Blogs

New Experiences in Toxicology (NEXT) Award: Learning How RNA Shapes Cancer Treatment Response

By Brittany Rickard posted 3 hours ago

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My name is Brittany Rickard , and I’m a postdoctoral fellow at NC State University in the lab of Dr. Suzanne Fenton . My research evaluates the effects of environmental exposures , specifically perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) , on ovarian cancer cell response to platinum-based chemotherapy. Platinum resistance is a major barrier to the effective treatment of ovarian cancer; thus, the goal of this research is to pinpoint mechanisms driving resistance to develop targeted therapeutic approaches and identify novel , clinically relevant biomarkers that could predict treatment ...

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Around the World of Toxicology: May 2026 Activities Update

By Matthew Campen posted 3 hours 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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SOT Launches New Learning Library with 10 New CE Courses

By Kelly Almond-Abbate posted 3 hours ago

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SOT is thrilled to announce a brand-new platform for Continuing Education (CE) courses alongside brand-new courses! SOT has launched the SOT Learning Library , a new learning management system (LMS), that houses an archive of more than 100 Continuing Education courses that the Society has hosted within the last 15 years. This catalog includes the newly released 2026 courses that were recorded during the 2026 Annual Meeting and ToxExpo . These new courses cover topics such as machine learning and artificial intelligence, risk assessments, carcinogenicity assays, and more. ...

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Introducing “Our Mentors”: A New Honorific for Those Who Shaped Us

By Ranulfo Lemus Olalde posted 3 hours ago

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Some careers are built based on skills . Others are built because of people—the advisors, champions, and quiet encouragers who saw potential before it was proven. In recognition of those who impacted our careers , SOT is proud to announce the newest honorific in its Education Mission Fund Honorary Giving Campaign: “ Our Mentors .” My mentors, Drs. Meryl H. Karol and Thomas G. Akers, were pivotal to my career development and personal growth. They guide me not only by sharing their knowledge and expertise but by offering encouragement and opening doors. By acknowledging our mentors, we h ...

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Sarah A. Carratt, Tynisha D. Glover, and Kymberly M. Gowdy Elected to the SOT Membership Committee

By Matthew Campen posted 3 hours ago

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SOT is pleased to announce that Sarah A. Carratt , PhD, DABT; Tynisha D. Glover, PhD; and Kymberly M. Gowdy, PhD, have been elected to serve on the 2026 – 202 9 Membership Committee. These individuals bring experience across industry and academia, along with a shared commitment to mentoring, member engagement, professional development, and strengthening the toxicology community. Sarah A. Carratt Dr. Carratt is a drug safety team lead and board -certified toxicologist at Pfizer. Within R&D, she leverages her cancer biology background and toxicology expertise to craft nonclinical ...

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From Contacts to Compass: Scientists Rethink Mentorship in a Networked Age

By Larissa Williams posted 3 hours ago

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At a time when scientific careers are more nonlinear than ever, a growing chorus of voices is urging scientists to rethink a familiar concept: mentorship. During the “ Navigating Y our S cientific C areer: T he P ower of T ransforming N etwork into M entoring” session at the 2026 SOT Annual Meeting and ToxExpo , scientists across career stages gathered to explore how networking can be transformed into meaningful, enduring mentoring relationships. For many, mentorship begins early. For me , it started as a first-year undergraduate researcher where I was guided by Jacqueline Sinclair of ...

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Neurotoxic Metals: Old Exposures, New Questions

By Alexandra Del Favero-Campbell posted 4 hours ago

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Heavy metals like lead and mercury are often thought of as “solved problems ” that we have tirelessly studied for decades. These are hazards we already understand and have learned to potentially control. But the “ Neurotoxicity: Metals ” P oster S ession at the 2026 SOT Annual Meeting and ToxExpo made one thing clear: metal neurotoxicity is far from a closed chapter . Instead, researchers are uncovering new ways that common, real ‑ world metal exposures may shape brain health across the lifespan. Across dozens of posters, a few clear themes emerged . First, many ...

