Meet the Team

Tom founded HSRL, now StageBio, in 1999 with the goal of supporting other CROs, government and academic researchers and anyone interested in drug discovery. As CEO and Laboratory Director, Tom oversees both the business operations and the laboratory services division of StageBio. Under Tom’s leadership, the company has processed tissues from more than 1,500 GLP studies, including toxicologic, neurotoxicity, reproductive, inhalation, sub-chronic and carcinogenicity studies. Tom was educated at James Madison University.

Carrie joined HSRL, now StageBio, in 2006 to manage all areas of the Pathology Services division. Now as Senior Vice President of Client Relations, Carrie serves as an essential liaison between StageBio and its clients. Carrie plays a key role on the executive leadership team, utilizing her expertise from her previous role as the Director of Pathology Services in which she was responsible for coordinating all pathology deliverables and deadlines among the pathologists, the pathology support team and clients. Carrie's comprehensive experience as a project manager, prior to and during her current career, make her extremely well-suited to manage many of the daily operations at StageBio. Carrie earned her Associate of Arts degree from Frederick Community College and subsequently continued her education at Mount Saint Mary’s University.

Sam has more than 14 years of experience working in biological specimen storage, and in the preclincial research industry. As Director of Corporate Development for StageBio, he will oversee the long-term integrity of GLP materials and connect with clients regarding their needs and servcies. Sam is well-versed in industry best practices and regulations for specimen retention and environmental controls. He was also a founder and owner of HSRL Archives, LLC from 2005 – 2019. Sam received his BS from James Madison University.

Chris received his BS degree in Biology from Virginia Tech in 1993, and his MS degree in Pathobiology from the Bowman Gray School of Medicine at Wake Forest University in 1999. He served as a Division Manager for Pathology Associates International from 1999 to 2001, and then with Charles River Laboratories from 2001 to 2005. Chris was co-founder and co-owner of Vet Path Services and VPS Archives from 2005 to 2018. He currently serves as the Client Ambassador for StageBio.

Damon brings experiences from a broad spectrum of industries for both public and private equity-backed companies and has guided those companies through many mergers & acquisitions and other financial transactions totaling over $500 million of M&A transactions. Prior to joining StageBio, Damon was the CFO of ChoiceStream, Inc., Boston Globe Media Group, LLC, and Sentient Jet, LLC, as well as six years of experience at "Big 4" accounting with Ernst & Young, where he gained his CPA license. His experience in small start-up environments as well as multinational corporations will be a huge benefit as we continue to grow StageBio into the leading provider of research and preclinical histology, pathology and archiving services for the biopharmaceutical, medical device and contract research industries.Damon is originally from Texas and now resides in Reading, MA with his wife and two children. He received his BBA from The University of Texas and his MBA from Northeastern University.

Mr. Cerio brings 20 years of experience in the life science space, spanning commercial strategy, marketing, sales, M&A, and technology development. As Chief Commercial Officer, Michael will lead StageBio's sales, marketing, and overarching commercial strategy, and work with the company's leadership to identify new growth opportunities. Michael was previously President, Pharma Services and Molecular Diagnostics for Biocare Medical, and led the creation and growth of a business unit providing biomarker development and diagnostic testing services to a portfolio of pharmaceutical and biotech partners in the preclinical through late stage trial settings. Prior to Biocare, Michael served as Chief Commercial Officer of Signal Genetics, a publicly traded molecular diagnostics company offering a proprietary gene expression test to inform treatment selection for multiple myeloma patients. His prior experience includes consulting for several leading life science venture capital firms, and the formation of a molecular diagnostics spinout from Moffitt Cancer Center. Michael also led business development and new product licensing for Genzyme Genetics, a leading oncology and prenatal health reference lab, prior to its acquisition by LabCorp. Michael holds a MBA from Columbia University, with a MS in Molecular and Cellular Biology from the University of Connecticut and a BS in Bioiogy from Syracuse University.

