SOT Addresses Stimulus Package at 2009 Annual Meeting—See You In Baltimore

February 20, 2009

Dear SOT Members:

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (H.R. 1), known as the Stimulus Package, will provide the necessary funding to begin the process of reinvigorating support for the scientific community, particularly related to biomedical research and green energy. A summary of the funding allocations is provided below.

(see Nature magazine and the BioTechniques Web site).

Throughout the history of SOT, our members have been active in advocating for the importance of research funding to help safeguard human health and the environment. In this regard, two sessions at the 2009 SOT Annual Meeting should be of interest to you.

NIH Brown Bag Lunch, Tuesday, March 17, 12:00 NOON–1:15 PM, Room 301: Bring your lunch and join staff from the NIH Center for Scientific Review (CSR) and the Program Officers of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) for lunch and informal discussions about review and grant opportunities at NIEHS. There will be time for questions and discussion, and you can make arrangements to meet these representatives later in the NIH Grants Room, Room 304 in the Convention Center. The Grants Room will be open from 9:30 AM-4:30 PM Tuesday, March 17, and Wednesday, March 18 from 9:00 AM–12 NOON. Drop by or make an appointment to meet program officers in this informal setting. Grants literature will be available. The SOT Research Funding Committee is coordinating these two events.

Special Session: Update from the NIH Center for Scientific Review, Wednesday, March 18, 1:30 PM–2:30 PM, Room 316. NIH CSR Director Antonio Scarpa will provide Annual Meeting attendees with an update of important initiatives underway. He also will discuss the Systemic Injury by Environmental Exposure (SIEE) Special Emphasis Panel (SEP) in the Digestive Health Integrative Review Group (IRG), which enables review of toxicology proposals by scientists familiar with the subject matter. The establishment of this SIEE SEP, which was announced at the 2008 SOT Annual Meeting, is the result of SOT's efforts in raising the importance of the discipline of toxicology to human health prevention. This session provides an opportunity for lively discussion of the importance of toxicology in advancing basic research and protecting public health and grants needed to support these efforts.

As members of SOT we can continue to play an important role in the days and years ahead in advocating for the importance of toxicology. I look forward to seeing you in Baltimore at the 2009 SOT Annual Meeting, March 15–19, 2009.

Kenneth S. Ramos, SOT President

SOT Congressional Visits

January 23, 2009

Dear SOT Member:

SOT is planning Congressional visits Thursday, March 19 and Friday, March 20 in conjunction with the SOT 2009 Annual Meeting in Baltimore. SOT members who are interested are invited and encouraged to participate. The purpose of these meetings will be to:

• Introduce your Congressional representative and staff to SOT and make them aware of the Society and its resources;
• Let them know that they can call upon SOT members for technical/policy assistance on relevant scientific issues that Congressmay consider during the 111th Congress; and,
• Invite them to attend a Congressional briefing later that week on biomonitoring (TBD).

The SOT Communications Committee believes these meetings are an important first step to what will be a regular activity and part of a longer-term strategy for SOT. These meetings and increased communication with staff members and Members of Congress are a key part of the SOT Strategic Plan to:

Advocate for the Value of Toxicology by:

• Becoming known as the primary source for scientific expertise in toxicology.
• Increasing reliance of decision makers on the science of toxicology.
• Playing a proactive role in defining issues for policymakers.

SOT Headquarters will make all the arrangements for you. You just need to let us know which day might work for you. We will visit the Hill in small groups of four, carry brief information packets, and limit our time to thirty minutes per visit. Prior to going to the Hill, we will meet on Tuesday, March 17 at 6:30 AM in the Baltimore Convention Center (Room 305) to prepare for these Congressional visits.

By Feburary 13, please contact Martha Lindauer and let her know of your plans to attend. SOT will provide transportation from the Baltimore Convention Center to Capitol Hill. Also, please also let her know whether you have participated in any previous Congressional briefings, meetings or hearings and give her any information you have on these activities, which will be helpful in preparing background information for our visits. We hope you decide to join us. Your support will make a difference!.

Sincerely,

Kenneth Ramos
SOT President 2008–2009

SOT ToxAdvisory Alert: Funding for Scientific Research

January 21, 2009

Dear SOT Member:

With the 111th Congress in session, a newly elected President in office and the unveiling of the House Democrats $825 billion Stimulus Plan that includes $16 billion for science and technology-related programs, SOT’s leadership is encouraging SOT members to write to their Member of Congress and urge them to increase the level of funding for scientific research. We would specifically like Congress to consider designating $11.1 billion for research for the following agencies:

• $8.6 billion National Institutes of Health (NIH)
• $1.4 billion National Science Foundation (NSF)
• $1.0 billion Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• $ 97 million Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)

Increasing funds to these organizations will go a long way toward stimulating local economies around the country and represent a sound investment for the future and long-term health and vitality of this country. These additional funds will help create jobs for thousands of postdoctoral scholars, will help fulfill the promise of the America COMPETES Act, which was passed by Congress in 2007 and signed into law to double funding for basic research in the physical sciences for the next seven years. National laboratories across the country have been operating on inadequate funds with projects delayed, staff terminated or forced to work reduced hours and facilities in danger of being eliminated without additional funds.

Funding for science and technology at this level represents a relatively small part of the current proposal, yet it will make a vital contribution to America’s future. Please write your Member of Congress today. By not doing so, we will continue to fall short of providing future generations with any real hope of improving human health and the environment.

Simply click here and put in your zip code to locate your Representative and Senators.

To go to the SOT Web site click here. Read the instructions on how to write a letter or personalize the letter that is shown on this page.

Thank you for your support.

Sincerely,

Kenneth S. Ramos
SOT President, 2008–2009