Meet our Founders
Jessica Couch
Dr. Jess Couch is a seasoned biotech leader with nearly 20 years of experience translating scientific discoveries into impactful therapies for patients. As co-founder of Tara Biosciences, Jess brings deep expertise in translational science, portfolio strategy, and cross-functional team leadership.
Throughout her 14 years at Genentech, Jess led high-performing teams across multiple therapeutic areas—including neuroscience, immunology, oncology, and infectious disease—and played a central role in preparing and submitting critical regulatory filings to advance programs from late-stage research through proof-of-concept clinical studies. As Executive Director in Genentech’s portfolio strategy and management group, she drove drug development strategy and decision-making for both small and large molecule programs, working closely with regulatory authorities on the development of novel clinical endpoints. Her leadership extended to safety assessment, where she guided nonclinical toxicology strategy as neuroscience therapeutic area lead, and to pharmacology at Genzyme, where she shaped nonclinical strategies for antibody and enzyme replacement programs. Jess is a co-inventor on three U.S. patents and has authored numerous regulatory submissions and peer-reviewed publications.
Beyond her scientific leadership, Jess has advanced industry best practices in animal welfare and has served on senior research and global advisory committees. She holds a Ph.D. in neuroscience from the University of Virginia and a B.S. in psychology from the University of Florida, is a Diplomate of the American Board of Toxicology, and is a certified yoga instructor through Radiant Body Yoga. Jess is passionate about building teams and strategies that turn scientific innovation into meaningful outcomes for patients.
Laura Kahn
Laura Kahn is an accomplished biotech executive and strategic advisor with over 20 years of experience guiding R&D, translational, and clinical strategy and operations in both established and startup environments. Over her 15-year tenure at Genentech, Laura held progressive leadership roles across portfolio strategy, cross-functional operations, and organizational transformation. Notably, she helped launch and lead an internal innovation incubator, building new capabilities and fostering cross-disciplinary teams to accelerate early-stage program advancement. Laura also played a pivotal role in portfolio governance, resource planning, and operational excellence initiatives that shaped Genentech’s approach to advancing high-impact science.
As VP of Strategy & Operations at ReCode Therapeutics, Laura built and led high-performing teams and was instrumental in delivering critical regulatory filings to advance two first-in-class genetic medicine molecules from discovery through IND, clinical development, and into patients. She architected and scaled the organization to support rapid pipeline growth, implemented scalable operating models, and delivered on key program milestones under ambitious timelines. Laura’s experience spans building foundational infrastructure, integrating new functions, and driving continuous improvement across fast-evolving biotech organizations.
Known for her ability to connect scientific innovation with business strategy, Laura specializes in advising early-stage companies on building high-performing teams, designing agile operating models, and making effective resource decisions to drive rapid and sustainable growth. She is passionate about partnering with founders and investors to turn breakthrough science into meaningful patient outcomes and long-term enterprise value.