Dr. Knostman is a toxicologic and diagnostic pathology expert, having served as lead pathologist in hundreds of preclinical studies for industry and government clients. Her expertise spans multiple species, dose routes and study designs, from small dose-range-finding pilot studies to large two-year carcinogenicity assays; vaccine and biologic efficacy and safety pharmacology studies to medical device pathology and chemical agent exposure models. She is also experienced in immunohistochemistry.

Dr. Knostman earned her DVM from The Ohio State University in 2000, completing her residency in Anatomic Pathology and receiving her PhD from The Ohio State University in 2007. She became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists in 2007.

Dr. Butt has more than 20 years of experience evaluating the nervous system in a wide variety of laboratory species. As the principal investigator/study neuropathologist of over 500 preclinical investigations, Dr. Butt has consulted with global pharmaceutical and histopathology companies and is a regulatory consultant on matters concerning the nervous system. He is a frequent speaker at national/international meetings, educational symposiums, and FDA sponsored events. Prior to joining StageBio, Dr. Butt was founder and president of Tox Path Specialists, a national leader in the field of neuropathology. Previous to this, he managed the Charles River Laboratories - Frederick, MD division, providing professional oversight for over 200 employees and 35 veterinary pathologists.

Dr. Hutto has supported academic institutions, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies with non-clinical veterinary pathology expertise, leveraging experience in study design, animal model selection and evaluation, and data interpretation for GLP and non-GLP studies. As Director of Investigative Pathology for StageBio, Dr. Hutto uses specialty investigative techniques, including immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, and morphometry. Dr. Hutto earned her DVM from Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine in 1994 and became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Medicine in 2001. In 2004, she earned her PhD from the University of Connecticut.

Dr. Jackson specializes in medical device pathology, with primary interests in orthopedic, wound healing,ocular, gastrointestinal, and cardiovascular devices. Prior to StageBio, Dr. Jackson worked for AccelLAB and Alizee Pathology. She has authored multiple peer-reviewed publications and is the Co-Chair for the STP Medical Device SIG. Dr. Jackson received her BS (Biological Engineering) and DVM from Kansas State University, and completed her anatomic residency through the Texas A&M University Cardiovascular Pathology Laboratory, with board certification (ACVP) in 2013.

Dr. Rousselle spent the early part of his career as a toxicologic pathologist in the pharmaceutical industry. Over time, his work has made him a luminary in medical device histopathology. As medical device expert, Dr. Rousselle enjoys collaborative work with sponsors and colleagues and the challenges of improving the way new products are assessed and patient safety is ensured. As Director of Digital Pathology his work is now also focused on new imaging techniques, digital pathology, and image analytics. Dr. Rousselle is an active member of ACVP and STP and has co-authored over 30 journal articles and many abstracts presented at international conventions.

Dr. Wicks has enjoyed developing a finetuned understanding of the strengths and limitations of animal models of disease. Her primary interest is in the development of biologics, including therapeutic antibodies, stem cells, cell and gene therapy, and oligonucleotides, as well as biomarker development. She is especially interested in therapies targeting the eye and central nervous system. She emphasizes the value of early direct interaction when collaborating with clients, in order to best understand study model in relationship to the test article, the objectives of the study, and any additional key information. Dr. Wicks received her residency and PhD in pathology from The Ohio State University and received her ACVP board certification in 1998. She has worked for Pfizer, Charles River Laboratories and was co-founder of Alizee Pathology, a legacy company of StageBio.

Dr. Garlick’s wide-ranging experience in drug discovery and preclinical development spans nearly three decades. He has evaluated an extensive variety of compounds in numerous species, with specialized expertise in the histopathology of minipigs, animal models of disease, evaluation of biomaterials and ocular pathology. Additionally, he is an adjunct professor and affiliate member of the Cancer Center at The Wistar Institute in Philadelphia.

Dr. Garlick earned his DVM from Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine in 1985 and completed his pathology residency training at Tufts in 1989. He became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists in 1990.

Dr. Buccellato has supported a wide variety of research animal species in dose range-finding, sub-chronic and chronic studies. He has served as lead pathologist for pharmaceutical efficacy and preclinical toxicity studies and has extensive experience aiding the development of therapies for a number of bacterial and viral pathogens and chemical agents.

