The Audit Committee assists the Board in its general oversight of our financial reporting, financial risk assessment, internal controls, and audit functions, and is responsible for the appointment, retention, compensation, and oversight of the work of our independent registered public accounting firm. The Board has determined that each member of the Audit Committee, with the exception of Dr. Plummer, meets the U.S. Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) qualifications to be an "audit committee financial expert," including meeting the relevant definition of an "independent director." The Board determined that each Audit Committee member has sufficient knowledge in reading and understanding the company's financial statements to serve on the Audit Committee. The responsibilities and activities of the Audit Committee are described in detail in "Report of the Audit Committee" and the Audit Committee's charter.