The Speaker
Kevin Shanks has been with Axis Forensic Toxicology (formerly the forensic business division of AIT Laboratories) since 2003. He has extensive experience in research and development as well as laboratory supervision and management. His areas of expertise include liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC/MS) and the analytical detection and toxicology of new psychoactive substances (NPS) such as substituted cathinones, synthetic cannabinoids, NBOME hallucinogens, fentanyl analogs, and opioid research chemicals. Kevin oversees all method development and validation of analytical methods for NPS and other esoteric substances at Axis. He has provided fact and expert witness testimony in drug chemistry, human performance toxicology, and postmortem toxicology matters in numerous states across the USA.
His educational background includes a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from Franklin College in Franklin, Indiana and a Master of Science in Forensic Toxicology form the University of Florida. He is certified as a Diplomate of the American Board of Forensic Toxicology in forensic toxicology (D-ABFT-FT) and holds regular membership with the American Academy of Clinical Toxicology (AACT) and the Society of Forensic Toxicologists (SOFT). He is a member of SOFT’s Young Forensic Toxicologist committee and SOFT’s Designer Drugs committee. Kevin has published papers on new psychoactive substances in journals such as Journal of Analytical Toxicology (JAT) and Forensic Science International (FSI) and presented research at national meetings such as the SOFT annual conference.
