Blogs

The Mehendale Welcome Award: Supporting My Journey in Environmental Health and Climate Science

By Christine Curran posted 2 days ago

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Natalia Castro Hinostroza The SOT Mehendale Welcome Award, administered by the SOT Education and Experiential Opportunities Committee (EEOC), financially assists international graduate students newly accepted in a biomedical scientific research program to ease their transition to a new country. This blog was written by Natalia Castro Hinostroza , recipient of the 2025 SOT Mehendale Welcome Award . Born and raised in Lima, the most polluted city in South America, I witnessed firsthand how pollution affected my family’s health, with cases of asthma, allergies, and even cancer. These environmental and public health ...

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Effective Risk Communication: A Critical Skill That All Toxicologists and Scientists Should Develop

By Johanna Elizabeth Ku posted 2 days ago

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When a disaster occurs, local officials run to the scene. The area is evaluated , and an investigation into what happened is initiated . Suddenly, a major risk is identified . Local officials must address the community and deliver the bad news : the area must be evacuated due to potential public health risks. What information do we have? How much information should be communicated? Is there a plan in place for these types of situations? Here is when communication is not enough … here is when risk must be communicated effectively. As toxicologists and ...

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How Tiny Zebrafish Are Advancing PFAS Toxicity Research

By Sharika Marjan posted 2 days ago

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Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a major focus of environmental toxicology due to their persistence, widespread exposure, and potential impacts on early development. At the 65th SOT Annual Meeting and ToxExpo in San Diego, a Symposium S ession titled “ Developmental PFAS Toxicity: Leveraging Zebrafish as a Model for Phenotypic, ’ Omics, and Organ-Level Studies ” highlighted how zebrafish models are advancing mechanistic understanding of PFAS toxicity. Presentations by Drs. Alicia Timme-Laragy, Subham Dasgupta, Jennifer Freeman, Nishad Jayasundara, and Drake Phelps illustrated how phenotypic screening, transcriptomics, ...

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How PFAS Affect the Heart at a Cellular Level

By Dana Dolinoy posted 2 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. During the 2026 Poster Session “PFAS I,” I spoke with Norah Nguyen , a senior at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, abo ut her poster , “Unveiling PFAS-Induced Cardiovascular Endothelial Toxicity: Differential DNA Damage and Oxidative Stress Responses , ” which shared research she completed during her internship with UL Research Institutes’ Chemical Insights. ...

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ToxSci Volume 209, Issue 4 Available

By Robyn Tanguay posted 9 days ago

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Volume 209, Issue 4 of Toxicological Sciences features a Contemporary Review article highlight ing recent efforts to combine systems and network biology approaches for predicting toxicological adverse outcomes, covering network construction, analysis, and dynamic predictions . Additionally, a n In-Depth Review discusses multi- omic investigations into environmental effects on health and disease while a Research Brief shows that bronchoalveolar lavage can be performed as a serial evaluation in nonclinical studies, without benefit from multiple baseline occasions and with some effect on lung histopathology. ...

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SOT Members Are Invited for a Week of Science in Montréal

By Dana Dolinoy posted 9 days ago

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This blog is being shared on behalf of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) as part of a blog exchange between SETAC and SOT. SETAC has scheduled two back-to-back meetings between November 1 and 5 at the Montr é al Convention Centre and welcomes members of SOT to collaborate. As environmental and human challenges become increasingly complex, collaboration across scientific disciplines under a One Health approach is becoming more important. To support those conversations, SETAC has planned a two-day topical meeting on S pecies S urrogacy, followed by the SETAC North America 47th ...

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SOT Announces Next ToxSci Editor-in-Chief

By Jennifer Schlezinger posted 9 days ago

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Alison H. Harrill Over the last few months, the SOT Board of Publications (BOP) has engaged in a search to replace outgoing Toxicological Sciences Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey M. Peters. As BOP Chair, I am pleased to announce that our search has been successful, and SOT member and current ToxSci Associate Editor Alison H. Harrill, PhD, has been selected to serve as the ne xt Editor-in-Chief, effective July 1, 2026. Dr. Harrill is a Global Regulatory Toxicologist with Corteva Agriscience. Previously, she held positions with the US Environmental Protection Agency, the National Institutes of Health, and the University ...

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Research Insights Rising from the Ashes

By Dana Dolinoy posted 9 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. Wildfires have become increasingly frequent , sever e , and chemica l l y complex as climate change intensifies and development continues to expand the wildland urban interface (WUI), where natural and built environments meet . WUI fires generate a unique and still poorly understood mix ture of emissions ...

