Dr. Kristen J. Nikula earned her BS, DVM, and PhD degrees from the University of California (Davis) and is board certified by the American College of Veterinary Pathologists. Dr. Nikula initially established her reputation as a toxicologist and toxicological pathologist through her work at Colorado State University (assistant professor), the University of New Mexico College of Pharmacy (clinical associate professor), and the Inhalation Toxicology Research Institute/Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute (ITRI/LRRI; Director). While at ITRI/LRRI, Dr. Nikula earned an international reputation in toxicological pathology, served as an investigator and pathologist in numerous regulated (GLP) and non-regulated studies, and directed multi-disciplinary research programs. Dr. Nikula has served as a consultant to the pharmaceutical and chemical industries and as an invited participant on several national and international pathology working groups, advisory panels to industry consortia, and research study sections. Dr. Nikula gained expertise as a toxicologist, toxicological pathologist, and manager in the pharmaceutical industry through successive positions in Searle, Pharmacia, and Pfizer. Dr. Nikula's last position prior to joining Seventh Wave was as Senior Director of Pathology and Invivo Toxicology for Pfizer. Dr. Nikula has served on the editorial boards of Toxicologic Pathology and Drug and Chemical Toxicology. She has authored or co-authored 90 open-literature publications (71 peer-reviewed and 19 book chapters or conference proceedings). These publications are in the areas of toxicology, toxicological pathology, carcinogenesis, and the use of animal models to predict risk for human disease. Dr. Nikula is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Society of Toxicologic Pathologists, the International Society of Stereology and is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists.