Heidi C. O’Neill, PhD, DABT

Heidi O’Neill, PhD, DABT, joined Intertox in 2024 and currently works as a senior toxicologist. She has studied the effects of various chemicals as both pharmacological therapeutics that may benefit and as toxicants that may pose a threat to human health for more than 20 years.

Dr. O’Neill has particular experience in:

• Evaluating the health risks of flavoring compounds in oral/food products and inhalation devices;
• Evaluating the health risks of solvents, organophosphates, and pesticides;
• Preparation of FDA submissions for consumer products (inhaled and oral nicotine products);
• Providing scientific litigation support;
• Conducting product stewardship assessments for chemical compounds;
• Conducting toxicological evaluations to support extractable/leachable chemicals (E&T) assessment;

Over the last 4 ½ years, Dr. O’Neill has focused on human health risk assessment for consumer products (tobacco products, cannabis vape products, food, and personal care products) as well as in an industrial setting for pharmaceutical products. She also has extensive experience assisting companies with FDA regulatory submissions for tobacco product, both oral and inhaled.  She also has experience providing expert toxicological analyses to support legal cases. Dr. O’Neill has also assisted with developing the basis of an SDS screening system to build a database for go/ no go decisions for worker safety at a large food company.

Dr. O’Neill earned her PhD in Toxicology from the University of Colorado, where she developed a model for evaluating upper respiratory effects of sulfur mustard gas inhalation, later using this model to screen various therapeutic compounds for prophylactic treatment intended for first responders. Following her graduate studies, she studied the genetics of nicotine addiction, nicotine pharmacology and the multigenerational effects of developmental nicotine exposure. Dr. O’Neill is also certified as a Diplomate of the American Board of Toxicology (DABT).