Blogs

In Memoriam: Steven G. Gilbert

By Matthew Campen posted 3 hours ago

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SOT has learned that longtime member Steven Galen Gilbert, PhD, DABT, passed away on July 15, 2025. Dr. Gilbert conducted research on the toxic effects of heavy metals and chemicals, founded the nonprofit Institute of Neurotoxicology and Neurological Disorders, and created the interactive website Toxipedia . For   additional   information, please see Dr. Gilbert’s obituary .   This blog serves as an announcement of the member’s passing. Family, friends, and colleagues are welcome to develop a more detailed tribute for publication by SOT.     #InMemoriam

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In Memoriam: Timothy Marrs

By Matthew Campen posted 3 hours ago

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SOT has learned that l ongtime SOT member Timothy Marrs , OBE , MD , DSc , FRCP , FRCPATH , FBTS , passed away on November 1, 2025. Dr. Marrs was a consultant in Edenbridge, United Kingdom, specializing in organophosphates and other nerve agents. His funeral will be on December 2 at the Edenbridge Church of St. Peter and St. Paul. For more information, please see Dr. Marrs’s obituary in The Telegraph . This blog serves as an announcement of the member’s passing. Family, friends, and colleagues are welcome to develop a more detailed tribute for publication by SOT.     #InMemoriam

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SOT Council Creates Hardship Relief Temporary Endowment Fund

By Cynthia Rider posted 3 hours ago

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Use this QR code to access the donation form on the new GiveSmart platform. Recognizing that shifts in the government and economic landscapes have negatively impacted SOT members, SOT Council, with approval from the Endowment Fund Board, is creating a Hardship Relief Temporary Endowment Fund. This fund will assist members who experienced and continue to experience interrupted employment with expenses such as Annual Meeting registration, Annual Meeting travel, and SOT dues payment.   The goal is to raise at least $10,000 , which is the minimum required to create a Temporarily Restricted Endowment Fund. What’s more, ...

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Challenge Issued: SOT to Explore the Lighter Side of Scientific Life

By Matthew Campen posted 3 hours ago

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Ever been about to head out the lab door for the day when your PI stops you, wanting to work just a little longer? SOT member Angela  Slitt’s lab took this common experience, set it to a song from Hamilton , and created 30 seconds of joy ( watch now on the new SOT TikTok account ) .   This inspired SOT to wonder what other aspects of scientific life are primed for a little good-natured teasing … and which lab, department, or workplace would best be able to capture them.   Hence, the SOT TikTo x Video Challenge was born. Every few months, SOT will issue a video challenge, encouraging members to share their ...

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ToxSci November 2025 Issue Available

By James Luyendyk posted 7 days ago

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The November 2025 issue of Toxicological Sciences includes a Contemporary Review that explains how new approach methodologies (NAMs) are gaining increased popularity for toxicological testing and even mechanistic research. An In-Depth Review underscores the need for targeted studies that address how common co-exposures to PFAS and alcohol may intensify liver pathology, the value of a systems biology approach for future investigations, and the importance of implementing strategies to mitigate these synergistic hazards. A Forum article shows how toxicology is shifting toward predictive, mechanism-based approaches that support quicker, more ...

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Attention SOT Members: Get Ready for the 2026 BTS Annual Congress!

By Cynthia Rider posted 7 days ago

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This blog is being shared as part of a blog exchange between the British Toxicology Society (BTS) and SOT.   The British Toxicology Society (BTS) invites all SOT members to attend the 202 6 BTS Annual Congress , being held April 27–29, 2026 , in Solihull , U nited Kingdom . Solihull is midway between Birmingham (one of the UK’s major cities and transport hubs) and Stratford-upon-Avon (the birthplace and hometown of William Shakespeare).   This year’s Congress will feature a range of sessions and activities that will provide opportunities to advance knowledge, foster collaborations and ...

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Attention Government Employees: Abstract Submission Deadline Extended

By James Luyendyk posted 7 days ago

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Recognizing the effects of the government shutdown on members and their work, SOT is extending the abstract submission deadline for the 2026 SOT Annual Meeting and ToxExpo for only federal government employees or those requiring approval of a government employee or agency (e.g., contractors) until December 13 . For all other submitters, the submission deadline remains November 13.   SOT members who are federal employees will receive an email containing instructions on how to submit an abstract past the November 13 deadline. This email can be forwarded to federal contractors or others needing federal ...

