Elaine Round is currently group head of life sciences at BAT, where she leads a team of scientists responsible for the design and conduct of research to determine the reduced risk potential of BAT's smokeless products, including chemistry, preclinical, clinical and behavioral sciences. Previously, Round led the global toxicology team, responsible for safety assessments across BAT's product categories.

Prior to her role with BAT, Round held the role of vice president of scientific and regulatory affairs for vapor and oral submissions at Reynolds and spent the previous six years in roles relating to the development of applications to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for new tobacco products across all product categories. Round’s earlier experience at Reynolds included design, oversight and conduct of human studies to assess abuse liability and constituent exposures as they relate to individual health impact from use of tobacco and nicotine-containing products, including electronic cigarettes, snus, dissolvable tobacco products and nicotine gum.

Round has been employed with BAT and Reynolds since 2008 and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Washington University in St. Louis and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in genetics from the University of Washington in Seattle.‍