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Much of the work carried out by DTT is in support of the National Toxicology Program (NTP), an interagency partnership of the Food and Drug Administration, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, and NIEHS.

Systems Toxicology Branch

Cynthia Rider, Ph.D., is a toxicologist in the Systems Toxicology Branch of the Division of Translational Toxicology (DTT) at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS). As a study scientist, she designs and evaluates results from toxicological studies of chemicals selected for investigation by the NTP. She is particularly interested in developing and refining methods for evaluating the toxicity of mixtures to inform risk assessment. Currently, she is the project leader for polycyclic aromatic compounds, which are being used as a case study to evaluate the joint action of chemicals with component-based approaches (e.g., dose addition models). She is also leading an effort to inform the safety evaluation of complex mixtures. Toward this goal, she is using botanical dietary supplements, such as Ginkgo biloba extract, to develop methods for determining sufficient similarity of complex mixtures. Rider serves as co-chair with Danielle Carlin, Ph.D., of the NIEHS Combined Exposure/Mixtures working group, which aims to advance mixtures research throughout the Institute.

Rider received her B.S. from Tulane University, New Orleans, LA in Environmental Studies and Biology and her Ph.D. from North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC in Environmental Toxicology. She completed post doctoral training in the Reproductive Toxicology Branch of the National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, U. S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Nicholas School of the Environment at Duke University. She joined the NTP in 2010.

