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The SOT Scientific Program Committee (SPC) and Continuing Education Committee (CEC) anticipate your timely, informative, high-quality Scientific Session proposals for the 2026 Annual Meeting and ToxExpo, taking place March 22–25, 2026, in San Diego, California. As a reminder, the Proposal Submission Site will remain open until Thursday, May 15, 11:59 pm (US EDT, UTC –4). Prior to the formal submission, you are encouraged to review the numerous tools contained on the website to shape and mold your proposal.   

Tools in the Toolbox 

Please visit the 2026 Annual Meeting website for all the details on preparing and submitting your proposal. If you’re looking for insider tips, check out the “Developing Competitive Scientific Session Proposals” webinar. It’s only 45 minutes long but packed with valuable insights that can make the difference between a good proposal and a great one. 

Explanations of each session proposal type, as well as examples of accepted proposals from previous years, are available on the website.   

Remember, the snappier the session title, the more attention it may receive from attendees. Examples of titles from the 2025 Annual Meeting included “Battle of the Sexes: Sexually Dimorphic Reponses to In Utero Toxicant Exposures,” “Do the ENDS Justify the Means? Exploring Vaping Exposures Through Varied Models,” and “Into the Fire: Exploring Firefighter Exposures and Health.” 

Endorsements 

Session proposals must contain at least one Endorser, known as the Primary Endorser. Complete information on the Endorser process is contained on the website.   

Many endorsing groups (Specialty Sections, Special Interest Groups, and select SOT Committees) have internal “pre-reviews,” which are not managed by the SPC or CEC.  Please review the recent SOT blog about pre-review, including the pre-review deadlines provided by many endorsing groups.   

Engagement Sessions 

Sessions that encourage audience participation, discussion among audience members, polling, and other interactive activities may be designated as an “Engagement Session” during the session proposal process. 

The Engagement Session format debuted at last month’s Annual Meeting in Orlando, with sessions on mentoring and public and environmental health protection. The most likely session types to carry the Engagement Session designation are Education-Career Development, Informational, and Roundtable Sessions, but the designation may be applied to any session type that has a participation element. 

Sessions carrying the Engagement Session designation will be highlighted in the Annual Meeting Program and on-site signage. 

The SPC and CEC are eager to consider your groundbreaking proposals. This is your opportunity to contribute to an event that shapes the future of toxicology. Together, we will make the 2026 SOT Annual Meeting and ToxExpo unforgettable!