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Since early spring, SOT has established two new Endowment Funds, the Harry W. Hays Memorial Fund and the Dharm V. Singh Carcinogenesis Award Fund. We are excited to announce that the Harry W. Hays Memorial Fund was established as a new specific purpose endowment fund in May 2009. Dr. Harry W. Hays (1909–2001) was a founder of the Society of Toxicology and the Society’s fourth President (1964–1965). Dr. Hays also played a vital role in documenting the history of the Society through its first 25 years. In 1961, on the occasion of the founding of the Society, Dr. Hays foresaw bright promise ahead, both for toxicology as a learned profession and for the Society as a body of scientists of widely diverse interests working together for the advancement of the science of toxicology and the promotion of a better and safer environment. The creation of this fund was initiated by Dr. Hays’ nephew, William C. Hays, Esquire, who has served as SOT’s legal counsel for 48 years. Proceeds from the fund will be used annually to further the objectives of either or both the Society’s Education Fund or SOT Priority Fund as determined by the SOT Council and, to the extent feasible, benefiting objectives that will be identified as having been funded by the Harry W. Hays Memorial Fund.
The Dharm V. Singh Carcinogenesis Award Fund was created in April 2009 with another generous contribution by Dharm Singh in memory of his wife, Sita Singh. Proceeds from this Fund will be used to encourage students and postdoctoral fellows to pursue careers in research that will lead to a better understanding of the causes of cancer and improved diagnosis and treatment of this disease. This Fund is aligned with the Carcinogenesis Specialty Section. During this past year, the Endowment Fund grew from 19 to 24 specific purpose funds in addition to the 4 general purpose funds. On behalf of the SOT Endowment Fund Board and the entire Society, we thank all contributors to the SOT Endowment Fund. The commitment expressed through your generosity, especially during this challenging economic time, will help nurture the Society’s second half century of achievement in advancing the science of toxicology. For your 2009–2010 contributions, please note that the Endowment Fund Donor Form is now much easier to use. The form has more “white space” making it much easier to read in either the printed or on-line version. The on-line version can be saved in an electronic form and also has great drop-down selection options and links to definitions of specific and general purpose funds. Check it out and make a donation! Your Insight Needed—SOT Professional Needs Assessment SurveyAll Full, Associate, and Postdoctoral members of SOT will receive a mid-October e-mail requesting your insight into the future professional needs of toxicologists. Consistent with the Society’s strategic priority of “Building for the Future of Toxicology,” the Professional Needs Assessment Survey was developed to help define key areas where the Society can assist members in addressing the long-term needs of the profession. In a time when the average employee has 10–14 different jobs by the age of 38, what experiences can SOT provide that will help you be at the top of your field? In addition, the survey asks employers what skills will be needed by toxicologists in the future. Questions are related to the understanding and application of skills, new technologies, and knowledge bases relative to changing market conditions. The results of the survey will help guide SOT leadership in planning future activities. The development of this survey was spearheaded by the Professional Needs Assessment Task Force (PNATF), which was charged by SOT Council to evaluate the long-term needs of toxicologists. The 2009–2010 members of PNATF are Daniel Acosta (Chair), Kerry Blanchard, Patricia Ganey (SOT Council Contact), Mary Beth Genter, Kevin Kerzee, Jim Lamb, and Jim Popp. The PNATF sought and received input from SOT Standing Committees aligned with the objectives of this strategic priority, including Career Resource and Development, Continuing Education, Education, Membership, and Research Funding. The new SOT Data Task Force worked with the PNATF on the survey design to continue SOT’s practice of gathering information to facilitate knowledge-based decision making. The survey will be launched October 15 and will close on Friday, October 30 at 5:00 PM. The survey responses will be anonymous and results will be used only in the aggregate. The results of the survey will be evaluated by the PNATF and provided to the Council to facilitate their strategic planning. SOT Members will receive a report on the survey in Spring 2010. A Message Sent from the Finance CommitteeThe Society of Toxicology remains on a firm financial foundation despite tremendous economic challenges during the past fiscal year from the end of the second quarter of 2008 to the end of the second quarter of 2009. SOT reserve accounts declined an average of 12%. On the bright side, our operating (check book) account finished the 2008–2009 fiscal year with a positive balance. This is largely due to the great success of the 2009 Annual Meeting in Baltimore and reflects the commitment of SOT membership to our discipline. Recognition also must be given to the wise planning of previous SOT Presidents, Treasurers, and other Council members. Without their good decisions, our financial position might be far less strong than what we currently enjoy. The SOT has committed to not increasing annual dues or Annual Meeting registration fees for the next year. For the 2010 Annual Meeting, Council has determined that a modest $10 increase in the abstract processing fee is necessary to help maintain our positive financial balance. This is the first increase in abstract fees since 2003. Many of you serving on SOT Committees or Task Forces deserve our thanks for working with the budget reductions. As an example, the conversion to WebEx conferences versus face-to-face meetings is an experiment in cost savings in which many of these groups, as well as officers in Regional Chapters, Special Interest Groups, and Specialty Sections, now are participating. Visit the SOT Web site to view the recordings of the recent Leadership Connection Meetings. Thanks to everyone for your assistance and for doing your part to maintain the vitality of SOT. SOT Affiliates Provide Support and Reap Money-Saving BenefitsBecause SOT is an individual membership Society, an SOT Affiliate category has been established for private, public, and not-for-profit organizations that wish to contribute to SOT’s success toward “creating a safer and healthier world by advancing the science of toxicology.” For a contribution of $2,500, a group may join other SOT Affiliates who have provided support to the Society in reaching its strategic objectives. In appreciation for this support, SOT Affiliates receive:
Affiliate benefits are for a one-year period, from October to October, and can be renewed each year. For more information about becoming an SOT Affiliate, contact Marcia Lawson. SOT CCT PPTOXII Abstracts Due October 21, 2009
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| Marquea King |
SOT Member Marquea King’s accomplishments are presented in her “featured profile” posted on the Leadership Alliance Web site. This organization is an academic consortium of 33 institutions of higher learning, including leading research and teaching colleges and universities with their mission to develop underrepresented students into outstanding leaders and role models in academia, business, and the public sector.