Selected Publications

  1. Rider CV, McHale CM, Webster TF, Lowe L, Goodson WH 3rd, La Merrill MA, Rice G, Zeise L, Zhang L, Smith MT. 2021. Using the key characteristics of carcinogens to develop research on chemical mixtures and cancer. Environ Health Perspect 129(3):35003. [Abstract Rider CV, McHale CM, Webster TF, Lowe L, Goodson WH 3rd, La Merrill MA, Rice G, Zeise L, Zhang L, Smith MT. 2021. Using the key characteristics of carcinogens to develop research on chemical mixtures and cancer. Environ Health Perspect 129(3):35003.]
  2. Waidyanatha S, Hackett M, Black SR, Stout MD, Fennell TR, Silinski MR, Watson SL, Licause J, Robinson VG, Sparrow B, Fernando RA, Cooper S, Rider CV. 2021. Toxicokinetic evaluation of the common indoor air pollutant, α-pinene, and its potential reactive metabolite, α-pinene oxide, following inhalation exposure in rodents. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 418:115496. [Abstract Waidyanatha S, Hackett M, Black SR, Stout MD, Fennell TR, Silinski MR, Watson SL, Licause J, Robinson VG, Sparrow B, Fernando RA, Cooper S, Rider CV. 2021. Toxicokinetic evaluation of the common indoor air pollutant, α-pinene, and its potential reactive metabolite, α-pinene oxide, following inhalation exposure in rodents. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 418:115496.]
  3. Rider CV, Vallant M, Blystone C, Waidyanatha S, South NL, Xie G, Turner K. 2020. Short-term perinatal toxicity study in sprague Dawley rats with the plasticizer and emerging contaminant N-Butylbenzenesulfonamide. Toxicol Lett 330:159-166. [Abstract Rider CV, Vallant M, Blystone C, Waidyanatha S, South NL, Xie G, Turner K. 2020. Short-term perinatal toxicity study in sprague Dawley rats with the plasticizer and emerging contaminant N-Butylbenzenesulfonamide. Toxicol Lett 330:159-166.] 
  4. Oketch-Rabah HA, Roe AL, Rider CV, Bonkovsky HL, Giancaspro GI, Navarro V, Paine MF, Betz JM, Marles RJ, Casper S, Gurley B, Jordan SA, He K, Kapoor MP, Rao TP, Sherker AH, Fontana RJ, Rossi S, Vuppalanchi R, Seeff LB, Stolz A, Ahmad J, Koh C, Serrano J, Low Dog T, Ko R. 2020. United States Pharmacopeia (USP) comprehensive review of the hepatotoxicity of green tea extracts. Toxicol Rep 7:386-402. [Abstract Oketch-Rabah HA, Roe AL, Rider CV, Bonkovsky HL, Giancaspro GI, Navarro V, Paine MF, Betz JM, Marles RJ, Casper S, Gurley B, Jordan SA, He K, Kapoor MP, Rao TP, Sherker AH, Fontana RJ, Rossi S, Vuppalanchi R, Seeff LB, Stolz A, Ahmad J, Koh C, Serrano J, Low Dog T, Ko R. 2020. United States Pharmacopeia (USP) comprehensive review of the hepatotoxicity of green tea extracts. Toxicol Rep 7:386-402.]
  5. Hsieh JH, Sedykh A, Mutlu E, Germolec DR, Auerbach SS, Rider CV. 2020. Harnessing In Silico, In Vitro, and In Vivo Data to Understand the Toxicity Landscape of Polycyclic Aromatic Compounds (PACs). Chem Res Toxicol; doi: 10.1021/acs.chemrestox.0c00213 [Online 16 October 2020]. [Abstract Hsieh JH, Sedykh A, Mutlu E, Germolec DR, Auerbach SS, Rider CV. 2020. Harnessing In Silico, In Vitro, and In Vivo Data to Understand the Toxicity Landscape of Polycyclic Aromatic Compounds (PACs). Chem Res Toxicol; doi: 10.1021/acs.chemrestox.0c00213 [Online 16 October 2020].]
  6. Drakvik E, Altenburger R, Aoki Y, Backhaus T, Bahadori T, Barouki R, Brack W, Cronin MTD, Demeneix B, Hougaard Bennekou S, van Klaveren J, Kneuer C, Kolossa-Gehring M, Lebret E, Posthuma L, Reiber L, Rider C, Rüegg J, Testa G, van der Burg B, van der Voet H, Warhurst AM, van de Water B, Yamazaki K, Öberg M, Bergman Å. (2019). Statement on advancing the assessment of chemical mixtures and their risks for human health and the environment. Environ Int doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2019.105267 [Online 5 November 2019]. [Abstract Drakvik E, Altenburger R, Aoki Y, Backhaus T, Bahadori T, Barouki R, Brack W, Cronin MTD, Demeneix B, Hougaard Bennekou S, van Klaveren J, Kneuer C, Kolossa-Gehring M, Lebret E, Posthuma L, Reiber L, Rider C, Rüegg J, Testa G, van der Burg B, van der Voet H, Warhurst AM, van de Water B, Yamazaki K, Öberg M, Bergman Å. (2019). Statement on advancing the assessment of chemical mixtures and their risks for human health and the environment. Environ Int doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2019.105267 [Online 5 November 2019].]
  7. Rider CV, Walker NJ, Waidyanatha S. (2018) Getting to the Root of the Matter: Challenges and Recommendations for Assessing the Safety of Botanical Dietary Supplements. Clinical pharmacology and therapeutics 104(3):429-431. [Abstract Rider CV, Walker NJ, Waidyanatha S. (2018) Getting to the Root of the Matter: Challenges and Recommendations for Assessing the Safety of Botanical Dietary Supplements. Clinical pharmacology and therapeutics 104(3):429-431.]