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From Guinea Pigs to Alligators: What Metals Science Is Telling Us Now

By Alexandra Del Favero-Campbell posted 9 days ago

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From guinea pigs to alligators—and nearly everything in between—the “ Metals I ” P oster S ession at the 2026 SOT Annual Meeting and ToxExpo made it clear that metals research today spans far more than a single species, tissue, or exposure route. Together, these posters told a broader story about how metals move through bodies and ecosystems, quietly shaping health in ways we are only beginning to fully understand. One striking theme across the session was real ‑ world exposure complexity. Many studies moved beyond high-dose, short-term experiments to examine low-dose, chronic, or environmentally ...

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We Are What We Eat … and So Are Our Models

By Krista Enos posted 9 days ago

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Diet and health have become a hot topic of conversation in public discourse and individual conversations and throughout scientific inquiry. There was also great interest in understanding diet with respect to toxicology in San Diego. Kymberly Gowdy , Ohio State University , chaired a W orkshop S ession titled “Diet and Toxicology: Examining the Novel and Underappreciated Interaction” and introduced the topic by positing the question that if we know nutrition can impact disease, then how does what we eat impact how we react to toxicants? Susan Sumner , University of North Carolina , then ...

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Upcoming Career Development Webinar on Pathways to Teaching in Higher Education

By Greg Landry posted 16 days ago

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The SOT Undergraduate Educator Network has announced an upcoming webinar focused on pathways to teaching in higher education. The free webinar , titled “ Preparing the Next Generation of Educators: Pathways and Professional Development in Higher Education Teaching ,” will take place Friday, June 12, 2026, at 12:00 noon (US EDT, UTC -4). Advance registration is not required ; simply join the webinar at the appointed time using this link . The webinar will h ighlight higher education teaching/education-based careers and career development opportunities. It will provide content that ...

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In Memoriam: John Eric Garst

By Dana Dolinoy posted 16 days ago

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SOT has learned that Emeritus member John Eric Garst passed away on April 23, 2026, after a short battle with aggressive cancer. Dr. Garst received h is PhD in medicinal chemistry with an emphasis on toxicology from the University of Iowa and joined SOT in 1986. For additional information, please see Dr. Garst’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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Daniel A. Gorelick, Amie K. Lund, Fjodor Melnikov, and Alison Pecquet Elected to the SOT Nominating Committee

By Matthew Campen posted 16 days ago

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SOT is pleased to announce that Daniel A. Gorelick, PhD; Amie K. Lund, PhD ; Fjodor Melnikov, PhD; and Alison Pecquet, PhD, DABT, have been elected to serve on the Nominating Committee for 2026–2029 . These individuals bring experience from industry and academ ia , along with a shared commitment to thoughtful leadership, broad representation, scientific excellence, and the continued advancement of toxicology. From the Regional Chapters : Daniel A. Gorelick Dr. Gorelick is an Associate Professor with tenure at Baylor College of Medicine, where he leads a research program using zebrafish ...

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If a Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words, a Clear Graph Will Protect Your Science

By Johanna Elizabeth Ku posted 16 days ago

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During the last decade, we have seen the importance of scientists hav ing more presence in the media and engaging with non-scientific public. So, when one is requested to prepare a graph, it ’ s time to put on the amateur graphic designer coat. The task can be daunting, depending on the complexity of the topic. To help toxicologists improve their science communication skills, a group of experts organized the Engagement/Workshop Session titled “Science Simplified Through Graphics , ” where the presenters provided tools and strategies to attendees to transform their future presentations and graphics ...

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A Candid Look at the Communication Challenges Faced by Regulatory Toxicologists

By Samantha Musso posted 16 days ago

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In her Tiny Tox Talk, “Talking About Contamination in the Environment: A Toxicologist’s Challenge,” Evelyn Re á tegui- Zirena of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) offered a candid look at the communication challenges faced by regulatory toxicologists . To work at the intersection of science, public perception , and policy requires both technical expertise and emotional intelligence. The Realities of Regulatory Communication Toxicologists are challenged with streamlining scientific concepts without oversimplifying them, combating misinformation, and addressing the emotional responses ...

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How Exposure Pathways Reveal the True Human Impact of Chemicals

By Matthew Campen posted 16 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 Poster Session “ADME/ Toxicokinetics I,” I spoke with John Wambaugh , PhD, about his poster, “Route-Specific Variation of Systemic Bioavailability of Chemical Emissions,” and he shared fascinating insights into how the way a chemical enters the body dramatically shapes its potential health impact. Using high-throughput toxicokinetics (HTTK), specifically ...

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

By Brittany Rickard posted 23 days 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 23 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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SOT Launches New Learning Library with 10 New CE Courses

By Kelly Almond-Abbate posted 23 days 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 23 days 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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