Dr. King has been a member of SOT since 1999 and is now the Vice President of the Toxicologists of African Origin Special Interest Group (TAO-SIG). She serves as a host mentor to undergraduate students at the SOT Annual Meeting and has been a member of the Committee on Diversity Initiatives.
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In Memoriam K.C. Donnelly |
Kirby Cornell (K.C.) Donnelly passed away on July 1 after his 18-month courageous battle with esophageal cancer. He was Professor and Department Head of Environmental and Occupational Health in the Texas A&M (TAMU) Health Science Center’s School of Rural Public Health. He also held an appointment in the Department of Veterinary Integrated Biosciences at TAMU. Nancy W. Dickey, President, Texas A&M Health Science Center (HSC), Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs, in a statement to HSC faculty staff and students noted that Dr. Donnelly’s “imprint will remain with us and those who follow in his footsteps for decades to come.”
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Mary Kanz (left) at the Academic Program Session of the Undergraduate Program March 2009 |
Mary F. Kanz passed away on July 5, 2009, following complications associated with aggressive cancer. She was an Associate Professor of Pathology at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), Galveston, Texas. She was the recipient of the UTMB Graduate Student Association Distinguished Teacher Award and the Experimental Pathology Department Student Award for Teaching and Mentoring. Dr. Kanz was an active member of the SOT Gulf Coast Regional Chapter and served as a leader of this group for many years. Two of her former students, Tammy Dugas and Vicente Santa Cruz, have established a memorial fund to provide a travel award to graduate students to enable them to attend a national or international meeting. Contributions can be sent to the Mary Kanz Travel Award in Environmental Toxicology at the University of Texas Medical Branch, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Attn: Ann Anderson, 301 University Blvd., Galveston, TX 77555-0148.
Kathryn R. Mahaffey passed away on June 2, 2009. She was the 2006 recipient of the SOT Arnold J. Lehman Award presented in recognition of the contributions she made to the understanding of the risk posed by metals such as lead and methylmercury. She contributed at several levels to the regulatory process for limiting exposure of women of childbearing age and children to methylmercury exposure through fish consumption. She worked at the Food and Drug Administration, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, and numerous positions at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA). Dr. Mahaffey also was a distinguished professorial lecturer at George Washington University. Among her many other accomplishments, she was awarded the Bronze Medal for Commendable Service from U.S. EPA for her work on mercury, appointed to many panels at the National Academy of Sciences, and was one of the principal authors of U.S. EPA’s Mercury Study Report to Congress that served as the background for alerting the scientific and regulatory communities to the health risks posed by methylmercury and for identifying subpopulations at highest risk from such exposures. She also published over 100 manuscripts in the peer-reviewed scientific literature, another seven reports to Congress, 15 book chapters, and 7 books.
Sheldon Leon Wagner passed away on July 19, 2009. From 1972 to 2003, he was a Professor of Clinical Toxicology at Oregon State University. He joined SOT in 1994 and was a member of the Pacific Northwest Regional Chapter and the Comparative and Veterinary and Occupational and Public Health Specialty Sections. In 2002, the International Society of Occupational and Environmental Medicine presented him with an award for “lifetime contributions to the diagnosis and treatment of pesticide poisoning.”
The Biotechnology Specialty Section (BTSS) was approved by SOT Council in July 2009 and the Medical Device Specialty Section (MDSS) in September 2009. Both sections will be available for SOT members to officially join in conjunction with the payment of 2010 dues. These are the newest of the 24 Specialty Sections that provide a forum for networking with peers who share an interest in your area of toxicology. These disciplinary groups may propose sessions for the Annual Meeting, exchange information via newsletters, present awards, host meetings, and participate in other scientific activities. You must be a member of SOT to join a Specialty Section. The membership dues are $15 for each group, and students and postdoctoral fellows may join their first Specialty Section at no cost. Learn more about SOT Specialty Sections.
The Biotechnology Specialty Section (BTSS)
Biotechnology has been defined as “any technological application that uses biological systems, living organisms, or derivatives thereof, to make or modify products or processes for specific use.” In the field of toxicology, this term has been used most abundantly in the context of biotechnology-derived macromolecules being developed to treat disease. However, the term also applies to several other modalities including genetically modified organics, biodegradable plastics, biofuels, imaging and diagnostic agents, bioremediation, and the impact of manufacturing processes on biopharmaceuticals. This area of research and development is growing in importance and impact in the areas of biopharmaceuticals, diagnostics, food, agriculture, environmental waste management, and industrial application. As of December 31, 2006, there were 1,452 biotechnology companies in the United States. This rapidly growing field has already had an effect on toxicology through a robust focus on the scientific rationale driving safety assessment program design and data interpretation, as well as the development of new or refined models for safety assessment. Due to the evolving molecular complexity of biotechnology products and the increasingly diverse nature of applications, we can expect that biotechnology-derived products will impact toxicology increasingly for many years to come.
The Medical Device Specialty Section (MDSS)
The purpose of the MDSS will be to provide an international forum where government, industry, and academic toxicologists can share state-of-the-art knowledge and develop new approaches for the evaluation of medical devices. The objectives for the proposed MDSS include the following:
Please contact Lori Moilanen if you are interested in the MDSS and would like to be added to the e-mail distribution list for this new specialty section.
The Continuing Education (CE) Committee announces the current Speaker Bureau, which is comprised of scientists who have made outstanding presentations during a recent CE Course at the SOT Annual Meeting. Selected by the CE Committee based upon course evaluations, these speakers participate in the Bureau for two years. Regional Chapters are encouraged to invite one of these dynamic speakers to their meetings and SOT provides travel support funding.
However, these funds are limited and allocated as requests are received, so it is important to put your request in early. Please contact Marcia Lawson for more information and to submit your request.
You are encouraged to make frequent visits to the SOT Web sites of the Specialty Sections (SS), Regional Chapters (RC), and Special Interest Groups (SIG).