  8. Rider, C.V., Simmons, J.E. (Eds.). (2018) Chemical Mixtures and Combined Chemical and Nonchemical Stressors: Exposure, Toxicity, Analysis, and Risk. Springer. 
  9. Catlin, N.R., Collins, B.J., Auerbach, S.S., Ferguson, S.S., Harnly, J.M., Gennings, C., Waidyanatha, S., Rice, G.E., Smith-Roe, S.L., Witt, K.L., Rider CV. (2018). How similar is similar enough? A sufficient similarity case study with Ginkgo biloba extract. Food Chem. Toxicol. 118:328-339.
  10. Waidyanatha, S., Ryan, K.R., Roe, A.L., Jia, W., Paine, M., Ferguson, S., Gurley, B.J., Welch, K., Chow, M.S.S., Devito, M., Rider, C.V. (2018). Follow that botanical: Challenges and recommendations for assessing absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion of botanical dietary supplements. Food Chem. Toxicol. 121:194-202. 
  11. Shipkowski, K.A., Betz, J.M., Birnbaum, L.S., Bucher, J.R., Coates, P.M., Hopp, D.C., MacKay, D., Oketch-Rabah H., Walker, N.J., Welch, C., Rider, C.V. (2018). Naturally complex: Perspectives and challenges associated with botanical dietary supplement safety assessment. Food Chem. Toxicol. 118:963-971.
  12. Rider CV, Chan P, Herbert RA, Kissling GE, Fomby LM, Hejtmancik MR, Witt KL, Waidyanatha S, Travlos GS, Kadiiska MB. 2016. Dermal exposure to cumene hydroperoxide: Assessing its toxic relevance and oxidant potential. Toxicol Pathol 44(5):749-762. [Abstract Rider CV, Chan P, Herbert RA, Kissling GE, Fomby LM, Hejtmancik MR, Witt KL, Waidyanatha S, Travlos GS, Kadiiska MB. 2016. Dermal exposure to cumene hydroperoxide: Assessing its toxic relevance and oxidant potential. Toxicol Pathol 44(5):749-762.]
  13. Wolf, C.J., Rider, C.V., Lau, C., Abbott, B.D. (2014) Evaluating the additivity of perfluoroalkyl acids in binary combinations on peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α activation. Toxicology. 316:43-54. [Abstract Wolf, C.J., Rider, C.V., Lau, C., Abbott, B.D. (2014) Evaluating the additivity of perfluoroalkyl acids in binary combinations on peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α activation. Toxicology. 316:43-54.]
  14. Rider CV, Nyska AN, Cora MC, Kissling GE, Smith C, Travlos GS, Hejtmancik MR, Kooistra L, Morrison JP, Chan PC. (2014). Toxicity and carcinogenicity studies of Ginkgo biloba extract in rat and mouse: liver, thyroid, and nose are targets. Toxicologic pathology 2014 42(5):830-843. [Abstract Rider CV, Nyska AN, Cora MC, Kissling GE, Smith C, Travlos GS, Hejtmancik MR, Kooistra L, Morrison JP, Chan PC. (2014). Toxicity and carcinogenicity studies of Ginkgo biloba extract in rat and mouse: liver, thyroid, and nose are targets. Toxicologic pathology 2014 42(5):830-843.]
  15. Rider, C.V., Janardhan, K.S., Rao, D., Morrison, J.P., McPherson, C.A., Harry, G.J. (2012). Evaluation of N-butylbenzenesulfonamide (NBBS) neurotoxicity in Sprague-Dawley male rats following 27-day oral exposure. Neurotoxicology 33(6):1528-1535.   [Abstract Rider, C.V., Janardhan, K.S., Rao, D., Morrison, J.P., McPherson, C.A., Harry, G.J. (2012). Evaluation of N-butylbenzenesulfonamide (NBBS) neurotoxicity in Sprague-Dawley male rats following 27-day oral exposure. Neurotoxicology 33(6):1528-1535.  ]
  16. Rider, C.V., Furr, J., Wilson, V.S., Gray, L.E. (2010). Cumulative effects of in utero administration of mixtures of reproductive toxicants that disrupt common target tissues via diverse mechanisms of toxicity. Int. J. Androl. 33(2):443-462. [Abstract Rider, C.V., Furr, J., Wilson, V.S., Gray, L.E. (2010). Cumulative effects of in utero administration of mixtures of reproductive toxicants that disrupt common target tissues via diverse mechanisms of toxicity. Int. J. Androl. 33(2):443-462.]
  17. Rider, C.V., Wilson, V.S., Howdeshell, K.L., Hotchkiss, A.K., Furr, J., Lambright, C.R., Gray, L.E. (2009). Cumulative effects of in utero administration of mixtures of "antiandrogens" on male rat reproductive development. Toxicol. Pathol. 37:100-113. [Abstract Rider, C.V., Wilson, V.S., Howdeshell, K.L., Hotchkiss, A.K., Furr, J., Lambright, C.R., Gray, L.E. (2009). Cumulative effects of in utero administration of mixtures of "antiandrogens" on male rat reproductive development. Toxicol. Pathol. 37:100-113.]
  18. Rider, C.V., Furr, J., Wilson, V.S., Gray, L.E. (2008). A mixture of seven antiandrogens induces reproductive malformations in rats. Int. J. Androl. 31:249-262. [Abstract Rider, C.V., Furr, J., Wilson, V.S., Gray, L.E. (2008). A mixture of seven antiandrogens induces reproductive malformations in rats. Int. J. Androl. 31:249-262.]
  19. Rider, C.V. and LeBlanc, G.A. (2005). An integrated addition and interaction model for assessing toxicity of chemical mixtures. Toxicol. Sci. 87:520-528. [Abstract Rider, C.V. and LeBlanc, G.A. (2005). An integrated addition and interaction model for assessing toxicity of chemical mixtures. Toxicol. Sci. 87:520-528.]