About the Cosmetic Ingredient Review

Administration

Bart Heldreth, Ph.D.
Executive Director

Dr. Heldreth directs the daily administration of the CIR staff and matters related to the Expert Panel for Cosmetic Ingredient Safety, including receipt of all documents submitted by any interested person with respect to the CIR, distribution of all data and information to the Expert Panel, and arranging for all aspects of the meetings of the Expert Panel, including public notice thereof, and management of all CIR work products. Moreover, he sets agency priorities, designs and implements strategies, plans and assigns work distribution across a team of analysts, orientates analysts on project strategies that relate to human safety, and provides interpretive direction on all issues. Dr. Heldreth also leads the presentation, defense, and recording of findings for public comment and review by the Expert Panel, and edits finalized findings for peer-reviewed publication.

Monice Fiume, B.S., M.B.A.
Senior Director

Monice Fiume collaborates with the Executive Director to provide overall leadership of the CIR program. This includes the planning and execution of all activities necessary to perform the CIR mission and to meet program requirements specified in the formal CIR Procedures. She maintains a continual awareness of scientific research and other activities that may impact on the CIR Program, and develops and/or recommends approaches to the Executive Director to address those activities that may impact the program. Also, Monice represents the interests and value of CIR to stakeholders, both nationally and internationally.

Carla Jackson
Administrative Coordinator

Subject Matter Expertise

Jinqiu Zhu, Ph.D., D.A.B.T, E.R.T., D.C.S.T.
Toxicologist

Dr. Jinqiu Zhu joined the CIR in 2018. He assists in developing effective risk assessment strategies and implementing coordinated approaches into safety evaluation process, provides expert review and evaluation on toxicological issues, as well as prepares documents that clarify the rationale and procedure for addressing significant health concerns relevant to cosmetics use. Dr. Zhu received his Ph.D. in Environmental Toxicology from Texas Tech University in 2009 and obtained postdoctoral training in the departments of Pharmacology and Cell Biology at Emory University School of Medicine (2009-2013). Before joining the CIR, he worked as a toxicology scientist at University at Buffalo-SUNY. He is a board-certified toxicologist in the USA (D.A.B.T.), Europe (E.R.T.), and China (D.C.S.T.).

Analysis

Christina L. Burnett, M.S.E.S.
Senior Scientific Analyst

Christina joined CIR in 2005 and was soon promoted to Senior Scientific Analyst. She is a dedicated and detail-oriented analyst/writer who develops and defends comprehensive safety assessments on some of the most complex cosmetics that the Panel reviews. Christina, a proud Hoosier, received her Bachelor of Science in Biology and Master of Science in Environmental Science from Indiana University. Her concentrations in graduate school were environmental chemistry and hazardous materials management.

Priya Ferguson, M.S.
Senior Scientific Analyst

Priya Ferguson joined the CIR in 2018 as a Scientific Analyst and was promoted to Senior Scientific Analyst in 2021. She executes project strategies that relate to human safety and provides innovative solutions to developing issues. She also prepares, presents, and defends analyses for review by the Expert Panel. During her tenure at CIR, Priya obtained a M.S. degree in Clinical Toxicology at the University of Florida.

Temima Nguyen, M.S.
Scientific Analyst

Temima Nguyen joined CIR in 2025 as a Scientific Analyst.  She assists with the preparation and presentation of research analyses for submission to the Expert Panel. Temima has a Bachelor of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of Toledo and a Master of Science in Cosmetic Science from the University of Cincinnati.  Prior to CIR, she worked as a cosmetic chemist (hair colors) and a regulatory specialist for food, dietary supplements, and cosmetic labeling.

Litta Paulson, M.P.H.
Scientific Analyst

Litta Paulson joined CIR in 2025 as a Scientific Analyst. She contributes to the preparation of safety assessments for Expert Panel review. Litta holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biology and a Master’s degree in Public Health from Virginia Commonwealth University. Before coming to CIR, Litta worked in regulatory affairs as a scientific literature specialist, supporting FDA product submissions.

Information Services

Kevin Stone Fries, M.L.S.
Information Services, Manager