These Web sites are also accessible from the People & Groups navigation option of the SOT Web site. Many of these groups publish and post electronic newsletters that are an excellent source of non-technical and technical information. Those newsletters posted in the last quarter are listed below as well as links to information about the upcoming Regional Chapter Annual Meetings. Meeting notices are also available on the Calendar of Events section of the Web site.
SOT Headquarters will be pleased to work with SS, RC, and SIG representatives to enhance or revamp your Web site.
Newsletters
Mid-Atlantic
National Capital Area
Southern CaliforniaUpcoming Meeting Information
Central States
Mid-Atlantic
Mountain West
Northeast
Ohio Valley
Pacific Northwest
South Central
Southern California
Dermal Toxicology
Drug Discovery
Metals
Regulatory and Safety Evaluation
For additional information regarding the SS and SIG, contact Allison Branco Maxwell and for RC, contact Kristen Milletti.
| Annual Meeting |
2010 Annual Meeting |
There are many ways to increase your involvement in the Society by volunteering to help with programs and activities that are of particular interest to you using the Volunteer Form. For example, you can offer your assistance at the 2010 Annual Meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah (March 7–11, 2010). You may decide to host an undergraduate student, serve as a toxicology expert during an informal graduate student lunch, promote the Society’s programs and activities at the SOT Resource Pavilion, or offer to be a greeter. Moreover, you might be asked to serve on an SOT Committee or Task Force, or work on a project as an ad hoc member since leadership uses these volunteer submissions to review the names of those who want to serve SOT. Learn more about any of the SOT Committees and Task Forces.
If you volunteered last year, know that not every volunteer can be placed where they request. However, please submit a Volunteer Form this year to reaffirm your interest. In addition, please contact the leadership of your RC, SIG, and SS to find out how you can become more involved.
This is a special call to our membership to volunteer as chairpersons for the exciting sessions programmed for our Annual Meeting. As you know, SOT began accepting 2010 Annual Meeting abstract submissions for platform and poster presentations in August. At this time we would like to send a special call to our membership to identify chairpersons for these exciting sessions.
Listed below are the categories in which authors can submit their abstracts. During the Scientific Program Committee’s review, these broad session topics are broken down into sub-topics related to these categories. Please consider volunteering to serve as a chairperson for an SOT poster or platform session. Generally, there are two chairpersons for each platform session, and each poster session can have either one or two chairpersons. For platform sessions, at least one chair must be an SOT member.
Please visit the 2010 SOT Annual Meeting Web site to review the Session Chairperson Guidelines. To volunteer to serve as an SOT session chairperson, please send an e-mail to Dylan Amerine noting your areas of interest from the list of categories below. If you are selected, you will be sent an invitation in late October requesting your assistance.
The deadline to submit an abstract is October 3, 2009, at 11:59 PM (Eastern Daylight Time). The cost to submit an abstract is $50.
The categories listed below are used by the Scientific Program Committee to group abstracts focusing on similar subjects as well as for session programming.
Category |
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Alternatives to Mammalian Models |
Developmental Basis of Adult Disease |
Immunosuppession |
Oxidative Injury and Redox Biology |
Animal Models |
Developmental Toxicology |
Immunotoxicity |
Persistent Organic Chemicals (POPs) |
Autoimmunity |
Disposition/Pharmacokinetics |
Inflammation and Disease |
Pesticides |
Bioinformatics |
Ecotoxicology |
Inhalants & Cardiopulmonary |
Pharmaceuticals |
Biological Modeling |
Education and Ethics |
Kidney |
Pharmacogenomics/Genetic Polymorphisms |
Biomarkers |
Endocrine Toxicology |
Liver |
Receptors |
Biotransformation/ |
Epidemiology |
Metals |
Regulation/Policy |
Carcinogenesis |
Epigenetics |
Mixtures |
Reproductive Toxicology |
Cardiovascular Toxicology/Hemodynamics |
Exposure Assessment/Biomonitoring |
Nanotoxicology |
Risk Assessment |
Cell Death/Apoptosis |
Food Safety/Nutrition |
Natural Products |
Safety Assessment: Non-Pharmaceutical |
Chemical & Biological Weapons |
Gene Regulation |
Nervous System |
Safety Assessment: Pharmaceutical |
Children’s Health/Juvenile Toxicity |
Genetic Polymorphisms |
Neurodegenerative Disease |
Signal Transduction |
Computational Toxicology |
Genotoxicity/DNA Repair |
Neurotoxicity, Developmental |
Skin |
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Hypersensitivity |
Neurotoxicity, Metals |
Stem Cell Biology and Toxicology |
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Neurotoxicity, Pesticides |
Transcript ‘Omics |
Each year the Scientific Program Committee (SPC) reviews more than 2,000 abstracts for poster and platform presentations for the Annual Meeting. Although a rather daunting task, the committee has organized this process over the years to make the review manageable. However, the committee continues to struggle with the content of some abstracts, particularly where there are minimal data presented or, as in some cases, when the abstract appears to be an “advertisement” for a product or service better suited for presentation at an exhibitor’s booth. In response to feedback provided to us from the membership regarding what constitutes an acceptable abstract, we have put together some practical concepts as a means to assist in the preparation of your abstracts. Detailed information regarding the submission of abstracts, including an FAQ, and instructions can be found on the SOT 2010 Annual Meeting Web site.
For abstracts that describe a toxicological finding, it is imperative that the abstract identify the compound or compound class. The SPC recognizes the proprietary nature of compounds, but at a minimum, the class of compounds needs to be included in the abstract. In addition, a brief description of the purpose and methods needs to be described, and data provided to support a conclusion. The SPC receives dozens of abstracts where no data are included in the abstract and we struggle with accepting these abstracts. In addition to the issues highlighted above, many of the abstracts submitted contain references. Although this information is important to include in the poster presentation or platform discussion, references should not be included in the body of the abstract. Finally, when describing your research or assessment, refrain from using phrases such as "will be presented” or “will be discussed.” For abstracts that describe a policy issue, provide a description of that issue and its application to human or environmental health.