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The Invisible Emissions of Dental 3D Printing

By Matthew Campen posted 4 hours ago

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This blog is being shared under the SOT Secretary’s name as part of their official duties and should not be interpreted as their personal or professional opinions.    This blog was written by Talia Sager. I spoke with Qian Zhang , PhD, UL Research Institutes’ Chemical Insights , during the 2026 Poster Session “Mixtures” to learn about insights shared in her poster “Inhalation Exposure Risks from Resin 3D Printing Used in the Dental Field.” The presented work offers important considerations for air quality and exposure safety as the dental field increasingly relies on vat photopolymerization 3 ...

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Regulation and Policy Update: FY2026 and 2027 Budget Recommendations and the NIH Draft Strategic Plan

By James Luyendyk posted 6 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. It also contains other policy items and opportunities that may be of interest to SOT members. Call for Members for the European Commission Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) The SCCS is seeking members to serve for the new 2027–2031 term. The SCCS provides independent scientific advice to the European Commission on issues related to the safety of consumer products, ...

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Investing in the Future: A Huge Shoutout to Our 2026 Undergraduate Program Volunteers

By Checo Rorie posted 6 days ago

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A huge shoutout to the 100+ SOT member volunteers who made the undergraduate activities at the SOT 65th Annual Meeting and ToxExpo a fantastic success! Your dedication to fostering the next generation of toxicologists is truly inspiring. To relive the highlights, be sure to check out the SOT Annual Meeting photo gallery for snapshots of our time together. Students talk with program representatives during the Open Time with Academic Toxicology Program Directors, Internship Sponsors, and SOT Special Interest Groups (SIGs) A Packed Weekend of Learning and Building Connections The energy this year was ...

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Strengthening the Pathways to Toxicology: Volunteer Opportunities with ABRCMS and SACNAS

By Checo Rorie posted 6 days ago

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As a scientific community, SOT is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment for the next generation of toxicologists. Two organizations , ABRCMS and SACNAS , play a pivotal role in supporting students in STEM , including students from underrepresented backgrounds. Every year, these organizations seek the expertise of established scientists to mentor and inspire students and evaluate their work . By volunteering your time, you not only support these students’ professional growth but also help raise the profile of toxicology as a premier career path within these large scientific communities. ...

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A Sincere Thank You to the Volunteers!

By Cynthia Rider posted 6 days ago

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Did you know that April is National Volunteer Month? Now that is something to celebrate! Doubly amazing, it is also National Poetry Month. So, here is my attempt at a thank you poem to the wonderful volunteers of SOT. I apologize in advance to the poets of SOT. Thank you to the session developers whose passion for knowledge enriches us all. Thank you to the mentors who freely offer a piece of themselves. Thank you to the leaders who decide on the directions. Thank you to the poster judges who so considerately consider. Thank you to the newsletter writers who spread all the news. ...

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Melanie Abongwa, Scott S. Auerbach, R. Todd Bunch, Phoebe Stapleton, and Alessandro Venosa Elected to the SOT Awards Committee

By Matthew Campen posted 6 days ago

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SOT is pleased to announce that Melanie Abongwa , PhD, MBA; Scott S. Auerbach, PhD, DABT; R. Todd Bunch, PhD; Phoebe Stapleton, PhD, ATC; and Alessandro Venosa, PharmD, PhD, have been elected to serve three - year terms (2026 –2029) Awards Committee. Collectively, they bring experience from industry, academia, and government, along with strong commitments to scientific excellence, service, mentorship, and the advancement of toxicology. Melanie Abongwa Dr. Abongwa is a toxicologist at BlueRock Therapeutics in Cambridge, Massachusetts. In her role, she provides scientific and strategic ...

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Exploring Alternative Poster Layouts for More Effective Communication

By Samantha Musso posted 6 days ago

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Scientific posters may be a staple of academic conferences, but as Barb Kaplan humorously opened, “Posters are the world’s most awkward social experiment.” In her Tiny Tox Talk, “Plan and Prelection: Alternative Layouts and Effective Communication for Posters, ” Dr. Kaplan guided attendees through methods for designing posters that tell a clear story. Let the Story Drive the Layout Dr. Kaplan emphasized that an effective scientific poster integrates strong data with an equally strong oral presentation. Rather than “jumping around , ” she encouraged presenters to build around a clear theme, such as the subject area, ...

