Botanical Safety Technical Working Group Chairs
BSC working group members bring specialized toxicology and safety-science expertise across dermal, cardiac, neuro, and genetic toxicity domains.
Dermal Toxicity Working Group
Allison Hilberer, MS
Program Leader for BCOP, phototoxicity, and 96-well assays at IIVS; co-chair of the BSC Dermal Working Group; DABT-certified toxicologist.
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Allison Hilberer is a Program Leader of the BCOP, Phototoxicity, and 96-well assays at Institute for In Vitro Sciences (IIVS), a non-profit laboratory dedicated to the advancement of in vitro (non-animal) methods. Allison joined IIVS in 2004 as a Biologist performing toxicology studies in the laboratory, including the transfer and validation of several OECD Test Methods, and now oversees the testing as a Study Director and Senior Toxicologist. Allison's primary areas of focus are the photosafety assays, which have expanded to include investigations in photoallergy. In addition, she also oversees testing of various types of materials, including cosmetics, personal care products, household cleaning products, agrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, botanicals, chemicals, and ingredients using regulatory and bespoke test methods addressing ocular safety, dermal safety, and skin sensitization. Allison supports IIVS' education and outreach activities, providing training on alternative safety methods in the US and worldwide. She also serves as an expert on the Eye/Skin Irritation and Phototoxicity OECD Test Guideline panel, representing the International Council on Animal Protection in OECD Programmes (ICAPO), and contributed to the drafting, updating, and review of adopted Test Guidelines. Allison is a member of the Society of Toxicology (SOT) and actively participates in the Botanical Safety Consortium (BSC) Dermal Working Group, recently taking on a role of co-chair of the group. Allison presented numerous posters at scientific conferences, provided lectures at various virtual or in-person scientific sessions, and co-authored several peer-reviewed manuscripts, all focused on non-animal test methods. Allison earned her Bachelor's Degree in Biology from Keuka College in 2001, her Master's Degree in Biology from George Mason University in 2011, a Graduate Certificate in Clinical Toxicology from the University of Florida College of Pharmacy in 2021, and her certification as a Diplomate of the American Board of Toxicology (DABT) in 2016 (recertified in 2021 and 2026).
Cécile Bascoul, PhD
Director of Product Safety at dōTERRA International; specializes in essential oil toxicology, botanical risk assessment, and New Approach Methodologies (NAMs).
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Dr. Cécile Bascoul holds a Master's degree in Biotechnology from École Supérieure d'Ingénieurs de Luminy (France) and a Ph.D. in Biosciences from Cardiff University (United Kingdom). Her doctoral research examined the effects of nutritional interventions in degenerative diseases, laying the foundation for a career focused on translational science and human health.
She is currently Director of Product Safety at dōTERRA International, where she is responsible for the company's product safety strategy and research for essential oil-based consumer products. Her work integrates toxicology, pharmacognosy, regulatory science, and evidence-based risk assessment to support the safe development and responsible use of complex natural products. Her expertise includes essential oil toxicology, botanical risk assessment, constituent safety, and the application of New Approach Methodologies (NAMs).
Throughout her career, Dr. Bascoul has worked across academia and industry in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, cosmetics, and natural products, contributing to research spanning non-clinical and clinical development. She collaborates with academic institutions, contract research organizations, and international partners to advance the understanding of essential oil safety. Her current research interests include toxicology, pharmacokinetics, analytical characterization, and next-generation approaches for evaluating complex botanical mixtures.
Dr. Bascoul has been a member of the Botanical Safety Consortium (BSC) since 2021. She serves as an Associate Editor of Pharmaceutical Biology and as a reviewer for the American Botanical Council. She is also actively involved with international industry associations, including IFEAT, EFEO, and ATTIA, where she contributes to scientific, regulatory, and toxicology working groups and leads collaborative initiatives to advance the safety assessment of essential oils.
Dr. Bascoul is the author of peer-reviewed publications on botanical safety and essential oils and regularly presents her research at international scientific meetings. Her work brings together academia, industry, and regulatory scientists to strengthen the evidence base supporting the safe and responsible use of natural products.
