Heather Bakalyar

Heather Bakalyar has a diverse and extensive work experience in the field of intellectual property and technology development. Heather currently holds the position of Director of Intellectual Property at Vyriad since February 2023. Prior to this, they were a Managing Member & Consultant at Liminal Innovation starting in December 2016.

Heather has also worked at Polsky Center at the University of Chicago, where they held the positions of Director / Principal, Intellectual Property & Technology Development from July 2020 to April 2022, and Assistant Director - Technology Commercialization from August 2019 to July 2020.

Before joining the Polsky Center, Heather was the Director of Intellectual Property at Vyriad from September 2018 to July 2019. Prior to that, they served as the Director of Intellectual Property at The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine from June 2015 to December 2016.

Heather's earlier career includes roles at Johns Hopkins Technology Ventures (JHTV) as a Senior Intellectual Property Manager from January 2014 to June 2015, and as a Portfolio Director (Licensing) from March 2007 to January 2014. Heather also worked at Alba Therapeutics as an Associate Director - Business Development and Market Assessment from November 2005 to March 2007.

At Johns Hopkins Licensing & Technology Development (LTD), Heather held the positions of Assistant & Associate Director from January 1999 to November 2005. Heather started their career as a Patent Examiner in the Biotech Group at the US Patent and Trademark Office, a role they held from 1996 to 1999.

Heather Bakalyar has a Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Heather also holds an M.B.A. from The Johns Hopkins University - Carey Business School. In addition, they have obtained certifications as a Certified Licensing Professional (CLP) and as a Registered Patent Agent from the USPTO.