To provide you with additional guidance for preparing your abstract, the top 10 reasons used by the SPC to reject an abstract (shades of David Letterman!) are listed below (numbers are reflective of the number of rejections for the SOT 2009 Annual Meeting).
Reason #10—Abstract raises ethical questions that need to be resolved—None! (a good thing)
Reason #9—Abstract does not identify substance being investigated—1
Reason #8—Abstract is one of several emanating from the same study—3
Reason #7—Work is fundamentally sound, but relevance to toxicology uncertain—3
Reason #6—Experimental design and/or interpretation flawed—9
Reason #5—Abstract is poorly written—15
Reason #4—Abstract presents a review of published literature—18
Reason #3—Abstract reports no new data, interpretations, or applications—19
Reason #2—Abstract promotes a commercial product—29
And finally, the number 1 reason for rejecting an abstract:
Reason #1—Abstract describes work in progress with no results—46
Please keep in mind that the list is only a guide. If the unfortunate circumstance of rejecting a submission arises, the SPC will provide specific input to the submitter.
So, as you prepare an abstract for the 2010 Annual Meeting in Salt Lake City, keep in mind the SOT Top 10 List for rejecting an abstract. Let’s make the scientific quality of the meeting all the better!
In addition to the thematic approach selected by the Scientific Program Committee, the Continuing Education Committee has selected two specific target areas to highlight in the courses offered in 2010.
Biologicals: This topic provides an integrated discussion of the regulatory and risk assessment processes for the development of human monoclonal antibodies, siRNA molecules, vaccines, and other biological materials to be used as new disease modifying therapies, including the evolving and emerging regulations for FDA approval and regulatory aspects of biologicals vs. small molecules.
Cytokine Biology: Cytokines, molecules important in mediating toxicant-induced responses, emanate from multiple sources. Their release is in response to different stimuli and they interact to produce distinct and defined cellular and organismic responses. These responses are deterministic in autoimmune diseases and in response to toxicant exposure. This theme includes elucidation of their roles in diseases (including cancer), response to injury from exposure to chemical or biological agents (including infections), analytical approaches for quantification of cytokine release, presentation of examples of cytokine involvement in toxic responses, cytokine effects on xenobiotic metabolism, and emerging issues in the area.
Continuing Education (CE) courses are carefully selected to provide state-of-the-art and fundamental content in important areas of toxicology, presented by excellent and knowledgeable speakers, targeted to provide useful information whether attendees are in industry, academia, consulting, or any other employment sector. SOT CE courses are a low-cost and convenient way to keep your skills sharp, increase your expertise, or brush up on information in related fields. Take advantage of this fantastic opportunity that your professional society provides for you.
After a review of a great many proposals, the CE Committee selected 13 courses for presentation in Salt Lake City. A list of these courses is available on the SOT 2010 Annual Meeting Web site. Although not restricted to thematic areas of the SOT Annual Meeting and the areas targeted by the CE Committee, several course proposals were accepted that were aligned with these areas. The SOT greatly appreciates the effort that goes into proposal development, course organization, and presentation. Review the courses for 2010 in Salt Lake City and choose the ones that are right for you!
For the 50th Anniversary SOT Annual Meeting in 2011, the CE Committee will select new Target Areas to highlight. Look for additional details on the SOT Web site as they become available. It is not too early to organize a proposal and recruit speakers! Please remember that the proposal deadline for courses in Washington, DC will closely follow the SOT 2010 Annual Meeting.
With our changing economy, it is more important than ever to keep your skills sharp, learn new techniques, and stay competitive in your field, and the Society of Toxicology is dedicated to the professional development of toxicologists. In order to provide opportunities in addition to those at the SOT Annual Meeting, the Continuing Education Committee will be offering on-line access at economical pricing for two excellent CE courses from the SOT 2009 Annual Meeting:
“Translation of Safety Biomarkers in Drug Discovery and Development”
“Stress as a Confounding Factor in Toxicology Studies”
Watch for notification about access to these courses later this fall.
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Braulio D. Jimenez-Velez (far right) pictured with Undergraduate Program Participants at the SOT 2009 Annual Meeting. |
One of the most important contributions you can make to build for the future of toxicology is to serve as a mentor at the Undergraduate Education Program at the SOT Annual Meeting. This program, organized by the Committee for Diversity Initiatives, brings about 35 outstanding undergraduate students to the meeting to learn about toxicology, graduate school, and career opportunities. One of the strengths of the program is that groups of about five students, a toxicology mentor or two, and graduate student peer mentors are a critical part of the organization of many of the activities. The Salt Lake City program begins Saturday evening, March 6, 2010, and concludes Monday afternoon, March 8. You can make a big impact on these students and mentors find it a very rewarding experience. Please volunteer by contacting Adrian Nanez, CDI Chair, or Betty Eidemiller at SOT Headquarters, and make your airline and hotel plans to accommodate the Saturday events.
If you have an undergraduate student who participated in research in your lab this summer or during the academic year, please note that there are three award programs that provide funding for travel and lodging for undergraduate students attending the SOT Annual Meeting. SOT encourages the participation of undergraduate students in the Annual Meeting. Contact Jim Dailey, the meeting registrar, concerning meeting registration for undergraduate students. More information about all of these programs can be accessed from the Resources for Undergraduate Students section of the SOT Web site.
Pfizer Undergraduate Travel Award—Five students are supported by this award selected by the Education Committee based on the quality of the abstract submitted for the meeting, the candidate’s academic record, and recommendation from the mentor.
Minority Travel Award—Students who are from racial/ethnic groups underrepresented in the sciences are selected based on their academic record and statements from the applicant and their advisor. These students may be new to the field of toxicology or may have engaged in toxicology research. They participate in the Saturday-Monday Undergraduate Education Program at the start of the Annual Meeting. The Committee on Diversity Initiatives selects these recipients. Travel funding is provided by NIH-MARC 5T36GM008397.
Travel Award for Students from Underserved Institutions—The Committee on Diversity Initiatives also selects ten students who are from institutions that receive less than $15 million federal funding in science, technology, and math. Applicants may be new to toxicology or have experience in the field and participate in the Undergraduate Education Program Saturday through Monday at the start of the Annual Meeting.
