About
Leen Kawas is the co-founder and managing general partner at Propel Bio Partners, where she is building a biotech-focused fund to support life science innovation. Her work draws on deep experience as an inventor, scientist, and entrepreneur. After coming to the US from Jordan in 2008, Kawas went on to co-found Athira Pharma, now LeonaBio, and became the company’s CEO in 2014. In that role, she led the advancement of multiple late-stage clinical programs and took the company public in 2020, raising over $400 million. She was the first woman in 20 years in Washington State, and one of only 22 women founders in the US, to lead a company through an IPO.
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Her leadership has been recognized with numerous awards, including the Life Science Entrepreneurial Achievement Award in 2020, French-American Foundation Leader in 2019, and GeekWire Startup CEO of the Year in 2019. Kawas currently serves on multiple boards, including Inherent Biosciences and Persephone Biosciences, and is an active member of the Springboard Network. She is also a passionate supporter of scientist entrepreneurs, particularly women.
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Alongside her work at Propel Bio Partners, Kawas serves as Chief Executive Officer of EIT Pharma. Across her roles, her focus extends beyond providing capital to supporting impactful research and next-generation innovators working to help people live better, healthier lives. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and two young children, where she enjoys music, good food, learning, and engaging conversations.
Causes
Dr. Leen Kawas is a passionate supporter of scientist entrepreneurs, particularly women, providing equal opportunities and access to education and knowledge. She enjoys traveling, learning about new cultures, and cooking!
Experience
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Chief Executive Officer, EIT Pharma
Present
EIT Pharma is focused on developing transformative therapies for infectious diseases with high unmet needs.
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Managing General Partner, Propel Bio Partners LLC
Nov 2021 - Present
Propel Bio Partners (www.propelbio.com) is a global venture fund that is focused on life science investments. Propel Bio provides an entire ecosystem of experts to support entrepreneurs achieve their vision.
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Member Board Of Directors, Persephone Biosciences
Jul 2022 - Present
Persephone is pioneering the use of synthetic biology for microbial products that impact patient and infant health. We are building an end-to-end platform to industrialize the development of engineered cells that restore health to damaged human ecosystems.
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Member Board of Directors, Inherent Biosciences, Inc.
Aug 2022 - Present
Biotechnology company pioneering epigenetic medicine for complex diseases. Inherent epigenetic platform detects dysregulation across multiple genes and related pathways to pioneer a new category of diagnostics and therapeutics that leverage the biology's inherent mechanism for gene regulation, to radically transform how we diagnose and treat complex diseases.
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Member, Forbes Business Council
Sep 2022 - Present
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Advisor-Seattle, Nucleate
Aug 2022 - Present
Nucleate is a student-led nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering the next generation of biotech leaders. We streamline company formation so that founders can focus on translating cutting-edge science.
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Member, Chief
Apr 2022 - Present
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LeonaBio (formerly Athira Pharma)
CEO & President, Jan 2014 - Oct 2021
Vice President of Research, Aug 2011 - Jan 2014
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Research Associate, Washington State University
Jan 2013 - Feb 2015
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Staff Pharmacist, Pharmacy1, Amman Jordan
Jun 2008 - Aug 2008
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Clinical Pharmacist, University of Jordan Hospital
2007 - 2008