BobbyG's BigStone ATX : Shawn Hayes

Shawn Hayes received his PhD in Molecular, Cellular and Integrative physiology from the University of California, Davis where he continued his academic work as postdoctoral scholar at the Center for Neuroscience with Dr. Edward Jones, studying neural developmental, the genetic basis of major depressive disorders and schizophrenias, and worked on the NIH-funded Human Brain Project. 
In 2003, Shawn received a faculty appointment in Cardiovascular Medicine at UC Davis, researching neural control of the CV and respiratory systems in exercise and heart failure. He continued that work at Penn State University’s Hershey Medical Center in the Neural Control Group of the Heart and Vascular Institute focusing on exercise, heart failure, apneas and autonomic dysfunction. 
In 2008, Shawn joined the Cardiovascular Medical Science Liaison team at Abbott Labs supporting the dyslipidemia franchise. Next, he transitioned into non-profit as Director of Research and then the Chief Scientific Officer at HealthCorps. There he designed and conducted interventional studies in childhood obesity including major support from NCI and NHLBI through NIH extramural funding. 
Rare Diseases:
After returning to industry, he focused on drug development. At Amgen, he launched two cardiovascular drugs for heterozygous and homozygous FH and heart failure (Repatha-PCSK9i and Corlanor).
Next he went to work in small Pharma on rare genetic disorders working at Retrophin as the Director of Medical Affairs for Rare Liver Diseases such as bile acid synthesis disorders, peroxisomal biogenesis disorders, Alagille Syndrome, Smith Lemli Opitz Syndrome, Zellwegers Syndrome and Cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis. During this time, he helped designed and launch the EGL (Emory Genetics Lab) cholestasis gene panel. This panel covers 77 genes and has been utilized approximately in 15,000 cases in clinical practice by pediatric hepatologist, GI, pediatrics and neonatologist. The panel covers PFIC and Alagille Syndrome genes among many other diseases causing cholestasis. It has also been used in parallel with other testing to rule out disease such as biliary atresia and other ductal diseases during the diagnosis process, saving valuable time in the diagnostic journey. The cholestasis panel is considered “standard of care” in diagnostic testing for idiopathic, non-physiologic cholestasis. 
He also developed a genetic testing panel for idiopathic bilateral cataracts for rare metabolic diseases. He launched two additional genetic testing programs and multiple diagnostic biomarker testing programs. All of these programs were no-cost to patient programs with the purpose of decreasing the diagnostic journey for rare disease patients and their families.
In addition to biomarker development, he has spearheaded efforts in modernizing newborn screening. 
Most recently, he joined Pharming Healthcare as the Director of Medical Sciences for rare primary immune disorders, developing treatments for rare immunological diseases. Here he launched Joenja for Activated PIK3Delta Syndrome and is working on two additional rare diseases in this therapeutic area.
He also specializes in rare neurometabolic disorders that affect brain development.
Science Policy:
As a graduate student and postdoc, Shawn was involved in developing policies for UC Davis, the UC system as well as the NIH. He co-authored the proposal to create the K99-R00 grant. He now advises the University of California , Davis on graduate studies issues.

Shawn lives in Austin, TX and has two adult boys, Emory and Austin. Shawn is an accomplished naturist, adventure trekker and birder. He spends his spare time volunteering/donating/fundraising for local Austin charities such as Swan Song, SIMS Foundation, HAMM, and Central Texas Food Bank to name a few.