Dr. Duane Sofia received his Ph.D. in Pharmacology from the University of Pittsburgh. He has over 45 years’ experience in the pharmaceutical industry as an active employee and more recently as a consultant. During his career Dr. Sofia has held increasingly responsible positions from Senior Research Pharmacologist to Director of Pharmacology and Toxicology and ultimately to Vice President of Preclinical Research. He has been intimately involved in the successful submission of a number of INDs, some of which led to NDA approval. He has been an active member of several professional societies including the American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, the Society of Toxicology, and the American Epilepsy Society. He has authored or co-authored over 200 research articles in peer-reviewed journals dealing with the pharmacology, toxicology, drug metabolism and mechanism of action of experimental and newly developed drug therapies. In addition, he has authored or co-authored 11 book chapters. He also is the holder of 11 U.S. patents. Dr. Sofia has presented papers at numerous scientific meetings with abstracts totaling greater than 150.