the Life Science Entrepreneurial Achievement Award in 2020 and the Association of Washington Business Entrepreneur of the Year award in 2016. She was also named a French-American Foundation Leader, as well as a Startup CEO of the Year by Geekwire and one of Seattle's Most Influential People by Seattle Magazine. Under her leadership, Athira was named one of the 10 hottest startups in Seattle by Geekwire.
Dr. Kawas specializes in neurodegenerative disorders, she is also on a mission to bring new research to light and showcase how everything from public perception to neurological breakthroughs influence the trajectory of these deadly diseases.