The Student Advisory Council (SAC) is gearing up for another great year of serving the graduate students of the Society of Toxicology. We’d like to encourage all students to submit an abstract for the 2010 Annual Meeting—the deadline is October 3, 2009! When you submit your abstract, don’t forget to apply for SOT awards and for awards in your Specialty Sections, Special Interest Groups, as well as your Regional Chapters. The deadline for applications for Graduate Travel Support for the Salt Lake meeting, the Novartis Graduate Fellowship, and Colgate-Palmolive Awards for Student Research Funding in Alternatives is October 9. Submit your membership application now to be eligible.
There are already many great student opportunities at the Annual Meeting, including Lunch with an Expert and the Student/Postdoc Mixer, but we’re working hard to create new programming for future meetings. We recently completed a survey of the student members in order to determine how we can better serve them. The results indicated that students are interested in career-related programming, such as seminars on grant writing, teaching skills, and oral presentation preparation. Watch for more information when the survey results are released this fall on the SAC Web page. The SAC hopes to address these needs by creating programs that will be available at future Annual Meetings, as well as through web-based seminars throughout the year!
If you are interested in more networking opportunities at the Annual Meeting, there are many volunteer positions available. Students can volunteer to assist with a Continuing Education course, which means they can attend the course for free! Additionally, student volunteers are needed to act as Peer Mentors in the Undergraduate Program beginning Saturday before the meeting starts. These are great opportunities to interact with SOT Leadership and meet your peers. Also, you have to arrive a few days before the meeting officially starts, which will give you ample time to explore all that Salt Lake City has to offer!
As always, if you have any questions about student membership or suggestions for new programming, please contact the SAC President, Erica Sparkenbaugh or Secretary-Treasurer, Sheppard Martin. We are always looking for ways we can serve the students of SOT!
ToxExpo.com—One-stop shopping for the Toxicologist ToxExpo™ is the Toxicology profession's largest trade show of its kind anywhere, and the on-line resource for scientific products and services at ToxExpo.com. Searchable by company name or product/service category, this invaluable resource is at your fingertips 24 hours a day, 7 days a week! |
The 49th Society of Toxicology Annual Meeting and ToxExpo™ will be held at the Salt Palace Convention Center in beautiful Salt Lake City, Utah on March 7–11, 2010, with ToxExpo™ dates of March 8–10, 2010. This event attracts more than 6,500 of the world's leading scientists, executives, and decision-makers. ToxExpo™ 2010 provides a unique opportunity for attendees to see the latest in cutting-edge technology and services under one roof, and attend the SOT Annual Meeting where they can participate in scientific sessions on the latest developments in toxicology research. Sign up now for a premier spot at ToxExpo™ 2010 and be a part of the largest gathering of industry, governmental, and academic toxicologists!
Exhibitor and Sponsor Hosted Sessions (ESHS) are commercially supported educational sessions held in conjunction with the Salt Lake City SOT 2010 Annual Meeting. These sessions are open to all meeting attendees. Companies who are exhibiting at the SOT 2010 Annual Meeting or those that are Annual Meeting Sponsors may submit applications for a session.
Hosted sessions offer a great opportunity for SOT/ToxExpo™ Exhibitors and Sponsors to provide detailed information about products and services to meeting attendees. These one-hour sessions will be held at the Salt Palace Convention Center on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday; March 8–10, 2010. For more information, please visit ToxExpo.com, or contact Liz Kasabian.
Annual Meeting Sponsorship serves as visible evidence of the commitment of your organization to the Society's mission of "creating a safer and healthier world by advancing the science of toxicology." Moreover, sponsorship provides an opportunity for private, public, and not-for-profit organizations to increase overall awareness of their services and programs among SOT members and Annual Meeting attendees. The Society of Toxicology (SOT) Annual Meeting is the largest toxicology meeting and exhibition in the world, attracting more than 6,500 scientists from industry, academia, and government.
Sponsors are listed in publications related to the Annual Meeting, including the Preliminary Program, final Program, pre- and post-meeting newsletters, and the ToxExpo™ Directory.The SOT Annual Meeting Web site, an essential go-to source of information for all registrants, also prominently lists Annual Meeting Sponsors. During the Annual Meeting, acknowledgement signs, which group sponsors by the level of giving, are displayed prominently at many of the SOT functions, and Annual Meeting Sponsor listings are included in the SOT presentations in all session rooms. In appreciation for their support of the Society, representatives from the sponsoring organizations are invited to the SOT President's Reception.
There are four levels of sponsorship available, as follows:
In 2010, a number of new benefits for Diamond Level Sponsors have been added to enhance recognition of their participation. For example, a special thank you via an “Annual Meeting Sponsor Acknowledgement” broadcast e-mail will be sent to all Annual Meeting registrants, and your generous contribution will have heightened visibility at the 2010 Annual Meeting. Among the other benefits, each Diamond Level Sponsor will have a Prize-Drawing box in their booth at the ToxExpo™ for the SOT Prize Drawings—one $500 prize awarded per day during the show. Attendees will stop by your booth to drop their business cards in the box.
For details about each level, please visit the Sponsorship Opportunities. Additional information on sponsorship and marketing opportunities for exhibitors is available at ToxExpo.com.
Your sponsorship helps SOT keep registration fees low thereby enabling the Society to attract more than 6,500 attendees to the Annual Meeting. Your sponsorship also will help offset the cost of functions such as the: Minority Student Program, Undergraduate Program, Student/Postdoctoral Scholar events, Continuing Education Program, Public Outreach, and the Welcoming Reception. If you are interested in SOT Annual Meeting Sponsorship, contact Marcia Lawson, SOT Headquarters at (703) 438-3115.
