Professional Staff

Andrey I Nikiforov, PhD

President, Principal

Elliott Graham, RQAP-GLP

Director of Operations, Corporate Secretary/Treasurer, Principal

Kimberly D Ehman, PhD, DABT

Toxicologist, Program Manager

Louan C Fisher, RQAP-GLP

Scientific & QA Program Director

Marisa O Rihner, RQAP-GLP

Scientific Program Manager
QA Auditor

Lara A Hall, MS, RQAP-GLP

Senior Scientist, QA Auditor

Andrey I Nikiforov, PhD

Dr. Nikiforov has 25 years of experience in toxicology and environmental health sciences conducting research, as an advisor in the chemical industry and as a consultant. He has been with the consulting company Toxicology Regulatory Services, Inc. (TRS) since 1997, and is currently President, Principal. As President of TRS Dr. Nikiforov oversees the TRS business organization and coordinates activities of scientific and technical staff; manages toxicology programs and issues; provides regulatory expertise; and provides support for product stewardship. At TRS Dr. Nikiforov has provided scientific and regulatory support for clients of the specialty chemicals, consumer products and pharmaceutical industries, in various areas including flavoring ingredients, direct and indirect food additives, plasticizer chemicals and pharmaceutical intermediates sectors. Dr. Nikiforov has a strong background in inhalation toxicology obtained during graduate studies at New York University and further developed at Battelle Research Center (Geneva). He was a toxicology advisor and manager at Exxon Biomedical Sciences, Inc. (EBSI) addressing issues for Exxon’s chemical company affiliates. Three of his ten years with EBSI were spent in Brussels serving as Exxon’s European toxicology advisor on EU regulatory and risk assessment issues.

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Elliott Graham, RQAP-GLP

Ms. Graham was with TRS at its inception in 1991, serving as Director of Quality Assurance until 2001, when she embarked on a new business venture in management of non-profit organizations.  Ms. Graham manages the operational affairs of TRS and provides periodic QA consulting services to long-standing TRS clients.

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Kimberly D Ehman, PhD, DABT

Dr. Ehman joined TRS in 2009 after serving as a toxicology study director at the Research Triangle Institute (RTI) Center for Life Sciences and Toxicology (2005–2008). At RTI, she conducted preclinical and safety evaluation studies for pharmaceutical, chemical industry and governmental clients in neurotoxicology, developmental neurotoxicology, developmental and reproductive toxicology, and general toxicology under prevailing EPA and FDA guidelines. She also served as the effi cacy and toxicology task leader on the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) drug
discovery projects for Parkinson’s disease and spinal muscular atrophy. Prior to that, she was a postdoctoral associate with the EPA's Office of Research and Development (2002–2005) performing developmental neurotoxicology testing, and a research fellow at the McGill University Institute of Parasitology. Dr. Ehman’s expertise in neurotoxicology and general toxicology enables her to serve as a valuable resource for TRS clients.

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Louan C Fisher, RQAP-GLP

Ms. Fisher joined TRS in 1999 following a 16-year career at Bushy Run Research Center. During that time, Ms. Fisher’s role evolved from Technician to Study Director to Supervisor in the Reproductive/Developmental Toxicology Group. Ms. Fisher also was intimately involved with the implementation of GLP processes and validation of data acquisition computer programs.
Ms. Fisher’s many years of experience in GLP study coordination and supervision at a contract laboratory and presenting research in reports and peer-reviewed publications have prepared her well for her roles at TRS. Ms. Fisher coordinates the scientific and QA monitoring programs for TRS, assists in the preparation of U.S. and international registration submissions, monitors toxicology studies from protocol development through final reporting and provides QA auditing services, including facility inspections and training for US and OECD GLP compliance.

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Marisa O Rihner, RQAP-GLP

Ms. Rihner joined TRS in 2002, after earning her B.A. in Biology from the University of Virginia. Ms. Rihner provides support for the full range of services provided by TRS, including conducting literature searches, establishing and maintaining client databases, and preparing scientific presentations, monographs and manuscripts for publication. Ms. Rihner also participates in the management of regulatory testing programs by assisting in study protocol development, monitoring of overall study conduct and ensuring proper archival of study records upon completion of testing. As a QA auditor, she performs raw data and draft report reviews and inspections of contracted testing facilities for compliance with GLPs and GCPs.

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Lara A Hall, MS, RQAP-GLP

Ms. Hall joined TRS in 2003, after spending two years at the Stroud Water Research Center and six years in stream ecology laboratories at Virginia Tech (where she earned a B.S. degree in Biology with a minor in Environmental Science, and a M.S. degree in Biology) and at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, ESD (where she conducted her M.S. thesis research). Ms. Hall’s research experience has prepared her well for her role at TRS as a study monitor and QA auditor for physicochemical properties and environmental toxicology and fate studies. Additionally, Ms. Hall performs GLP facility inspections and assists in preparing U.S. and international registration submissions under various directives.

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