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Debating the Benefits and Risks of Plastic

By Kate Windsor posted 7 days ago

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The yearly SOT/EUROTOX debate was held Monday evening at t he 202 6 SOT Annual Meeting and ToxExpo . This year’s topic , “Do the Societal Benefits of Plastic Outweigh the Risks of Microplastic Contamination?, ” was introduced by Robin Tanguay , Oreg o n State Universit y . Our first contender was Phoebe Stapleton , Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, representing SOT and arguing on the benefits of plastic . Dr. Stapleton was pitted against Raymond Pieters , Universiteit Utrecht, representing EUROTOX and arguing the risks of microplastic . ...

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Sex-Specific Oral Health Responses Linked to Vaping

By Matthew Campen posted 7 days ago

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This blog is being shared under the SOT Secretary’s name as part of their official duties and should not be interpreted as their personal or professional opinions.    This blog was written by Talia Sager. At the 2026 SOT Poster Session “Tobacco, ENDS, and Smoking-Related Toxicology I,” I spoke with Xiaojia He , PhD, UL Research Institutes’ Chemical Insights , about the Center for Toxicology and Human Heal th ’s latest research, presented in the poster titled “Multi- o mics Profiling Reveals Sex-Specific Oral Health Disruptions Associated with Vaping.” Notably , a blue ribbon was displayed ...

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The Value of Networking: Experiences from the NPA 2026 Annual Conference in San Francisco

By Angela Dean posted 14 days ago

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Each year, SOT sponsors a member of the SOT Postdoctoral Assembly (PDA) Executive Board to attend the National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) Annual Conference. This opportunity enables our postdoctoral leadership to gather innovative ideas from peer organizations while showcasing PDA achievements on a national stage. As a first-time postdoctoral representative, I was a bit nervous to attend the National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) meeting. I had never attended a meeting that was not focused on presenting data, and I was not sure what to expect from the NPA 2026 Annual C onference. But I was completely blown away by all the opportunities ...

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Invitation to attend the STP 45th Annual Symposium

By Matthew Campen posted 14 days ago

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This invitation i s being shared as part of a blog exchange between STP and SOT.  Join the Society of Toxicologic Pathology (STP) for the  STP 45th Annual Symposium: The Pulse of Progress: Advancing Knowledge on Cardiovascular Toxicity , taking place  June 21–24, 2026 , at Paradise Point in San Diego, California . This year’s program offers a forward-looking, cross-disciplinary exploration of cutting-edge advances in cardiovascular toxicology, with abundant opportunities for learning, collaboration, and networking. Please visit the  Annual Symposi u m website  for additional information. ...

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2027 Session Proposals Welcome—Deadline May 15!

By Robyn Tanguay posted 14 days ago

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The SOT Annual Meeting and ToxExpo in San Diego is nearly a month behind us : another memorable event ! Now , we turn our attention to the 202 7 Annual Meeting and ToxExpo , taking place March 14 – 17 , 202 7 , in San Antonio, Texas. The Proposal Submission Site is open until May 15 , and it’s your chance to contribute to the meeting with your Scientific Session or Continuing Education course ideas. Important Resources As you prepare your submission, be sure to review the 202 7 Annual ...

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Natalie M. Johnson Is a 2026–2029 SOT Councilor

By Matthew Campen posted 14 days ago

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SOT is pleased to announce that Natalie M. Johnson, PhD, Texas A&M University, has been elected to serve as a 2026–202 9 SOT Councilor. Dr. Johnson is an Associate Professor in the Department of Environmental & Occupational Health and Chair of the Interdisciplinary Toxicology Program at Texas A&M University. Her research focuses on air pollution exposure and its effects on maternal and infant respiratory dysfunction. She earned her PhD in t oxicology from Texas A&M University, with an emphasis on exposure biomarkers and translational toxicology, and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Johns Hopkins University focused ...

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