She is currently Director of Product Safety at dōTERRA International, where she is responsible for the company's product safety strategy and research for essential oil-based consumer products. Her work integrates toxicology, pharmacognosy, regulatory science, and evidence-based risk assessment to support the safe development and responsible use of complex natural products. Her expertise includes essential oil toxicology, botanical risk assessment, constituent safety, and the application of New Approach Methodologies (NAMs).
Throughout her career, Dr. Bascoul has worked across academia and industry in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, cosmetics, and natural products, contributing to research spanning non-clinical and clinical development. She collaborates with academic institutions, contract research organizations, and international partners to advance the understanding of essential oil safety. Her current research interests include toxicology, pharmacokinetics, analytical characterization, and next-generation approaches for evaluating complex botanical mixtures.
Dr. Bascoul has been a member of the Botanical Safety Consortium (BSC) since 2021. She serves as an Associate Editor of Pharmaceutical Biology and as a reviewer for the American Botanical Council. She is also actively involved with international industry associations, including IFEAT, EFEO, and ATTIA, where she contributes to scientific, regulatory, and toxicology working groups and leads collaborative initiatives to advance the safety assessment of essential oils.
Dr. Bascoul is the author of peer-reviewed publications on botanical safety and essential oils and regularly presents her research at international scientific meetings. Her work brings together academia, industry, and regulatory scientists to strengthen the evidence base supporting the safe and responsible use of natural products.
Patrícia Rijo, PhD
Full Professor at Universidade Lusófona specializing in medicinal chemistry, phytochemistry, and pharmacognosy; President of SPFito and Vice-President of ICMAP.
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Patrícia Rijo holds a degree in Chemistry from the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon (FCUL), and a Master's, Ph.D., and Habilitation in Pharmaceutical and Therapeutic Chemistry from the Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Lisbon (FFUL). She is currently a Full Professor at the School of Health Sciences and Technologies (ECTS) at Universidade Lusófona (ULHT, Lisbon, Portugal), where she teaches Organic Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, coordinates the Master's program in Chemistry of Natural Bioactives, and serves as International Coordinator.
Her main research areas include medicinal chemistry, phytochemistry, and pharmacognosy, with a strong emphasis on the chemistry of natural products. She is Vice-Director for Internationalization & Strategic Networks at CBIOS – Research Center for Biosciences and Health Technologies at ULHT – where she leads the Laboratory of Natural Bioactives (Bio.Natural). Since 2015, she has participated in seven international scientific networks (COST Action and CYTED) and currently serves as Vice-Chair of the COST Action CA21145. She has also contributed to international project evaluation panels in countries such as Serbia, Argentina, Croatia, Poland, Chile, France (ANR), and the EU.
Dr. Rijo is deeply committed to science outreach and academic engagement, having coordinated 14 outreach projects and organized 23 national and international scientific events. She has been involved in initiatives like the New European Bauhaus, CiênciaVitae–CBIOS, the Talent Bootcamp (FCT NOVA and FCUL), and the Global Women's Breakfast (IUPAC), and she has been serving as a member of the ESCOP Scientific Committee since 2025. Since 2019, she has presided over the Bio.Natural – Bioactive Natural Products Research Meeting.
Currently she is the President of SPFito (Portuguese Society of Phytochemistry and Phytotherapy), member of the Botanical Safety Consortium (BSC - an international consortium in collaboration with FDA, NIEHS, and HESI Global) since April 2026, and the Vice-President of ICMAP (International Council for Medicinal and Aromatic Plants), and she was also Top 2% in 2022, 2023 and 2025 (Stanford), and she is an Associate Editor of Phytomedicine (Elsevier) and Frontiers in Pharmacology (Ethnopharmacology and Drug Discovery section), and serves on the Editorial Board of hLife (Elsevier) and Pharmaceuticals (Natural Products section, MDPI). Dr. Rijo has published over 190 peer-reviewed articles, delivered more than 400 communications at scientific meetings—including up to 41 invited lectures worldwide—and holds three registered patents.