Dr. Buccellato earned his DVM from North Carolina State University in 2001, then completed his residency in Anatomic Pathology and received his Ph.D. from The Ohio State University in 2008. He became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists in 2008.

Dr. Cramer has over 10 years of experience in the field of veterinary anatomic pathology and has spent the several years focusing on toxicologic neuropathology. As principal investigator or study pathologist, Dr. Cramer has read dozens of neurotoxicity studies and frequently consults with companies and clients regarding study design and approaches. Prior to joining StageBio, Dr. Cramer worked at Tox Path Specialists as a Senior Research Pathologist. Dr. Cramer completed graduate training at the National Cancer Institute as a part of the Comparative Biomedical Scientist Training Program (National Institutes of Health). Before graduate training, Dr. Cramer completed a residency in anatomic pathology at Oklahoma State University, and attended the Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine.

Dr. Crissman has conducted a wide range of studies for our clients, from transgenic mice to dairy cows. Previously, he worked in drug development for ICI Pharmaceuticals, industrial and agricultural chemical safety for Dow Chemical and Corning, and veterinary medicine for a mostly dairy practice. He has served on committees for the ACVP and STP, was the review editor for Veterinary Pathology, and editor and columnist for the STP newsletter. He has authored more than 30 scientific papers and book chapters.

Dr. Crissman earned a BS and DVM from Michigan State University in 1973 and 1977, respectively. He became a member of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists in 1984 and earned his PhD in Veterinary Pathology from Cornell University in 1986.

Dr. Elcock has more than 30 years of experience as a toxicologic veterinary pathologist, serving as the primary study pathologist for 500-plus GLP preclinical studies in the pharmaceutical and agricultural industries. She has a particular interest in reproductive pathology and has evaluated more than 15 peer-reviewed carcinogenicity studies in a variety of mouse and rat strains.

Dr. Elcock earned her DVM in 1982, as well as her MS and PhD in Veterinary Pathology in 1983 and 1985, respectively, all from Kansas State University. She became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists in 1987.

Dr. Farman has over 20 years of experience in toxicologic pathology, including in contract research laboratory (Charles River) and biotechnology (Genentech) companies, and as an independent pathology consultant/contractor (Farman Pathology). She has a specialty interest and expertise in ocular pathology. Dr. Farman has experience with a wide variety of compound types and laboratory species, and has interacted with a large number of scientists from biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies.She completed her DVM and PhD at UC Davis in 1988 and 1999, respectively, and became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists in 1994.

Dr. Friedemann completed her residency in anatomic & cardiovascular pathology at Texas A&M University, where she received specialized training in medical device pathology and earned her master's degree (Biomedical Sciences). Dr. Friedemann is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists (ACVP) and is an active member of ACVP as well as the Society of Toxicologic Pathology (STP). Her primary interests include cardiovascular and orthopedic devices, as well as working with subcutaneous biosensors and resorbable materials.

We are pleased to welcome Jessica Hoane, DVM, MTOX, DACVP, DABT to the StageBio team! Jessica comes to us from Charles River Laboratories in Durham, North Carolina, where she spent the past 8-1/2 years cultivating expertise in safety assessment and also organized pathology working groups for the National Toxicology Program. Prior to joining CRL, she spent three years at MPI Research in Mattawan, Michigan.Jessica received her D.V.M. from Michigan State University, where she also completed a residency in veterinary anatomic pathology. She more recently earned a Master of Toxicology (MTOX) degree from North Carolina State University and became a Diplomate of the American Board of Toxicology. Prior to pursuing veterinary pathology, she spent five years as a Graduate Research Assistant at the University of Kentucky studying equine antibody response to surface antigens of Sarcocystis neurona and the Neospora hughesi. Jessica has instructed undergraduate and veterinary students at several institutions in anatomy, physiology, and histology and has served as an Associate Editor of the journal Toxicologic Pathology.

