Halia Therapeutics Appoints Paul Jones as Chief Strategy Officer

Halia Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing anti-inflammatory therapies, has appointed Paul Jones as Chief Strategy Officer & GM, International Markets.

In this newly created role, Jones will focus on accelerating GENMOR-AI, the company’s proprietary platform for identifying genetic modifiers of disease using artificial intelligence. His appointment also further strengthens Halia’s expanding partnership with the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, which is leveraging the Emirati Genome dataset to discover genetic resilience factors that protect individuals from disease.

“We are thrilled to welcome Paul to Halia. His proven track record in large-scale genomics initiatives—from the UK’s 100,000 Genomes Project to the Emirati Genome Programme—makes him an exceptional addition to our leadership team,” said David Bearss, Ph.D., CEO of Halia Therapeutics. “His expertise in translating genomic insights into healthcare solutions directly aligns with our mission to develop transformative medicines based on resilience biology.”

Earlier this year, Halia made several other leadership additions and promotions.

Experience

Jones brings over 30 years of experience in life sciences, with deep expertise in genomics, digital health transformation, precision medicine, and scaling innovation across the public–private health continuum.

Most recently, he served as CEO of the Omics Centre of Excellence at M42, a global tech-enabled health company headquartered in Abu Dhabi, where he played a pivotal role in delivering the Emirati Genome Program while steering collaborations across governments, academia, and industry.

His previous roles include CEO of Omics at M42, Global Head of Population Genomics at Illumina, and CEO of Genomics Enterprises at Genomics England. Jones has also held senior positions at Cisco, Novartis, IMS Health, and PwC, advising governments and companies worldwide on integrating genomics into healthcare systems.

“I’m excited to join Halia at this pivotal moment,” said Jones. “The company’s unique focus on genetic resilience—rather than just disease risk—represents the next frontier in precision medicine. By combining cutting-edge AI with strategic global partnerships, Halia is positioned to revolutionize drug discovery and patient outcomes.”