Vicki L. Ellingrod received her bachelor's degree and Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Minnesota. She completed a two-year fellowship in psychopharmacology and pharmacogenetics at the Universityof Iowa. After completion of her fellowship, Dr. Ellingrod became an Assistant Professor at the University of Iowa and is currently the Director of the Pharmacogenetics Laboratory at the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy. Her research interests include the genetics behind the metabolism of psychiatric medications, as well as the pharmacogenetics of the adverse drug reactions seen with antipsychotics. Currently, her research is primarily funded by the National Institutes of Mental Health through a career development award entitled "The Genetics of Antipsychotic Metabolism." In addition to her research in schizophrenia, Dr. Ellingrod is also actively involved in studies involving antipsychotic use in dementia, as well as serving as a co-investigator on several other projects involving pharmacogenetics and drug metabolism. Dr. Ellingrod has authored numerous journal articles and lectures locally, as well as nationally, on pharmacogenomics in psychiatry.

In her capacity as director of the Pharmacogenetics Laboratory, Dr. Ellingrod is also involved in patient care and is board certified in psychiatric pharmacy. She serves as a reviewer for many psychiatric publications including the American Journal of Psychiatry, the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, PharmacoGenomics, and Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. She is actively involved in many pharmacy organizations including the American College of Clinical Pharmacy and the College of Psychiatric and Neurologic Pharmacists. Recently, Dr. Ellingrod was awarded the "Young Investigator Award" by the American College of Clinical Pharmacy for her work in pharmacogenomics.