OUR LEADERSHIP
The People Behind
Our Mission
Our team brings deep expertise in nucleic acid science, lipid nanoparticle and polymer/liposomal formulation, analytical development, and GMP manufacturing to advance your programs from concept to clinical impact.
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Graham Taylor, PhD
Founder & President
Dr. Taylor earned his B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Tennessee (2007, 2014, 2016, respectively). He has 15+ years of experience in Quality, Product Development, and Project Management in the medical device and pharmaceutical sector. Dr. Taylor is positioning Helix Biotech to be a premier global pre-clinical and clinical stage development and manufacturing firm for pharmaceutical companies working with LNP and other nanoparticle-based therapeutics and vaccines.
Michael HL Nguyen, PhD
V.P. of Business Development, Sales
Dr. Nguyen is a B.S. and Ph.D. graduate from the University of Windsor's Chemistry & Biochemistry program. His area of focus was on the biophysical analysis of liposomal and lipid-based nanoparticle formulations using small angle neutron and X-ray scattering and in silico techniques. Over his 8+ years in the lipid field, he has visited and conducted research in some of the world's largest and most prestigious national laboratories: NIST (USA), ORNL (USA), ANSTO (AUS) and the CNL (CAN).
Haden Scott, PhD
Manager of Manufacturing
Dr. Scott earned his B.S. and Ph.D. in Biochemistry & Cellular and Molecular Biology from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (2013 and 2018, respectively). Following his Ph.D., Dr. Scott held two different Post-Doctoral Research Associate positions at the University of Tennessee and Oak Ridge National Lab. He has 10 years of experience in the research sector studying the function of synthetic phospholipid membranes, including both their structural and dynamic properties as well as their interactions with small peptides.
Trip Beaver, BS
Manager of Quality Control
Trip earned his B.S. in Biotechnology from James Madison University in 2025, where his undergraduate research focused on protein purification in Arabidopsis thaliana and the stabilization of oxaloacetate. He gained industry experience through an internship at Molson Coors and then as a Process Development Engineer in Operations at Merck before joining the team at Helix Biotech.
World Class Scientific Leadership
Our Scientific Advisory Board comprises recognized leaders in nucleic acid science, drug delivery, formulation, analytical development, and translational medicine who help guide scientific strategy and support the advancement of promising therapeutic programs.
Dan Peer, PhD
Professor and VP for Research and Development, Tel Aviv University
Professor Dan Peer is a globally recognized pioneer in RNA therapeutics and precision nanomedicine. As Director of the Laboratory of Precision NanoMedicine at Tel Aviv University, his research has advanced targeted delivery systems for RNA interference, mRNA, gene editing, vaccines, and other nucleic acid medicines. His laboratory was among the first to demonstrate systemic and cell-specific delivery of mRNA in vivo, developing lipid nanoparticles and other nanocarriers capable of directing RNA payloads to specific tissues and cell types. His work has helped establish new therapeutic approaches for cancer, inflammatory disease, infectious disease, and rare genetic disorders, with numerous discoveries translated toward clinical development.
Yvonne Perrie, PhD
Professor in Drug Delivery, University of Strathclyde
Professor Yvonne Perrie is an internationally recognized expert in drug delivery, liposomes, lipid nanoparticles, and vaccine technologies. Her multidisciplinary research focuses on designing and manufacturing advanced particulate delivery systems that improve the delivery and performance of drugs, nucleic acids, and vaccines. With extensive expertise in formulation development, microfluidic nanoparticle production, characterization, and translational drug delivery, Yvonne has contributed to the development of practical solutions for complex healthcare challenges. Her work spans liposomal and lipid-based systems, mRNA and self-amplifying RNA vaccines, and next-generation nanoparticle manufacturing technologies.
Gaurav Sahay, PhD
Professor and Chair of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Oregon State University
Dr. Gaurav Sahay is a leading researcher in lipid nanoparticle design and the intracellular delivery of mRNA therapeutics. He is Professor and Chair of the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Oregon State University and co-director of the Center for Innovative Drug Delivery and Imaging. His research investigates how lipid nanoparticle composition, structure, cellular trafficking, and endosomal escape influence nucleic acid delivery and therapeutic activity. Dr. Sahay’s laboratory develops and characterizes next-generation lipid-based systems for targeted delivery of mRNA, gene-editing technologies, and other nucleic acid payloads, with applications including cystic fibrosis, retinal degeneration, cancer, and infectious disease.
Robert Prud'homme, PhD
Professor Emeritus of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University
Robert “Bob” Prud’homme is an esteemed professor emeritus of chemical and biological engineering with a career spanning over four decades. Renowned for his groundbreaking work in drug delivery, Bob developed the Flash NanoPrecipitation (FNP) technique, a globally adopted process for producing consistent, stable nanoparticles. This innovation has advanced treatments for malaria, tuberculosis, cancer, and played a pivotal role in the production of mRNA vaccines. Holding more than 100 patents and over 40,000 citations, Bob’s contributions extend beyond research to mentorship, having guided over 50 Ph.D. and 100 undergraduate students who now lead in academia and industry.
Hemant Kumar, PhD
Strategic Advisor, CMC Technical Operations and Regulatory
Affairs
Hemant Kumar is a seasoned biotech executive and globally recognized expert in CMC accelerated development, risk mitigation, and the translation of gene therapies and complex biologics into regulated products. With over 25 years of experience at companies like Sanofi, Merck, and Lonza, Hemant has advanced non-viral (LNP) and viral AAV gene therapies, vaccines, ADCs, and biopharmaceuticals from early stages to licensure. Most recently, as Chief Technology & Manufacturing Officer at Genprex, he led the development and commercialization of novel gene therapies for cancer and diabetes, leveraging advanced AAV and LNP platforms. His proven leadership in building high-performing teams, securing global regulatory approvals, and delivering life-changing therapies continues to make a significant impact on the biotech industry and patient lives worldwide.
John P. Cooke, MD, PhD
Chair, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Houston Methodist Research Institute
John P. Cooke, MD, PhD, is a physician-scientist and internationally recognized leader in cardiovascular regeneration and RNA therapeutics. He is Chair of the Department of Cardiovascular Sciences at Houston Methodist Research Institute, Director of the Center for Cardiovascular Regeneration, and Medical Director of the Center for RNA Therapeutics. His work focuses on mRNA synthesis, purification, validation, lyophilization, and delivery, with applications in vascular regeneration, vaccines, cancer, and regenerative medicine.
At Helix Biotech, our mission is to empower researchers and pharmaceutical companies by providing high-quality, custom mRNA synthesis and innovative nanoparticle solutions. We are dedicated to supporting your success through our expertise and technologies.
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- Dr. Graham Taylor, President