Blogs

Dear SOT Members,

I am looking forward to seeing you at the 2013 SOT Annual Meeting, March 10–14, in historic San Antonio, Texas. Plans are well underway and many of you are now in the midst of preparing abstracts for the October 3, 2012, deadline. We are pleased that a very recent Nobel Laureate, Dr. Bruce Beutler, recipient of the 2011 Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine, already is scheduled for the Plenary Lecture. Dr. Beutler is Director, Center for the Genetics of Host Defense, and Professor of Immunology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas. He heads a lab that has as its goal “to advance the fundamental understanding of the genetics of immunity to aid in the treatment of infection, disorders of immunity, and autoimmunity. Failures of the immune system represent a substantial burden to society, and a tragedy for those directly affected by them.” Moreover, many of the scientific sessions at the 2013 Annual Meeting will focus on aspects of the six thematic areas, including Application of Systems Biology to Toxicology; Biomarkers for Exposure Assessment, Safety Evaluation, and Translational Medicine; Effects of Nanomaterials on Biological Systems; and Molecular Basis of Genetic Variability and Susceptibility to Toxicants. More information will follow about the next annual meeting in the months ahead. Below are a number of meetings and events that may be of interest to you. To learn more about these SOT-sponsored meetings and events of interest, contact the organizers directly.

Thank you,

William Slikker Jr.
2012–2013 SOT President

CCT Meeting

FutureTox: Building the Road for 21st Century Toxicology and Risk Assessment Practices—October 18–19

The “FutureTox: Building the Road for 21st Century Toxicology and Risk Assessment Practices” meeting will address the challenges and opportunities associated with effective and efficient implementation of cutting-edge toxicity testing technologies and tools that will inform hazard prediction and risk assessment. This SOT Contemporary Concepts in Toxicology (CCT) meeting will be held on October 18–19, 2012, in Arlington, Virginia. In addition to SOT, ILSI Health and Environmental Sciences Institute Risk 21, Human Toxicology Project Consortium, and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) are sponsors (sponsorship opportunities are available). Three session themes are intended to stimulate more detailed dialog and understanding of “what, when, and how” considerations whereby newly emerging technologies can be constructively engaged in transition to the future vision. These themes include (a) Toxicology testing in the 21st Century (TT21c) approaches for safety assessment and expectations for effective and efficient integration into and potential transition of existing safety assessment practices; (b) TT21c approaches for exposure assessments and links to toxicity test dosimetry, with a particular focus on relationships to contextual dose-exposure considerations associated with high throughput in vitro evaluation systems; and finally (c) Reframing risk assessment practices, with an emphasis on how emerging science can best impact and reshape current risk assessment practices. For general information, to review the program, and to register, visit the FutureTox website.

SOT Sponsored-Meetings

Environmental Mutagen Society 43rd Annual Meeting—Advance Registration Deadline: August 15

The 43rd Annual Meeting of the Environmental Mutagen Society (EMS), “EMS: The Next Generation,” will be held September 8–12, 2012, at the Hyatt Regency Bellevue, in Bellevue, Washington. The meeting provides a broad scientific forum for basic and applied researchers as well as students and teachers to review the latest information linking environmental conditions to adverse health outcomes. The emphasis of the meeting is to (1) present cutting-edge basic research in the areas of DNA repair, regulation of gene expression, epigenetics, systems biology, mutagenesis, inflammation cancer, and aging in eight symposia and seven keynote lectures; (2) present emerging “next generation” technologies and approaches in genomic research, genetic toxicology, and risk assessment; (3) feature the work of students, new and early stage investigators, and EMS members in six platform sessions; (4) network with students, mentors, and colleagues at ten Special Interest Group (SIG) meetings, two receptions and a banquet; and finally (5) entice students and new and early stage investigators to become the “Next Generation” EMS members. Keynote speakers include: Mary-Claire King, Jan Hoeijmakers, Judith Campisi, John Stamatoyannopoulos, Yosef Shiloh, Leroy Hood, Susan Wallace, and William Martin. This is a meeting not to be missed. For additional information, visit the EMS 2012 Annual Meeting website.

Eleventh International Conference on Neuroprotective Agents—September 30–October 3

The Eleventh International Conference on Neuroprotective Agents (ICNA) will be held September 30–October 3, 2012, at the Wendake Conference Center, Quebec City, Canada. The International Conference on Neuroprotective Agents has been relatively unique in its role of bringing together clinical and basic science researchers from various countries and various disciplines related to neuroprotection in an intellectually stimulating and socially relaxing environment to discuss strategies to protect the nervous system. The multidisciplinary background of the participants and the meeting’s structure (all sessions, including the poster session, are attended by all participants; meals and social events also are group functions) fosters in-depth, real-time discussion and debate. The ICNA brings together researchers involved in (1) conditions toxic to the nervous system (e.g., heat, diabetes, drugs (therapeutic and illicit), alcohol, anesthetic agents, and stroke); (2) neurodegenerative processes ‘toxic’ to the nervous system (e.g., Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease); (3) molecular and nanotechnology techniques for understanding nervous system disorders, nervous system repair mechanisms, and neurotoxicity issues; and (4) the fields of personalized, predictive, and preventive medicine as they relate to neuroprotection. For more information including registration and housing, visit the Eleventh International Conference on Neuroprotective Agents website.