Her main research areas include medicinal chemistry, phytochemistry, and pharmacognosy, with a strong emphasis on the chemistry of natural products. She is Vice-Director for Internationalization & Strategic Networks at CBIOS – Research Center for Biosciences and Health Technologies at ULHT – where she leads the Laboratory of Natural Bioactives (Bio.Natural). Since 2015, she has participated in seven international scientific networks (COST Action and CYTED) and currently serves as Vice-Chair of the COST Action CA21145. She has also contributed to international project evaluation panels in countries such as Serbia, Argentina, Croatia, Poland, Chile, France (ANR), and the EU.
Dr. Rijo is deeply committed to science outreach and academic engagement, having coordinated 14 outreach projects and organized 23 national and international scientific events. She has been involved in initiatives like the New European Bauhaus, CiênciaVitae–CBIOS, the Talent Bootcamp (FCT NOVA and FCUL), and the Global Women's Breakfast (IUPAC), and she has been serving as a member of the ESCOP Scientific Committee since 2025. Since 2019, she has presided over the Bio.Natural – Bioactive Natural Products Research Meeting.
Currently she is the President of SPFito (Portuguese Society of Phytochemistry and Phytotherapy), member of the Botanical Safety Consortium (BSC - an international consortium in collaboration with FDA, NIEHS, and HESI Global) since April 2026, and the Vice-President of ICMAP (International Council for Medicinal and Aromatic Plants), and she was also Top 2% in 2022, 2023 and 2025 (Stanford), and she is an Associate Editor of Phytomedicine (Elsevier) and Frontiers in Pharmacology (Ethnopharmacology and Drug Discovery section), and serves on the Editorial Board of hLife (Elsevier) and Pharmaceuticals (Natural Products section, MDPI). Dr. Rijo has published over 190 peer-reviewed articles, delivered more than 400 communications at scientific meetings—including up to 41 invited lectures worldwide—and holds three registered patents.
Cardiotoxicity Working Group
Matthias Gossmann, PhD
Biotechnologist and co-founder of innoVitro, advancing hiPS-derived cardiomyocyte models for safety pharmacology and toxicology.
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Matthias Gossmann is a biotechnologist whose work bridges cell culture technology, mechanobiology and translational pharmacology. His doctoral research led to the development of a biohybrid human cardiac tissue model designed for functional pharmacological testing. In 2017, Matthias co-founded innoVitro, a CRO and technology provider advancing the use of hiPS-derived cardiomyocytes in safety pharmacology, toxicology, and drug discovery.
Andre Monteiro Da Rocha, DVM, MS, PhD
Research Assistant Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine at the University of Michigan; directs the Frankel Cardiovascular Center Cell Regeneration Core.
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Andre Monteiro Da Rocha, DVM, MS, PhD, is a Research Assistant Professor in Internal Medicine–Cardiovascular Medicine at the University of Michigan and Director of the Frankel Cardiovascular Center Cell Regeneration Core. He earned his veterinary, master's, and doctoral degrees from the University of São Paulo and completed postdoctoral training in stem cell biology at the University of Michigan. His research focuses on human induced pluripotent stem cell–derived cardiovascular models, cardiac electrophysiology, cardiotoxicity screening, arrhythmias, and aging-associated cardiac disease. Dr. Monteiro Da Rocha has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications, contributed to patents and grant-funded research programs, and actively mentors students and trainees in stem cell biology, cardiovascular disease modeling, and translational science.
Neurotoxicity Working Group
Jason Cannon, PhD
Head of the School of Health Sciences and Professor of Toxicology at Purdue University; studies mechanisms of neurotoxic action and neurodegenerative disease.
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Jason Cannon is Head of the School of Health Sciences and Professor of Toxicology at Purdue University in the USA. He received a B.S. in Physiology from Michigan State University, a Ph.D. in Toxicology from the University of Michigan and conducted postdoctoral training at the University of Pittsburgh. His research group has a longstanding interest in the discovery of mechanisms of neurotoxic action, where they have developed, implemented, and advanced novel animal models and mechanistic approaches to study how environmental exposures influence the risk of neurodegenerative diseases. Moreover, Jason's group utilizes a comparative neurobiology approach to neurotoxicology, learning from similarities and differences across a variety of cell free, cellular, invertebrate, and vertebrate models.
Remco Westerink, PhD, ERT
Associate professor of Toxicology at Utrecht University leading neurotoxicology research on drugs, chemicals, and complex natural mixtures.