Dr. Hutt’s experience spans multiple animal species, including mice, rats, cotton rats, rabbits, dogs, ferrets, minipigs and primates. Prior to StageBio, she served as study pathologist for the Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute (LRRI), conducting a wide range of GLP and non-GLP safety toxicology studies, with an emphasis on inhalational toxicology and gene therapy.

Dr. Hutt earned her BS and MS in chemistry from The Ohio State University, and worked as a laboratory chemist prior to attending veterinary school. She earned her DVM in 1993 and completed a combined residency program in anatomic pathology and veterinary biosciences at The Ohio State University, earning her PhD in 2002. She has been a member of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists since 2001.

Dr. Lanigan earned her DVM and PhD from The Ohio State University, and is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists (ACVP). She has been active as a boarded Veterinary Pathologist in the commercial preclinical industry since 2015. As a member of multiple societies, Dr. Lanigan is particularly active in her memberships with ACVP and the Society of Toxicologic Pathology (STP). Currently, she serves as co-chair of the STP special interest group in neuropathology (SIGN). StageBio is delighted to add her general toxicity experience to our group, as well as her special interest in neuropathology/neurotoxicology.

Dr. Lee completed her residency in anatomic pathology at the Joint Pathology Center in Silver Spring, Maryland. She is a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists and a member of the Society of Toxicologic Pathology. Dr. Lee has a degree in Mechanical Engineering and a master’s degree in Veterinary Pathology with experience in molecular pathology, in addition to her work in pre-clinical studies involving medical devices and neuropathology. She brings a robust enthusiasm for sound science and quality work to any study as a consulting or lead pathologist.

Dr. Morgan’s professional interests include the use of animal models of disease in drug development. Prior to joining StageBio, she worked at Abbott/AbbVie and provided pathology support across multiple therapeutic indications. She has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications. Dr. Morgan received her DVM from Kansas State University (1980), and her PhD in pathology from Texas A&M University (1988). She is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists, the American Board of Toxicology, and the American Board of Veterinary Toxicology.

Prior to joining StageBio, Dr. Neu spent 15 years in drug safety assessment at P&G, where she also supervised histology and necropsy services. Earlier in her career, she was a diagnostic pathologist at Breathitt Veterinary Center of Murray State University, where she gained extensive experience in large animal pathology.

Dr. Neu received her BS and DVM from the University of Minnesota in 1975 and 1979, respectively, and her PhD in pathology from the University of Kentucky in 1988. She has been a member of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists since 1991.

Dr. Paulman specializes in animal models of autoimmune disease, cancer drug development, neuropathology and male reproductive toxicity. Prior to joining StageBio, she worked at Covance, where she focused on non-GLP early-stage toxicology and investigational studies. Earlier, she provided pathology support to multiple drug development project teams at Eli Lilly and Co.

Dr. Paulman received her DVM in 1998 and her PhD in pathology in 2006, both from the University of Illinois. She is a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists in anatomic pathology.

Dr. Deepa Rao is a board-certified toxicologist and veterinary toxicologic pathologist with over 20 years of experience in the translation of chemical/drug toxicological data from animal studies to human health risk assessment. Dr. Rao’s previous work experience includes serving as a study director in preclinical toxicology, a toxicologic pathologist for the National Toxicology Program (NTP), and a regulatory toxicologist for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Her specialized expertise is in neurotoxicology and neuropathology as evident from numerous publications, awards, invited manuscript reviews and lectures, participation in NTP Pathology Working Groups and FDA Advisory Committees, and service on planning committees, symposiums, and scientific workgroups for the Society of Toxicologic Pathology and the American College of Toxicology. Dr. Rao received her veterinary, toxicology and pathology training from the Mysore Veterinary College (1992), the University of Oklahoma – Health Sciences Center (2000), and the University of Wisconsin-Madison (2008), respectively.

