The Society of Toxicology (SOT) Component Groups (Regional Chapters, Special Interest Groups, and Specialty Sections) host many webinars throughout the year. Webinars are an effective distance-learning method intended to impart scientific knowledge to members of their group as well as the SOT membership at large. These webinars are just one of the many benefits of SOT membership.
Upcoming webinars for November 2017 are listed below.
Risk Assessment Specialty Section (RASS) Monthly Webinar
Date and Time: Wednesday, November 8, 2017, 3:00 pm–4:00 pm Eastern Time
Systematic Review: Concept and Tool Development with Application to Assessment Processes of the National Toxicology Program (NTP) and the Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS)
Vickie R. Walker, PhD
Division of the National Toxicology Program (NTP) at the National Institutes of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), NIH
Systematic Review Methods to Support Transparency and Consistency in Environmental Health Decision Making
Michele M. Taylor, PhD
Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS), National Center for Environmental Assessment (NCEA), US EPA
Systematic Review: Concept and Tool Development with Application in the IRIS Assessment Process
Abstract
There is growing interest within the environmental health community to incorporate systematic review methodology to increase transparency and objectivity of literature reviews of complex environmental questions. Systematic review uses a pre-established scientific framework to identify, select, assess, and summarize data from available studies to address specific scientific questions. The goal is to ensure the review is complete, unbiased, reproducible, and transparent. The results of a systematic review can be used to inform decisions, reach conclusions, or identify research needs. Environmental health questions require the evaluation of a broad range of relevant data (e.g., human, animal, and “other relevant data” including mechanistic or in vitro studies), therefore, systematic review methods must consider the diversity of data types and include procedures to integrate data across these evidence streams to reach conclusions regarding potential health effects from environmental exposures.
This webinar will provide a general overview of systematic review methods for addressing environmental questions and several software tools that facilitate the application of the workflow. Examples will be presented from both the NTP Office of Health Assessment and Translation and IRIS at US EPA.
Event address for attendees
Registration for RASS webinars is not required.
Molecular and Systems Biology Specialty Section (MSBSS) and Education Committee
Topic: Accepted! — Preparing a Successful Graduate School Admissions Package
Date and Time: Friday, November 10, 2017, 12:00 pm–1:15 pm Eastern Time
Event address and registration for attendees
Sponsored by the MSBSS, Education Committee, Undergraduate Education Subcommittee, and Career Resources and Development Committee (CRAD)
Abstract:
The biomedical sciences are host to a broad range of exciting and engaging prospects to pursue graduate training in cutting-edge research science; however, taking part in these opportunities requires a well-refined and impactful graduate school admissions application package. Just in time for upcoming admissions deadlines, the Society of Toxicology Molecular and Systems Biology Specialty Section and Education Committee proudly present an interactive webinar that will include short presentations on key aspects of the graduate school application from graduate program directors and admission committee members at leading graduate institutions. Dr. Aaron Bowman (Associate Professor in Pediatrics, Neurology, and Biochemistry, and Director of the Training Program in Environmental Toxicology at Vanderbilt University) will provide an overview of the graduate admissions process, perspectives on how admissions committees review applications, invite applicants for interviews, and make decisions on admissions offers. He will also discuss the role of GRE scores and grades in the admissions process. Dr. Dana Dolinoy (Associate Chair of Nutritional Sciences and Associate Professor of Environmental Health Sciences & Nutritional Sciences at the University of Michigan School of Public Health) will discuss how to select the best degree program for you and how to craft an impactful research statement. Dr. Lauren Aleksunes (Associate Professor and Director of the Joint Graduate Program in Toxicology at Rutgers University) will provide insight on how to write a meaningful personal statement that can help your application stand out. These short presentations will be followed by a live discussion session where our panel experts will answer attendee questions to provide a more in-depth view that will help you gain a better understanding of the graduate admissions process and strengthen your graduate school application to help you on your path to getting that acceptance letter.
Registration is required.
Medical Device and Combination Product Specialty Section (MDCPSS)
Topic: Quantitative Structure Activity Relationships: An Overview
Date and Time: Tuesday, November 14, 2017, 11:00 am–12:00 pm Eastern Time
Event address and registration for attendees
Quantitative Structure Activity Relationships: An Overview
Dr. Prachi Pradeep, US EPA-ORISE
Chemical risk assessment is often limited by the lack of experimental toxicity data for a large number of diverse chemicals. In the absence of experimental data, potential chemical hazard is often predicted using data gap filling techniques such as quantitative structure activity relationship (QSAR) models. QSARs are theoretical models that relate a quantitative measure of chemical structure to a physical property or a biological effect. QSAR tools are a widely utilized alternative to time-consuming clinical and animal testing methods, yet there are concerns over reliability and uncertainty limit application of QSAR models for regulatory chemical risk assessments. The reliability of a QSAR model depends on the quality and quantity of experimental training data and the applicability domain of the model. This talk will describe the basic concepts and best practices in QSAR modeling, principles associated with validation of QSAR models, summary of available QSAR tools, limitations and challenges in the acceptance of QSAR models within a regulatory framework, and the current status and prospects of QSAR modeling methods in the medical devices community.
Registration is required.
American Association of Chinese in Toxicology Special Interest Group (AACT SIG)
Topic: Preclinical Considerations for Gene Editing and Other Gene Therapy Products: A CBER Perspective
Date and Time: Tuesday, November 14, 2017, 1:00 pm–2:00 pm Eastern Time
Event address and registration for attendees
US Food and Drug Administration/Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER) has a long history of regulating gene therapy (GT) products. The regulatory approach for assessing the safety and effectiveness of individual GT products can vary based on the biological properties of each respective product. There is no standard set of preclinical studies and testing parameters that are uniformly applicable to all GT products. The regulatory review of GT products employs a science-based approach that considers the benefits and risks of each investigational product in the framework of the respective clinical trial. The introduction of gene editing (GE) technologies in this generation of GT products raises unique concerns regarding how the GE process may impact the product safety profile. This presentation will include an overview of CBER preclinical considerations for GT products, with a focus on specific safety concerns for GT products that incorporate GE technologies and the types of preclinical evaluations conducted for these products to support administration in human clinical trials.