SOT is committed to assisting you to prepare for the SOT Annual Meeting, and you are encouraged to rely on the services available to you, such as the SOT Housing Bureau reservation system. Please help SOT by booking a room through the official SOT Housing Bureau. It is critical that SOT fulfills its commitment to the city and official hotels by honoring the contracted hotel blocks. Below are some of the near-term and long-term reasons to use the Housing Bureau as you plan for the SOT 2010 Annual Meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Near-Term:
Long-Term:
So, mark your calendars now for the Salt Lake City meeting—March 7–11, 2010, select your housing early, and assure that you receive the benefits of first-rate accommodations and convenience realized by using the Housing Bureau.
All requests for hospitality suites and ancillary meetings must be approved by SOT Headquarters. To reserve a meeting room, please complete the Ancillary Meeting Form on-line. Ancillary functions may only be hosted by SOT Associates, Exhibitors, or organizations affiliated with SOT. Hospitality suites and ancillary meeting space books fast. Send your request now.
The deadline for SOT Headquarters receipt of the form is December 17, 2009.
No hospitality functions or ancillary meetings may be scheduled during the following SOT events:
Sun, March 7 |
8:15 AM–12:00 NOON |
Continuing Education |
Sun, March 7 |
5:00 PM–7:30 PM |
Awards Ceremony and Welcome Reception |
Mon, March 8 |
8:00 AM–9:00 AM |
Plenary Lecture |
Mon, March 8 |
9:15 AM–12:00 NOON |
Scientific Sessions |
Tue, March 9 |
9:00 AM–11:45 AM |
Scientific Sessions |
Tue, March 9 |
4:30 PM–6:00 PM |
Annual Business Meeting |
Wed, March 10 |
9:00 AM–11:45 AM |
Scientific Sessions |
Thu, March 11 |
9:00 AM–11:45 AM |
Scientific Sessions |
The hotels are not permitted to book meeting space without authorization from SOT.
All coordination for your event should be done between the hotel Convention Service Manager and the Ancillary Function Organizer once SOT approves. The hotel Convention Service Manager will be able to discuss meeting room rental, food and beverage requirements, and audio visual equipment requests. To reserve a meeting room or hospitality suite, complete the Ancillary Meeting Form on-line.
The very foundation of the Society is to create a safer, healthier world by advancing the science of toxicology. To this end, the Society reserves the right to deny an Ancillary Meeting request from any organization whose goals, or past actions, are deemed counterproductive to those of the Society of Toxicology.
| Science News |
By José E. Manautou, 2008 AstraZeneca Traveling Lectureship Award Recipient
Dr. José E. Manautou, Associate Professor of Toxicology and the Marlene L. Cohen and Jerome H. Fleisch Scholar at the University of Connecticut in Storrs, is the recipient of the 2008 AstraZeneca Traveling Lectureship Award. In this article, Dr. Manautou shares his experiences and discusses the new opportunities for collaborative research with European scientists.
My sabbatical work at the Academic Medical Center of the University of Amsterdam in 2003 gave me a unique perspective on the quality of research and dedication of scientists in Europe. It also gave me an opportunity to publish scholarly work and establish long-term relationships with scientists in The Netherlands. I viewed the AstraZeneca Traveling Lectureship Award as an opportunity to further expand my network of collaborators, to share research ideas, and to engage in an open dialogue with scientists in Europe on research and regulatory issues. Developing the “ideal” itinerary for an AstraZeneca lectureship series was a daunting task since Europe houses a large number of highly accomplished and recognized scientists in areas of research that are of great interest to me. After much deliberation, I came up with a list of scientists with diverse expertise representing industry, academia, and research institutes. I was very fortunate to have received highly enthusiastic endorsements from all scientists approached to serve as hosts on my award application. The prospect of future collaborative work with European colleagues was an important deciding factor when applying for this award.
My research interests are on biochemical and genetic determinants of susceptibility to liver toxicants. The focus of the research in my laboratory is on the role of drug transporters in the disposition of hepatotoxic agents and how changes in the expression and function of these transporters alter susceptibility to drug hepatotoxicity. This is an area recognized for its emerging importance in toxicology by scientists in academia, industry, government, and other regulatory bodies. My laboratory also continues to study the mechanistic basis of protection against acetaminophen hepatotoxicity by treatment with peroxisome proliferators. We recently employed a genomic approach to identify changes in gene expression mechanistically relevant to the protection afforded by the peroxisome proliferator clofibrate. We determined that Vanin-1, a gene encoding a protein involved in the synthesis of cysteamine and cystamine, is the most significantly induced gene in mice afforded hepatoprotection by clofibrate treatment. Cysteamine and cystamine are potent antioxidants known to prevent acetaminophen hepatotoxicity in rodents and humans. Collectively, my research interests encompass areas of investigation that are of great interest to European scientists.
From September 1–17, 2008, I visited Sweden, Switzerland, and Hungary. Peter Moldeus, Global Vice President for Safety Assessment at AstraZeneca R&D suggested a visit to their facilities in Södertälje for a seminar presentation and discussions with his toxicology group. Some of Peter’s earlier work was on acetaminophen toxicity. Our discussions centered on idiosyncratic drug hepatotoxicity and transporter protein function. Peter also arranged a half-day visit with Dr. Magnus Ingelman-Sundberg at the Karolinska Institute, where we discussed common research interests on the interaction between hepatocytes and Kupffer cells and the role of Kupffer cell function in drug hepatotoxicity.
In Zurich, I visited the laboratory of Dr. Bruno Stieger. He is the head of the research laboratory of the Institute of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology at the Department of Medicine, University Hospital in Zurich. He is a world-renowned expert in liver transporters. My seminar and subsequent discussions centered on the expression and regulation of drug transporters in response to acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity in mice and humans. Bruno provided some perspective on factors regulating drug transporters in different models of liver disease and on the functional consequences of such changes.
The last visit on the first segment of my AstraZeneca lectureship itinerary was to SOLVO Biotechnology in Budapest. Dr. Péter Krajcsi, Chief Scientific Officer of SOLVO, served as my host. This is a privately owned biopharmaceutical company that specializes in the commercialization of membrane transporter technologies. Following my seminar presentation on expression and regulation of liver transporters, Peter and his group shared some of their recent work on the effect of lipid composition on membrane transporter function and some of their latest commercial technologies and tools available to assess transporter function. While in Budapest, I also visited the laboratory of Dr. Balázs Sarkadi at the National Institute of Haematology and Immunology. I learned about his most recent work on the role of transporters in progenitor cell differentiation.