Dr. Saladino has over 20 years of experience in veterinary pathology, and has completed over 250 studies including non-GLP and GLP safety assessment, animal models of human disease, radiation exposure models, medical device studies, and carcinogenicity assays in transgenic mice. She has worked at three other contract labs, with 11 years in management. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Charles Louis Davis and Samuel Wesley Thompson DVM Foundation. Dr. Saladino earned her DVM from the University of Wisconsin in 1992, then served in the Army Veterinary Corps for 10 years. She completed a pathology residency at the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, and became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists in 1999.

Dr. Sharpnack’s expertise spans GLP pharmaceutical, animal health and medical device anatomic and clinical pathology. Prior to StageBio, he worked at Pathology Associates International, Charles River Laboratories and held roles of increasing responsibility at CDC, including representative to the National Toxicology Program and charter member of the Interagency Committee for the Validation of Alternative Methods. He has published 12 peer-reviewed publications, several book chapters and a number of regulatory documents.

Dr. Sharpnack attended The Ohio State University, where he received his BS in 1977 and his MS and DVM in 1981. He was a veterinary officer in the US Army from 1981-1991, during which time he trained in anatomical pathology at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research. He has been a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists since 1989.

Dr. Shrader has a particular interest in ocular pathology and experience evaluating a variety of species and ocular dosing routes. She is an active member of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists (ACVP) and the Society of Toxicologic Pathology (STP). Currently, she participates in the STP Special Senses Organ Pathology Interest Group (SIG-SENSE), is a member of the Career Development and Outreach Committee (CDOC), and is a volunteer speaker for the STP Speaker/Training Institution Program (STIP). She has authored multiple-peer-reviewed publications and book chapters and serves as peer reviewer for several journals. Dr. Shrader earned her DVM from the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine and completed her anatomic pathology residency at the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine.

Dr. Sullivan has more than 25 years of experience in small and large molecule study interpretation, peer and management review, and toxicity risk assessment. Prior to StageBio, he held roles of increasing responsibility at Eli Lilly and Co., conducting discovery and GLP risk assessment of preclinical in vivo and in vitro across several therapeutic areas. Earlier, he was a GLP study director at Marion Merrell Dow/Dow Chemical Co. and a study pathologist and study director at Abbott Laboratories.

Dr. Sullivan received a BS and DVM from Mississippi State University in 1977 and 1981, respectively, an MS in toxicology from the University of Illinois in 1988, and a PhD in Pathology from Purdue University in 1992. He has been a diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Toxicology since 1990 and a diplomate of American College of Veterinary Pathologists since 1994.

We are pleased to welcome Christine (Chris) Watson, BVMS, MRCVS, MS, DACVP to the StageBio team! Chris comes to us from Charles River Laboratories in Reno, Nevada, where she spent the past 2-1/2 years evaluating the safety and efficacy of a variety of test articles, particularly small molecules, in non-human primates and rodents. Chris received her BVMS degree (DVM equivalent) from Glasgow University in Scotland, becoming a member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS), followed by completion of a veterinary anatomic pathology residency at the University of Minnesota. Prior to becoming a veterinarian, she obtained a BS degree in Veterinary Technology from Quinnipiac University in Connecticut and a MS degree in cancer biology from Southern Connecticut State University.Chris has considerable teaching experience, having been an Assistant Professor of Pathology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison following completion of her residency and also teaching anatomy, physiology, and biology courses part-time at several colleges over the years. She has broad clinical veterinary experience and maintains her skills in diagnostic pathology, currently serving as a reviewer for the ongoing “Pathology in Practice” feature in the Journal of American Veterinary Medical Association (JAVMA).

Dr. Young’s professional interests include cancer drug development, neuropathology and female reproductive toxicity. Prior to StageBio, she worked at Covance, where she concentrated on non-GLP early-stage toxicology and investigational studies. Earlier, she worked at Eli Lilly and Co., where she provided pathology support for multiple drug development project teams. She has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications and was formerly Chair of the STP/ASCVP Clinical Pathology in Carcinogenicity Studies Working Group.

Dr. Young received her DVM from Iowa State University in 1988, and her PhD in pathology from Colorado State University in 1998. She is a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists and double boarded in both anatomic and clinical pathology.