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Dr. Remco Westerink (PhD, ERT) is associate professor at the Department of Population Health Sciences, IRAS, Division of Toxicology at Utrecht University. In 2022, he earned his PhD in Toxicology at Utrecht University, focusing on in vitro neurotoxicology of solvents, PCBs and heavy metals. Since 2005, he heads the neurotoxicology research group.
His research projects focus on hazard characterization and safety assessment of existing and emerging drugs, chemicals, toxicants and environmental pollutants such as micro- and nanoplastics. Additional focus is on the development, characterization and implementation of innovative in vitro techniques and models for assessing adverse effects on neuronal function. He has been involved in (inter)national projects related to the neurotoxicity of amongst others pesticides, flame retardants, drugs of abuse, natural toxins, environmental pollutants and endocrine disruptive compounds, including the EU-funded projects ATHON, ENFIRO, ACROPOLIS, DENAMIC, ENDpoiNTs and TUBE, and the NC3R-funded CrackIt challenge (Neuratect) on in vitro (developmental) neurotoxicology.
In 2020, he joined the Botanical Safety Consortium from the Health and Environmental Sciences Institute (HESI) investigating the neuro- and cardiotoxic properties of complex natural mixtures like botanical extracts.
His research projects focus on hazard characterization and safety assessment of existing and emerging drugs, chemicals, toxicants and environmental pollutants such as micro- and nanoplastics. Additional focus is on the development, characterization and implementation of innovative in vitro techniques and models for assessing adverse effects on neuronal function. He has been involved in (inter)national projects related to the neurotoxicity of amongst others pesticides, flame retardants, drugs of abuse, natural toxins, environmental pollutants and endocrine disruptive compounds, including the EU-funded projects ATHON, ENFIRO, ACROPOLIS, DENAMIC, ENDpoiNTs and TUBE, and the NC3R-funded CrackIt challenge (Neuratect) on in vitro (developmental) neurotoxicology.
In 2020, he joined the Botanical Safety Consortium from the Health and Environmental Sciences Institute (HESI) investigating the neuro- and cardiotoxic properties of complex natural mixtures like botanical extracts.
Developmental and Reproductive Toxicity Working Group
Catherine Mahony, PhD
Research Fellow for Procter & Gamble, UK with 25+ years of Product Safety experience; champions New Approach Methodologies and Next Generation Risk Assessment.
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Catherine Mahony is a Research Fellow for Procter & Gamble, UK with more than 25 years of Product Safety experience in the consumer product industry. Within that role, she has worked across multiple business units providing scientific leadership for assessments aimed at characterizing the safety of ingredients. Nowadays she strives for the use of New Approach Methodologies to address safety and has been instrumental in developing and implementing NAM practices in sectors such as Cosmetics, Herbal Medicines and Food. She is also deeply involved in multiple global initiatives aimed at developing and applying Next Generation Risk Assessment (NGRA) to utilize and integrate NAMs.
Cynthia Rider, PhD
Also a member of the BSC Steering Committee. Project leader for testing programs including botanical dietary supplements; focuses on evaluating and refining methods to predict mixture toxicity.
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Cynthia serves as a project leader for testing programs including botanical dietary supplements. Her research focuses on evaluating and refining methods to predict mixture toxicity based on data from components or whole reference mixtures. She can be contacted at cynthia.rider@nih.gov.
Hepatotoxicity Working Group
Stephen Ferguson, PhD
Leads the Predictive Toxicology & Screening Group at NIEHS's Division of Translational Toxicology; develops microphysiological systems to model human hepatic and renal responses.
