Meet the Team
Rachel Montel Hayes, PhD
Founder and CEODr. Hayes is a geneticist and industry professional specializing in genomics and precision medicine. Her work has focused on biomarker discovery to support precision diagnostics, with experience spanning genetic testing and integrative health solutions. She founded Ravel Genetics to address the need for preventive solutions in the current health landscape, and to further usher in the era of precision medicine.
Christopher Mason, PhD
Co-Founder and CSODr. Mason is the WorldQuant Professor of Genomics and Computational Biomedicine at Weill Cornell Medicine, where he directs the Initiative for Quantitative Prediction and the Cornell Aerospace Medicine Biobank. He completed his PhD in Genetics at Yale University and has published over 230 peer-reviewed papers in journals including Nature, Science, and Cell. He served as a principal investigator for the NASA Twins Study and has co-founded multiple biotech companies including Onegevity, Biotia, and BridgeOmics. His research spans functional genomics, epigenomics, metagenomics, and space biology.
Colin Hayes
Co-Founder, Brand and Business StrategyColin shapes how Ravel shows up in the world. With a background in engineering operations and technology management at Kompac Technologies, he brings a rare blend of technical fluency and creative instinct to Ravel’s brand and commercial strategy. At Ravel, he leads visual identity, messaging, and market positioning.
Evan Sticca, PhD
BioinformaticsDr. Sticca is a computational biologist with expertise in quantitative methods and genomic data architecture. He completed his PhD at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and has held positions at Cornell University, The Rockefeller University, and Castle Biosciences, where he serves as a Data Architect supporting molecular diagnostics development. At Ravel, he leads the design and development of the platform’s multi-omics data integration infrastructure.
Kyle Malvey, MBA
Software DevelopmentKyle leads the design and delivery of enterprise grade architectures that align technology strategy with business objectives. With a track record of driving digital transformation, Kyle ensures solutions are scalable, secure, and positioned for long term growth.
Advisors
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Scientific AdvisorX
P. Daniel Lin, MD PhD
Scientific AdvisorDr. Lin is a physician-scientist trained in psychiatry and genetic epidemiology, and an Associate Professor at Saint Louis University with an adjunct appointment at the University of New South Wales. His work centers on translating biological and population-level data into clinically and commercially actionable insights.
He has led multidisciplinary research on the genetic, environmental, and socioeconomic drivers of neuropsychiatric conditions, including autism, ADHD, and suicidality, using approaches that span large-scale datasets, clinical trials, and machine learning.
Monica Gertz, PhD
Scientific AdvisorDr. Gertz is a biomedical scientist and health tech entrepreneur affiliated with Cornell Tech and Weill Cornell Medicine. She completed her postdoctoral training at Weill Cornell Medicine and was awarded first place in the Accelerating BioVenture Innovation competition for her development of an AI-powered speech restoration device. She advises Ravel on scientific strategy and commercialization.
Bruce Paolella, MBA
Regulatory AdvisorBruce is a Principal Consultant at Opus Regulatory with over 20 years of experience in pharmaceutical regulatory affairs. He has held senior regulatory roles at Indivior, Reckitt Benckiser Pharmaceuticals, and TherapeuticsMD, where he served as Vice President of Regulatory Advertising and Promotion. His expertise spans regulatory strategy, FDA compliance, and drug commercialization across all phases of development. At Ravel, he leads regulatory strategy and ensures a clear path to clinical and commercial launch.