XXX Jornadas Interdisciplinarias de Toxicología, Argentina—October 23–26

The Argentine Toxicology Association is organizing its national Toxicology meeting “XXX Jornadas Argentinas Interdisciplinarias de Toxicología,” to be held in Buenos Aires, October 23–26, 2012. This event will provide a great opportunity to meet scientists from Argentina and abroad working in the field. The program covers major areas of interest in Toxicology: clinical, environmental, drugs, mechanisms, ecotoxicology, forensic, etc. In addition, three courses will be offered, including “Smoking and health: treatments, prevention,” “Current topics in Environmental Toxicology,” and “Mentoring.” Buenos Aires is by now a fashion city for tourism and a big safe metropolis (and one of the cheapest!), with a fantastic cultural life and excellent cuisine. Hope to see you! For additional information, please contact Professor Marta A. Carballo and visit the Jornadas Argentinas Interdisciplinarias de Toxicología website.

International Society of Exposure Science Annual Meeting—October 28–November 1

The 22nd Annual Meeting of the International Society of Exposure Science will be held October 28–November 1, 2012, in Seattle, Washington. The theme is “Lessons Learned: Contributions of Exposure Science to Environmental and Occupational Health.” The meeting will highlight the value that exposure scientists have brought, and continue to bring to environmental and occupational health policy formulation. Plenary, oral, and poster sessions will address a broad range of topics involving human exposure to chemical, physical, and biological agents in communities and the workplace. For further information, email or visit the International Society of Exposure Science Annual Meeting website.

IUTOX Meetings

IUTOX 8th CTDC8—September 10–13, 2012

IUTOX invites you to attend its next two meetings in Asia! The Thai Society of Toxicology (TST) is host to the IUTOX 8th Congress of Toxicology in Developing Countries (CTDC8) being held in Bangkok September 10–13, 2012, TST has put together an excellent program around the theme, “Sharing Toxicological Knowledge of a Healthy Life and Environment” at the beautiful venue Centara Grand at Central Plaza Ladprao Bangkok. WHO is providing an excellent day-long continuing education course titled, Human Health Risk Assessment: Toolkit for Chemical Hazards. The occasion also will be marked by a keynote address delivered by renown toxicologist, Professor Dr. HRH Chulaborn Mahidol. IUTOX is especially grateful to SOT for generously providing travel award funding, which will allow several scientists from developing and least developed countries to attend the meeting. For more information, visit the CTDC8 website.

IUTOX 13th ICT—June 30–July 4, 2013

The IUTOX 13th International Congress of Toxicology (ICT XIII), which includes the IUTOX General Assembly, convenes in Seoul, Korea, June 30–July 4, 2013, at the COEX Convention & Exhibition Center. The host organizers from the Korean Society of Toxicology have selected a state-of-the-art venue for this important meeting titled, Translational Toxicology from Basic Science to Chemical and Environmental Outcomes. By attending ICT XIII, attendees will learn of the latest advances in the science of toxicology, hear from eminent international speakers and leading researchers, and be able to discuss the complex issues that arise when drugs or chemicals adversely impact humans, animals, and the environment. For more information on the meeting, please visit the ICT XII website.

Please contact IUTOX Headquarters for questions about the meetings or for further information about sponsorship opportunities. We look forward to seeing you in Bangkok and Seoul!

Webinars of Note

Safety Pharmacology Society Webinars: The Assessment of Safety Pharmacology Endpoints in Toxicology Studies

There is a growing interest for inclusion of safety pharmacology endpoints in toxicology studies in order to:

• Address ICH S7A & S7B requirements
• Achieve the 3Rs, better utilize resources, and control costs
• Generate additional data after repeated dosing

This trend includes both investigative and regulatory toxicology studies and has been facilitated by the advent of new technologies improving data quality and non-invasive measurements.

SPS will host a series of four webinars in September 2012 focused on specific areas of safety pharmacology: CV, CNS, Respiratory, and Supplementary Studies. Please visit the SPS Webinar listing for specific dates and times. Each webinar will explore the advantages and disadvantages of adding these endpoints in toxicology studies and the impact on drug discovery and development. Webinar participants are encouraged to actively engage in discussion after presentations from an expert panel. The results of these webinars, along with the outcome from an upcoming SPS industry survey, will serve to create a white paper on best practices, industry trends, opportunities, and pitfalls when including safety pharmacology into toxicology studies. Results will be shared at the 2012 SPS Annual Meeting in Phoenix this October, and potentially at the SOT 2013 Annual Meeting in March.

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SOT sponsors two types of meetings outside of the SOT Annual Meeting: Contemporary Concepts in Toxicology (CCT) and Non-SOT meetings. CCT meetings are one- to two-day focused, open registration, scientific meetings in contemporary and rapidly progressing areas of toxicological sciences. Non-SOT meetings are sponsored by other not-for-profit organizations and SOT will either endorse or provide sponsorship money to toxicology-related meetings.