About
About Us
Two Decades of Topical Excellence
Since 2011, Tioga Research has led the advancement of skin-applied pharmaceutical and cosmetic science. We specialize exclusively in the development and testing of topical and transdermal products, blending deep technical expertise with proprietary innovation to accelerate formulation decisions and reduce risk.
Our clients include global pharmaceutical companies, consumer healthcare brands, and prestige cosmetic companies that rely on our scientific insight and speed to data.
Built-In Advantage Section:
Our Expertise
We specialize in both over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription topical development, supporting clients through the unique regulatory and performance requirements of each. Our capabilities span novel NCEs, 505(b)(2) innovation, ANDA generics, and Rx-to-OTC switches.
We offer an integrated approach ranging from early feasibility through GMP readiness, supported by proprietary platforms and experienced technical leadership.
The Tioga Advantage
Based in San Diego, California, home to over 300 life sciences organizations, we leverage both local expertise and global connections. As part of Encube Ethicals since 2019, we offer clients seamless transition from research through clinical trials to full commercial manufacturing at the world's largest single-site facility for topical pharmaceutical products.
Leadership
Our management team combines formulation experts with decades of industry experience, pioneers of high throughput experimentation, quality and development veterans, and experienced business leaders—all sharing a hands-on, technically fluent, and client-centric approach.
Meet Our Experts
Edward Kisak (CSO)
Edward T. Kisak has served as CSO of Tioga Research since its founding. He has over twenty years of experience in topical formulation development, having served in both managerial and lead scientist roles. Ed has a PhD in Chemical Engineering from the University of California, Santa Barbara where his doctoral research focused on developing “vesosomes” – a multiplexed liposomal structure containing liposomes nested within other liposomes for advanced drug delivery therapies. This doctoral research was later pursued by Advanced Encapsulation – a start-up company co-founded by Ed to improve and develop the vesosome technology. Ed also served as consultant to Sinus Pharmaceuticals and reformulated their lead tobramycin sinusitis formulation, which later went on to clinical trials. After joining fqubed (later acquired by Nuvo Research, CA:NRI) in 2005, Ed acted as Director of Research, and was responsible for laboratory operations and for managing formulation innovation and skin delivery screening campaigns. During this tenure, Ed acted as the lead formulation scientist on developing PENNSAID® 2% (currently approved in the US for the treatment of osteoarthritis) along with other formulations in Nuvo’s pipeline. Additionally, he was the prime driving force behind the development, optimization and production-mode use of Tioga Research’s HTE platforms, including INSIGHT™, STORM™, SPATE™, SPLASH™, TORNADO™, MONSOON™ and SKIVER™. He is an inventor on more than 30 issued and pending patents, including that claiming the PENNSAID® 2% formulation.
Elena Alifanova (Research Scientist)
Elena Alifanova has been a Research Scientist at Tioga Research since its founding in 2011 and has over ten years of experience in biochemical laboratory studies and formulation development. During her tenure at Tioga Research, Elena has designed, managed, and performed Standard Operation Procedures (“SOP”s) for a variety of advanced formulation development, stability and solubility studies for topical and transdermal drug delivery using Tioga Research HTE platforms, Franz diffusion cells, flow-through permeation cells, radiolabeling, and robotic metrology for identifying high-performing formulations. Prior to launch of Tioga Research, Elena spent over five years as a Research Technologist at Nuvo Research U.S. where she was responsible for high throughput formulation screening campaigns, permeation measurements and ELISA assays; she also developed SOPs and qualification reports, and contributed to the development of several formulation innovations, such as PENNSAID 2% for treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee. Prior to joining Nuvo Research, Elena held positions as a Research and Laboratory Associate at research institutions in Russia where she conducted experimental studies of blood samples using erythrocytapheresis. Elena holds a M.S. in Biochemistry from Nizhny Novgorod State University, Russia.
Guohong Zhao (Manager, Analytical Development)
Guohong Zhao has served as Manager of Analytical Development of Tioga Research since September 2019. He has a broad background in analytical and physical chemistry and biochemistry, with over twenty-five years of experience in analytical method development for various products, including food and personal care products, by using variety of modern mass spectrometric techniques (LC-MS/MS, LC/TOF, GC-MS, FTMS, LDI-MS) and chromatographic techniques (HPLC, GC). Guohong has a PhD in Physical Chemistry from Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Lausanne, Switzerland where his doctoral research focused on studying photodissociation and ion-molecule reactions of isomeric ions by using Fourier Transform Mass Spectrometry (also called Ion Cyclotron Resonance Mass Spectrometry). He then pursued post-doctoral research in the Environmental Analytical Research Laboratory of Texas A&M University at Galveston. He helped establish and managed an analytical laboratory to support clinical metabolism studies while working as a research scientist in Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. He joined Unilever as Senior Research Scientist to support formulation development and manufacturing processes for both hair care and deodorant products. Moving to Northland Laboratories (acquired by Matrix Science in 2018) in 2007, he was responsible for analytical method development and validation, problem solving in food testing, and technical reviews and approvals of laboratory daily operations. He has been a member of the American Chemical Society and the American Society for Mass Spectrometry since 1994 and was previously a member of AOAC and IFT.
TESTIMONIAL
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WHY CHOOSE US
Why you should choose our Laboix laboratory
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World class diagnostics
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World class diagnostics
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The same scientific methodologies and expertise that led to Pennsaid® 2%'s successful development and FDA approval continue to drive Tioga Research's innovative approach to topical and transdermal formulation challenges today.
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