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Childcare Services Available at the 2026 SOT Annual Meeting and ToxExpo

By Cynthia Rider posted 7 days ago

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SOT is pleased to share that childcare services will once again be offered during the 65th Annual Meeting and ToxExpo in San Diego, California. Whether you’re attending Scientific Sessions or exploring the ToxExpo , you can fully engage knowing your children are enjoying a safe, fun, and enriching experience.   SOT has partnered with KiddieCorp , a trusted provider of children’s programs for conventions and events for 40 years, to host this year’s Children’s Program. KiddieCorp’s long-standing endorsement by the American Academy of Pediatrics reinforces their commitment to providing high-quality care that prioritizes both ...

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Seeking Volunteers for Undergraduate Student Activities at 2026 SOT Annual Meeting: Applications Due December 1

By Checo Rorie posted 14 days ago

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The SOT Initiatives for Development and Engagement Committee (IDEC) is seeking volunteers interested in assisting with activities for undergraduate students at the  SOT 6 5 th Annual Meeting and ToxExpo  in San Diego, C alifornia . I f you are interested in volunteering, please complete th is   applic a tion form  before December 1  to indicate your interest and availability. Opportunities to Volunteer Undergraduate Development Program Host and Peer Mentors serve from Saturday through Monday and establish mentoring relationships ...

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Regulation and Policy Update: SOT Continues Support of Strong Budget for NIH in FY 2026

By James Luyendyk posted 14 days ago

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Throughout the year, SOT is approached by like-minded organizations to lend its support to varying issues and recommendations. This blog  contains  a summary of a recent action by SOT related to regulations and public policy.    Continued Support for Strong NIH Budget On October 27, 2025, the Ad Hoc Group for Medical Research, comprised of 455 members including SOT, sent a letter to the Chairs and Vice Chairs of the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations, urging them to provide a robust investment in the National Institutes of Health (NIH) as part of the FY 2026 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies ...

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Restoring Soil, Restoring Trust: Soil Health Through a Toxicological Lens

By Vanitha Thurairasu posted 14 days ago

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When we say , “ soil,” most people imagine a pile of dirt on the roadside. But soil is not dirt . Soil is life. The very body we carry is soil that, over centuries of evolution, learned to sit up and speak. Every grain of rice, every fruit, every vegetable—each is soil taking another form. And one day, when our role is done, we return to the same soil. The question is not whether we are connected to soil but whether we are conscious of it. From a toxicological perspective, we are trained to look for invisible agents that can harm life. We measure doses, exposures, and risk. Yet , the greatest toxicology laboratory is not inside four ...

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Upcoming Committee and Component Group Award Deadlines: November and December 2025

By Cynthia Rider posted 21 days ago

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T he SOT Regional Chapters, Special Interest Groups, and Specialty Sections confer many awards throughout the year to recognize the achievements of toxicologists, particularly graduate students and postdoctoral scholars. Awards with deadlines through December 31 , 202 5, are listed in this blog . For full details and contact information for each award, visit the “ SOT Awards ” web page on the SOT website.   Awards supported by the SOT Endowment Fund are noted with an asterisk (*).   November 12 , 202 5   Mixtures Specialty Section MixSS Jane Ellen Simmons SOT Travel Award   ...

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The Mehendale Welcome Award: Supporting a Mission to Tackle Pollution and Climate Change

By Natalia Castro Hinostroza posted 21 days ago

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Born and raised in Lima, the most polluted city in South America, I witnessed how pollution affected my family’s health, with cases of asthma, allergies, and even cancer. These environmental and public health challenges are common in Peru and motivated me to pursue a degree in e nvironmental e ngineering and dedicate myself to volunteering and research aimed at improving people’s quality of life.   During my undergraduate studies, I led a university research group focused on air pollution and its health effects. I also managed two projects in Mi Perú, a district contaminated by heavy metals, where I conducted environmental risk assessments. ...