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| José Manautou and Philippe Naquet; Marseille Vieux Port in the background |
The second set of the AstraZeneca lectures took place during the last two weeks in November 2008. I visited France, Portugal, and England. On November 17, I visited the laboratory of Dr. Philippe Naquet at The Centre d’Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy (CIML). Philippe’s most significant contribution has been the discovery of Vanin genes, the identification of their enzymatic function, and their physiological role. During the seminar presentation in Marseille, I described our work on the hepatoprotective actions of peroxisome proliferators and the results of our gene array studies indicating that Vanin-1 induction might be relevant to preventing acetaminophen hepatotoxicity. Extensive discussions on the association between Vanin-1 expression and hepatoprotection took place, and collaborative studies combining expertise and resources of our respective laboratories were planned. I am happy to announce that some of these studies are currently underway.
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| José Manautou, Carlos Palmeira, and Anabela Simões at Coimbra University |
In Portugal, I visited the laboratory of Dr. Carlos Palmeira at University of Coimbra. I have known Carlos for a number of years through SOT and have discussed with him in the past common research interests. My research presentation at Coimbra covered some of our recent data on the potential role of multidrug resistance protein 4 (Mrp4) in conferring cellular protection against chemical-induced oxidative stress. Some of Carlos’ research interests are on the role of oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction in the pathogenesis of hepatic diseases. We had in-depth discussions and planned a series of experiments to investigate if induction of certain transport proteins prevents oxidative stress-induced mitochondrial dysfunction. These studies also are currently underway. My final visit was to the AstraZeneca Alderley Park in Cheshire, England.
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| José Manautou, Abby, and Emma Roberts at Andy and Ruth Roberts’ home |
All my hosts were extremely gracious, extending hospitality above and beyond my expectations, ensuring that my visit to their respective cities was memorable and enjoyable. Something that became very evident during these trips is that “toxicology is a small world after all.” Just by chance, I was on the same flight from Stockholm to Zurich with Birgitta Lewander and Torbjörn Malmfors. They were on their way to the 2008 RAAS Risk Assessment Summer School in Bodensee, Germany. Then, just a few days later, I ran into Nancy Monteiro and Jim Riviere at the Central Train Station in Zurich. I was catching a train to the airport as they arrived to the city for a conference on nanotechnology.
I would like to emphasize that all these scientific exchanges and new collaborations would have not been possible without this award. AstraZeneca and Peter Moldeus are to be commended for going beyond maintaining this award by increasing its monetary value in 2008. This commitment to the AstraZeneca Traveling Lectureship Award is being sustained despite the current global economic climate. I hope that other corporations would follow suit and help SOT to establish similar awards that will enable its members to embark on lectureship series in developing countries, where resources to attract toxicology scholars for seminars and scientific exchanges are very limited. This would be a significant step in further globalizing the mission of SOT. Finally, I have to extend my gratitude to my Dean Robert McCarthy and my Department Head John Morris for providing supplemental travel support and for encouraging me to apply for this award. As a toxicologist, it is a great honor to be among the list of past recipients of this prestigious award. The numerous experiences, new contacts, and exposure I received during my time in Europe are invaluable and will have a long-lasting impact on my research and professional career.
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José Manautou and Chudy Nduaka (3rd & 4th from the left) are pictured with 5 interns from 4 different countries |
The Africa Education Initiative (NEF), a U.S. non-profit organization dedicated to promoting science and research in Africa, recently organized its bi-annual Conference on Pharmaceutical Drug Discovery and Development in Nigeria, West Africa. The meeting was supported in part by a grant from SOT. This is the second time SOT partnered with this organization to support student programs in toxicological sciences. A considerable component of the scientific program consisted of seminars on toxicology.
The conference was held at the National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI) Vom, Plateau State, a premier institution known for its vaccine research and production.
NEF President, SOT Member Chudy Nduaka, told conference participants in his welcome address that training students in Africa in different scientific disciplines, including toxicology, will enable African nations to build a sustainable global economy. During the conference, NEF and NVRI launched the Toxicology Internship Program, in which students from four African countries were awarded grants to train in the science of toxicology. The three-month toxicology internship will teach students how to plan, direct, and run toxicology studies. The student interns are expected to submit an abstract of their work at the end of their training. Former NEF interns have attended past SOT conferences where they have presented their work.
Past SOT Councilor José Manautou gave two platform presentations on drug hepatotoxicity and the function of hepatobiliary transporters in drug toxicity. Another SOT member, John Tor-Agbidye (Past President African Society for Toxicological Sciences) gave a platform presentation on the African continent readiness for clinical trials. Dr. Nduaka presented a check of N2 million Naira (approximately 14,000 USD) to NVRI Executive Director L. Lombin, for laptop computers and textbooks for the Institute to help in the training of students. Other sponsors of the conference and toxicology internship program included the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Lhasa UK, Pfizer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Abbott Laboratories, Leyden group, and Jon Popke (SOT Member).
Additional information on the conference and other activities of the foundation is available on the African Education Initiative (NEF) Web site.
SOT Council worked with the leadership of the NIH Center for Scientific Review (CSR) to address concerns regarding how toxicology grant applications have been reviewed since the CSR reorganized its boundaries for peer-review grants. In response, NIH CSR formed the Systemic Injury from Environmental Exposures (SIEE) Special Emphasis Panel (SEP) as a pilot last year. Data obtained from this review panel are now being evaluated by CSR as they consider whether to make this a permanently chartered Study Section.
In late August, SOT President Cheryl Lyn Walker encouraged you to communicate to NIH CSR the importance of the continuation of the SIEE SEP. This special panel is a mechanism to route toxicology and environmental health grant proposals to a review panel containing toxicological expertise. The leadership of CSR has conveyed its commitment to work with scientists in toxicology-related fields and is requesting input on this issue. Your individual and original e-mails will be an important force in requesting that this panel continues to help ensure that the best toxicology research is funded. E-mail messages should be sent directly to Dr. Seymour Garte, Director of the Division of Physiological and Pathological Sciences at CSR. Please copy SOT Executive Director Shawn Lamb on your messages.
