The foundation of Athira Pharma began while Leen Kawas was earning her Ph.D. in molecular pharmacology at Washington State University nearly a decade ago. Fast forward to today and the Seattle biotech startup is inching closer to FDA approval for its drug therapy that can restore brain function and help people suffering from brain diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Investors are betting big on the company, which announced a giant $85 million Series B investment round Thursday to help fuel late-stage development of its lead therapeutic candidate called NDX-1017.