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Regulatory & Toxicology Leader | Food Safety, Cultivated Meat & Ingredient Risk Assessment | Driving Global Product Safety, Compliance & Scientific Advocacy

Overview

Experienced regulatory and toxicology professional with a strong record of advancing product safety, regulatory compliance, and scientific advocacy across global food and biotechnology environments. Background spans industry leadership roles, government research, and academic engagement, with specialized expertise in emerging food technologies and complex regulatory landscapes. Known for synthesizing scientific evidence into actionable strategy, partnering with cross-functional teams, and representing industry interests within international regulatory and scientific bodies. Work emphasizes integrity, clarity in communication, and scalable safety systems that enable innovation.

Short Bio

Regulatory affairs and toxicology specialist with deep expertise in global food safety, cultivated meat, and chemical risk assessment. Supports scientific advocacy, policy engagement, and product safety strategy across emerging biotechnology sectors. Recognized contributor to industry committees, academic programs, and regulatory dialogues.

What I Bring

  • Extensive expertise in global food safety and regulatory strategy

  • Leadership in toxicology, risk assessment, and scientific advocacy

  • Experience guiding safety frameworks for novel food technologies

  • Strong communication skills for translating complex science for diverse audiences

  • Cross-functional collaboration across R&D, legal, quality, and policy teams

  • Proven ability to shape regulatory positioning and influence stakeholder alignment

  • Experience in trade association leadership and international regulatory engagement

Key Technologies & Product Expertise

  • Cultivated meat and alternative proteins

  • Precision fermentation

  • Food contact materials and packaging safety

  • Nanomaterial risk assessment

  • Chemical safety and ingredient evaluation

  • GMO, allergen, and contaminant assessments

  • Regulatory frameworks including Codex Alimentarius

  • Human health risk assessment methodologies

Titles Held

  • Corporate Toxicologist, UPSIDE Foods (March 2024 – Current)

  • Sr. Manager, Toxicologist, UPSIDE Foods (Nov 2021 – March 2024)

  • Manager, Food Additive Safety, The Coca-Cola Company (Nov 2018 – Oct 2021)

  • Manager, Food Contact Materials, The Coca-Cola Company (Jan 2018 – Nov 2018)

  • Sr. Regulatory Affairs Manager, Grocery Manufacturers Association (April 2017 – Dec 2017)

  • Toxicologist, Consumer Product Safety, Grocery Manufacturers Association (Feb 2015 – March 2017)

  • Adjunct Professor, Texas Tech University – TIEHH (Sept 2016 – Current)

  • ORISE Research Fellow, U.S. Food & Drug Administration (Feb 2014 – Feb 2015)

Career Highlights

  • Led ingredient and product safety strategy for pioneering cultivated meat products in the U.S.

  • Drove safety assessments and regulatory submissions for novel food technologies

  • Represented industry positions within Codex Alimentarius committees

  • Chaired regulatory committees and moderated high-impact scientific sessions

  • Developed nanomaterial risk assessment approaches for FDA-regulated products

  • Built and executed scientific advocacy strategies for global food and CPG sectors

  • Guided safety frameworks across multiple multinational organizations

  • Authored peer-reviewed publications and contributed to influential toxicology reference texts

  • Delivered expert testimony before legislative committees on emerging food technologies

Education & Professional Certifications

  • PhD, Pharmacology & Toxicology, University of Texas Medical Branch (2013)

  • M.S., Environmental Toxicology, Texas Tech University (2007)

  • B.S., Cell & Molecular Biology, Texas Tech University (2004)

  • Diplomate of the American Board of Toxicology (DABT), 2019–Current

  • European Registered Toxicologist (ERT), 2025–Current

Languages

English- Native
Spanish- Native
Italian- Proficient

Impact

  • Shaped global regulatory thinking on next-generation food technologies, influencing policy direction for cultivated meat, precision fermentation, and ingredient safety.

  • Delivered industry-defining toxicological strategies that strengthened safety frameworks, accelerated product approvals, and reduced regulatory friction for innovative food systems.

  • Represented industry interests at high-visibility scientific and legislative venues, driving clearer regulatory pathways and elevating the scientific rigor behind novel protein safety.

  • Advanced international standards by contributing expert leadership across Codex committees, trade organizations, and specialty scientific sections.

  • Strengthened the scientific foundation of product safety through peer-reviewed research, authoritative book chapters, and widely recognized conference leadership.

Experience

11

Years of Experience

Papers Published

11

Papers Published

Fields of Expertise