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Stephen Ferguson leads the Predictive Toxicology & Screening Group within the Division of Translational Toxicology (DTT) at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) advancing multiple research initiatives to model tissues and predict human responses to chemical exposures. His primary focus seeks to advance the development, qualification, and application of microphysiological systems (MPS) to model and understand human hepatic and renal responses to xenobiotic exposures (i.e., adaptive, pathophysiological, interindividual). Steve's research applies a range of imaging, cell-based assays, and 'omics technologies to model and predict human responses to a range of exposures that include per- and poly-fluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS), botanicals mixtures, herbicides, and human drug therapeutics. Prior to joining the DTT, Steve served as Associate Director of R&D (ADME-Tox) for Life Technologies (now Thermo-Fisher), received his BS and PhD degrees in chemistry (bioinorganic, biotechnology) from North Carolina State University in 2000, and currently serves as adjunct faculty to the Curriculum in Toxicology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Amy L Roe, PhD, DABT, FATS
Also a member of the BSC Steering Committee. Technical lead for PHC safety across OTCs, devices, supplements, probiotics & foods; active in USP and SOT leadership.
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Amy is currently the technical lead regulatory toxicologist for P&G Personal Health Care, North America and Latin America Regions. She provides safety support across OTC drugs, medical devices, herbal/dietary supplements, probiotics and food products. She is a current member of the USP Dietary Supplement Admission Evaluation & Labeling Expert Committee and Probiotic Expert Panel. A Full Member of the Society of Toxicology, she current serves as Vice-President of the Food Safety Specialty Section. Amy is also a member of the Hepatotoxicity/ADME BSC working group.
Chemical Analysis Working Group
Vincent Sica, PhD
Principal Scientist at The Procter & Gamble Company; leads characterization of botanicals using mass spectrometry and orthogonal analytical techniques.
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Vincent Sica is a Principal Scientist at The Procter & Gamble Company. Since joining in 2016, he has played an instrumental role in the characterization of botanicals for use in various dietary supplements and consumer goods. His analytical expertise combines mass spectrometry with orthogonal techniques to provide a comprehensive analysis of complex mixtures. His interest in leveraging advanced analytical techniques to understand botanicals and natural products began during his time at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where he earned his Ph.D. in Medicinal Biochemistry.
Suramya Waidyanatha, PhD
Supervisory biochemist leading the chemistry and ADME Resources Group (CARG) in NIEHS's Division of Translational Toxicology.
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Suramya Waidyanatha is a supervisory biochemist and leads the chemistry and ADME (absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion) Resources Group (CARG) in the Division of Translational Toxicology (DTT). She designs the research needs in analytical chemistry, ADME and toxicokinetics and facilitates the use of corresponding data in the design, conduct, interpretation, and reporting of toxicology research data in peer reviewed manuscripts and government reports. Waidyanatha also administers and monitors contracts conducting ADME studies, toxicokinetics studies, and analytical chemistry activities in support of toxicology research at DTT. Waidyanatha received her B.S. (Honors) in Chemistry from University of Colombo, Sri Lanka and her M.S in Biochemistry from University of Illinois, Chicago. She received her Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry from University of Maine prior to joining the School of Public Health at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as a Postdoctoral Fellow. She continued her career at the University of North Carolina as a Laboratory Director and a Senior Scientist where she investigated biomarkers of exposure and effect to xenobiotics. Waidyanatha joined DTT in 2008 as a chemist. She is listed as an author in over 100 peer-reviewed manuscripts and government reports.
Genotoxicity Working Group
Stefan Pfuhler, PhD
R&D Senior Director Research Fellow at P&G; leads alternatives-to-animal-testing genotoxicity research and co-chairs BSC's Genotoxicity Working Group.
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Stefan Pfuhler received his Ph.D. in Biology from the department of Pharmacology and Toxicology of The University of Ulm in 1997. He joined Procter and Gamble in 2000 and currently serves as a R&D Senior Director Research Fellow in its Global Product Stewardship division. Dr. Pfuhler's research focuses on alternatives to animal testing and in-vitro-only testing strategies, including the validation of 3-dimensional human skin-based genotoxicity assays. He currently serves as chair of the Genotoxicity Work Group of the International Collaboration on Cosmetic Safety (ICCS), co-chair of HESI's Botanicals Consortium Genotoxicity and Mechanism-based Risk Assessment Working Groups, as well as on HESI's Board of Trustees.
Stephanie Smith-Roe, PhD
Genetic toxicologist at NIEHS with expertise across in vitro and in vivo genotoxicity testing; past president of EMGS and GEMS.