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GIFT Internship Reflection: Culturing Cells, Cultivating Expertise

By Landon Butler posted 21 days ago

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D uring my six -week internship at Cove Environmental , supported through an SOT Graduate Intern Fellowship in Toxicology (GIFT) Award , my primary responsibility was to develop and optimize a new in vitro model by performing primary extractions of rainbow trout gill cells. Th e project, which is a critical step toward creating a predictive bioassay for waterborne contaminants, involved refining cell culture methods to ensure reproducibility and physiological relevance . My central objective for this internship was to gain a practical and comprehensive understanding of environmental toxicology through the development ...

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Around the World of Toxicology: November 2025 Partner Activities Update

By Matthew Campen posted 21 days ago

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Each month, SOT provides an update on activities and events of importance to the toxicology community through the release of the “Around the World of Toxicology” blog. To submit an event, opportunity, or information for consideration for inclusion in the monthly “Around the World of Toxicology” blog, complete the special submission form for “Around the World of Toxicology” items . Please note that only activities by societies and professional associations (i.e., nonprofits) will be considered. If you are an organization or company seeking to promote an event, please submit your activity to the SOT “ Calendar of Events .”   ...

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Help Inspire the Next Generation! Experts Wanted for the Chat with an Expert Program

By Allen Louie posted 21 days ago

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Networking Event The SOT Graduate Student Leadership Committee organizes the Chat with an Expert program each year as part of the  SOT Annual Meeting and ToxExpo !   Participation in this program is a wonderful opportunity for you to contribute and give back to the SOT community by helping trainees navigate their next career steps.   We are looking for enthusiastic toxicologists (from all walks of life and career stages) to meet with trainees interested in toxicology careers, as well as postdoctoral scholars to meet with graduate students interested in pursuing a postdoctoral program.   To register as ...

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Is it Mentoring, Networking, or Career Advancement? SOT Members Want to Know!

By Vicki Sutherland posted 21 days ago

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During the development of the most recent SOT Strategic Plan, members voiced a clear need: event descriptions should accurately reflect the type of career development being offered. The term “mentoring,” for instance, has often been used to describe a wide range of activities—some of which don’t involve the kind of sustained, guiding relationship that true mentoring entails. To address this, SOT Council tasked the SOT Career Advancement, Mentoring, and Networking (CAMAN) Committee with defining three key terms—mentoring, networking, and career advancement—and promoting clearer labeling across events. The goal? To help organizers choose the right descriptors ...

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Coming to San Diego for SOT? Stay an Extra Day to Attend EBMC

By Clinton Allred posted 21 days ago

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On Thursday, March 26, 2026, the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine (SEBM) is hosting the 2026 Experimental Biology and Medicine Conference (EBMC) titled “Use of New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) to Understand Human Health and Disease Across Diverse Populations . ” This day-long event will include featured presentations, a luncheon, a Poster Session, a Career Development Session, and an Awards Reception—all for a nominal fee. SOT room block pricing also still applies!    The following individuals will deliver featured presentations during EBMC:   Camilla Dos Santos, PhD, Cold Spring Harbor ...

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Unlock Your Future in Toxicology: Apply for the Experiential Opportunities Career Development Award

By Meghan Rebuli posted 28 days ago

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Are you an undergraduate or graduate student passionate about toxicology and seeking meaningful ways to advance your career? SOT has a n opportunity designed just for you : the Experiential Opportunities Career Development Award . Recently renamed to better reflect its mission, this award supports students from underrepresented groups in the sciences as they pursue transformative educational and career development experiences.   What Is the Award?   The Experiential Opportunities Career Development Award provides up to $1,000 to help fund activities that enhance professional development in toxicology or a related field. ...

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Thomas W. Kensler (1948–2025): A Leader in Aflatoxin Carcinogenesis and Antioxidant Response Pathways Research

By David Eaton posted 28 days ago

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Co-authored by John D. Groopman This picture of Dr. Kensler was taken by John Groopman outside a Tea House in Qidong, China, and reflects Tom’s joy during his many years of aflatoxin research in Qidong.  It is with great sadness that we share with our SOT colleagues a memorial to our close friend and colleague, Dr. Thomas W. Kensler, who passed away from a hiking accident on Mt. Blanc, France, on July 11, 2025, at the age of 76 .     Dr. Kensler was born in New York City in 1948, the son of Charles J. Kensler and Elizabeth B. K. Williams. He grew up in Lexington, Massachusetts. Tom earned his AB in biology ...

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