The NIH’s National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) is hiring for three key positions: the NIEHS Deputy Director, Scientific Director, and Director of Extramural Research.
For the Scientific Director position, a national search is being conducted within and outside the federal government to find candidates who have a commitment to scientific excellence and the energy, enthusiasm, and innovative thinking necessary to lead a dynamic and diverse research program. This person could be an M.D., Ph.D., or equivalent degree in a field relevant to environmental health science, and should be very interested in public health leadership.
The deadline for applications will be December 1, 2009. If you are interested, or know of candidates who would be a good fit, contact Margaret Snyder, or Stephanie Jones, Office of Human Resources, NIH, P.O. Box 12233, Mail-Drop K1-01, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) have announced the opening of a new application cycle, which started on September 1, for its extramural Loan Repayment Program (LRP). This program offers to pay up to $70,000 over two years for scientists’ educational debt. Through this program, the NIH has committed to foster the careers of thousands of scientific researchers. The LRP’s two-year award repays up to $35,000 per year of educational loan debt for individuals who commit to conducting two years of qualified biomedical or behavioral research at a nonprofit or government institution. The five extramural LRPs are Clinical Research, Pediatric Research, Health Disparities Research, Contraception and Infertility Research, and Clinical Research for Individuals from Disadvantaged Backgrounds. The 2010 application cycle opened September 1 and closes December 1.
To learn more about the program and to apply, go to the NIH Web site.
On August 26, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) established a Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee as mandated by the Public Law 111-31, the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. The committee will be responsible for reviewing and evaluating safety, dependence, and health issues relating to tobacco products and will provide advice, information, and recommendations to the FDA Commissioner. The new group will consist of 12 members including the Chair. Nine of the Committee members will include technically qualified voting members who will be selected by the Commissioner or designee. These individuals will include physicians, dentists, scientists, or health care professionals who practice in the fields of oncology, pulmonology, cardiology, toxicology, pharmacology, addiction, or other relevant specialties. Three members will consist of non-voting representatives from the tobacco manufacturing industry, the tobacco growers, and the small business tobacco manufacturing industry.
Although the FDA will accept and review all applications submitted, SOT will be providing recommendations for Advisory Committee members. If you would like SOT to consider your name for nomination, please send your CV and a cover letter expressing why you believe your experience and expertise would benefit the Advisory Committee to SOT Executive Director Shawn Lamb by Tuesday, September 25.
For additional guidance on the nomination process, see the boxed information below.
FDA Seeks Nominations for Tobacco Advisory Committee FDA is requesting nominations for members to serve on the newly established Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee in the Office of Science, Center for Tobacco Products. The Agency is interested in securing nominations from women, minority groups, and individuals with disabilities. Almost all members who are selected will serve as Special Government Employees. Individuals may nominate one or more qualified persons and self-nominations are accepted. Individuals should submit current resumes or curriculum vitae of each candidate and individuals must ensure that nominees are aware of their selection for this process unless the nomination is self-nominated. Nominations must include current business address and/or home address, telephone number and e-mail if available. In addition, the Agency will ask potential candidates to provide detailed information relating to financial holdings, employment, research grants, and or contracts. All nominations must be submitted by October 3, 2009. For additional information, please visit Regulations.gov. |
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) offers a two-year Fellowship Program that provides an opportunity for health professionals and scientists to receive training and experience at the FDA. The Fellowship Program combines rigorous didactic coursework with the development of a regulatory science research project. Under the guidance of an FDA senior scientist Preceptor committed to mentoring, Fellows will explore a specific aspect of FDA regulatory science. This experience can be in a biology, physics or engineering lab, in a clinical review team, in biostatistics, informatics, epidemiology, risk analysis, or other aspects of FDA science. To learn more about the proposed projects, please visit the Preceptor page. For more details about the program, visit us at the FDA Web site.
The Colgate-Palmolive Grants for Alternative Research identify and support efforts that promote, develop, refine, or validate scientifically acceptable animal alternative methods to facilitate the safety assessment of new chemicals and formulations. Daniel R. Cerven of MB Research Laboratories received the grant in 2006 and 2008 to develop and validate the Porcine Cornea Reversibility Assay (PorCORA). This product safety testing assay for ocular irritancy, damage, and damage reversibility may reduce or replace traditional animal-based testing.
The porcine corneas, waste products from abattoirs, can be maintained in long-term culture for up to four weeks, with the superficial corneal layer in a steady state of healing or turn over every 7–10 days. The intact ex vivo corneas are maintained at an air interface culture system with agar gel on the internal surface. Test materials are dosed onto the corneal surface and tissue damage and recovery is assessed using sodium fluorescein retention over time. Several different methods have been used to verify that the PorCORA assay is indicative of actual tissue damage. A 32-reference chemical validation has been completed, with a match to historical Draize test results in 30 of the 32.
The validation funded by the grant provided sufficient data to allow the submission of this assay to the European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods (ECVAM) for consideration as an alternative ocular irritation assay. This assay will be on the 2009 ECVAM work schedule and will be considered for full prospective validation after a comprehensive review.
The Spanish Association of Toxicology (AETOX) and EUROTOX will be convening IUTOX 2010, the XII International Congress of Toxicology. This meeting, to be held July 19–23, 2010, in Barcelona, will encourage interaction between academia, industry, regulators, experts in human (clinical and epidemiology), and environmental toxicology. SOT is a member of IUTOX and a sponsor of the ICTXII Congress. The abstract submission deadline is January 31, 2010, and more information about travel fellowships will be available soon. For more information and to register, please visit the Congress Web site.
European Societies of Toxicology (EUROTOX), 46th Congress of the European Societies of Toxicology
Safety Pharmacology Society, 9th Annual Meeting
Toxicology for Risk Assessment (TERA) Dose-Response Assessment Boot Camp
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Scientific Director, NIEHS Division of Intramural Research
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