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Stephanie Smith-Roe, PhD, is a genetic toxicologist in the Division of Translational Toxicology at the NIEHS. Dr. Smith-Roe has broad expertise with a variety of in vitro and in vivo genotoxicity tests and has contributed to more than 50 National Toxicology Program reports on the genotoxicity of chemicals and other exposures, ranging from botanicals to industrial chemicals to cell phone radiofrequency radiation. Currently, she is serving as the US Technical Lead to adopt error-corrected sequencing for regulatory testing of mutagenicity in vivo. Altogether, Dr. Smith-Roe has published in the areas of genetic toxicology, mutagenesis, carcinogenesis, error-corrected sequencing, DNA replication and repair, DNA damage signaling, and chromatin remodeling. Dr. Smith-Roe is an active participant in the HESI Genetic Toxicology Technical Committee and the International Workshop on Genotoxicity Testing, and she is a past president of the Environmental Mutagenesis and Genomics Society and the Genetics and Environmental Mutagenesis Society.
Botanical Safety Consortium Technical Working Groups
The BSC’s Technical Working Groups (TWGs) design and execute the consortium’s scientific mission.
Chemical Analysis
Mission: Develop strategies and methodologies to characterize botanical ingredients for safety assessments.
Objectives:
- Prioritize candidates for comprehensive chemical characterization based on other TWGs’ needs.
- Compile existing literature on analytical methods and chemical composition of selected botanicals.
- Select resource-efficient analytical approaches and partners to identify/quantify constituents as needed for safety assessment.
Developmental and Reproductive Toxicity (DART)
Mission: Develop screening strategies that reliably identify potential developmentally or reproductively toxic botanicals.
Objectives:
- Select in silico and in vitro tools suitable for complex botanical mixtures.
- Select candidate botanicals based on suspected DART toxicity or safety.
- Establish DART case studies to evaluate the utility of a growing toolbox.
Hepatotoxicity
Mission: Build a screening strategy to identify hepatotoxic botanicals, inform mechanisms, and characterize “botanicokinetics.”
Objectives:
- Select resource-efficient in silico/in vitro tools for liver potential and ADME properties in complex mixtures.
- Select candidate botanicals based on suspected hepatotoxicity and ADME endpoints.
- Evaluate tools’ potential and limits for predicting/understanding botanical-induced hepatotoxicity.
- Explore drug–botanical interaction potential using candidate methods.
Genotoxicity
Mission: Develop a screening strategy that reliably identifies potentially genotoxic botanical ingredients.
Objectives:
- Select resource-efficient in silico/in vitro tools to identify genotoxic agents in complex mixtures.
- Recommend criteria for identifying significant genotoxic hazards.
- Select candidate botanicals based on suspected genotoxicity or safety.
- Use case studies to evaluate toolbox reliability vs. in vivo outcomes/exposure (where available).
Dermal Toxicity
Mission: To develop a screening strategy that can reliably identify potential dermal phototoxicity, skin irritation, skin sensitization, and skin absorption for botanicals as complex mixtures” and no objectives.
Data Analysis
Mission: Develop/apply data analytic methods using in vitro/in silico data for botanical safety/hazard assessment.
Objectives:
- Partner with TWGs on experimental design and analysis support.
- Develop/evaluate/apply methods for “sufficient similarity” of botanicals.
- For selected botanicals, compare in vitro/in silico toxicological profiles vs. traditional animal tests.
Cardiotoxicity
Mission: Develop screening strategies that reliably identify potential cardiotoxic botanicals.
Objectives:
- Select in silico/in vitro tools that accommodate complex botanical mixtures.
- Select candidate botanicals based on suspected cardiotoxicity or safety.
- Establish cardiotoxicity case studies to evaluate toolbox usefulness.
Neurotoxicity
Mission: Develop screening strategies that reliably identify potential neurotoxic botanicals.
Objectives:
- Select in silico/in vitro tools suitable for complex mixtures.
- Select candidate botanicals based on suspected neurotoxicity or safety.
- Establish neurotoxicity case studies to evaluate toolbox usefulness.
Pharmacognosy
This expert group advises the BSC on an ad-hoc basis on botanical candidates and sources of botanical information, reviews compiled data/literature, and recommends additional stakeholders to inform the consortium.
