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Mark your calendar SOT Annual Meeting March 11–15, 2012.

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Winter Issue 2009

SOT News

President's Message

President
Kenneth S. Ramos

Strengthening Partnerships—We Are All In This Together

Since its founding in 1961, the Society of Toxicology has provided an open forum for the exchange of cutting-edge scientific investigations that help to inform the scientific community, policy makers, and the public. This scientific foundation is essential for the nation to sustain its priorities and commitments to safeguard human and environmental health. SOT’s academic, government, and industry members bring together wide-ranging perspectives that create an ideal platform to support the best science, and to promote our vision to “create a safer and healthier world by advancing the science of toxicology.”

For our Society, bridge-building must extend to the greater scientific community to include partners at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). In late October, SOT Vice President Cheryl Lyn Walker, Vice President-Elect Michael Holsapple, and Executive Director Shawn Douglas Lamb joined me at a meeting with senior EPA leadership to create a Memorandum of Understanding that will enhance and promote our collaborative agenda into the future. EPA was represented by Stephen L. Johnson, EPA Administrator; George M. Gray, Assistant Administrator for the EPA Office of Research and Development; Charles M. Auer, Director, Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics; Peter Preuss, Director, National Center for Environmental Assessment; Kevin Teichman, Deputy Assistant Administrator for Science, and Bill Briggs, Director, Office of Public Outreach. The memorandum will be ratified in the near future.

Our relationship with the NIEHS continued to strengthen under the leadership of Sam Wilson and discussions will be held early next year to establish interactions with the incoming leadership team, headed by Linda Birnbaum. Anticipated updates on this transition will be presented at our next “Meet the Directors” session at the Annual Meeting in Baltimore. We have also initiated discussions with the leadership of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development to identify shared visions and strategic priorities. Among the key elements being discussed is the NIH’s National Children’s Study, a federally mandated initiative that will examine the effects of environmental influences on the health and development of 100,000 children across the United States, following them from before birth until age 21. The ultimate goal of the initiative is to improve the health and well-being of children, clearly a goal that is closely aligned with the interests of many of our members.

In activating our strategic agenda to nurture existing and new partnerships, SOT seeks to advance the understanding of—and appreciation for—the role of toxicology in human health and disease prevention. As we expand these efforts, we are looking to our members for continued guidance. For instance, SOT will soon be launching a survey to our membership on issues related to toxicology. This survey is being conducted in partnership with the Statistical Assessment Service (STATS), which is affiliated with George Mason University. STATS is a nonprofit research center whose mission is “to improve the quality of scientific and statistical information in public discourse and to act as a resource for journalists and policy makers on scientific issues and controversies." The development of the survey is being carried out in close collaboration with the Communications Committee, which is staffed by SOT’s Communications/Media Manager Martha Lindauer. The results will be reported in February and a discussion of the findings with SOT Council is planned for the 2009 SOT Annual Meeting in Baltimore.

On a separate note, an update of the NIH Center for Science Review’s Systemic Injury by Environmental Exposure (SIEE) Special Emphasis Panel (SEP) has been included in this issue, with special acknowledgement of the 12 SOT members who are serving on this panel of 19 scientists.

In closing, strong SOT partnerships represent an essential element in our maturation as a preeminent scientific society. As with other facets of life, the challenges that we embrace as a community are best met through the synergies that can only be realized through our collective efforts. After all, we are in this together!

Kenneth S. Ramos,
2008–2009 SOT President

Linda Birnbaum Is Appointed the New Director of NIEHS

Linda Birnbaum

A December 3, 2008, press release issued by the National Institute of Environment Health Sciences (NIEHS) announced that Linda Birnbaum is the new Director of NIEHS. The Office of the Director provides leadership, coordinates initiatives, and oversees the scientific research, administration, and communications for NIEHS and the National Toxicology Program. In addition, the Office of the Director works with other federal agencies, as well as public and private institutes and organizations, to coordinate and support research on environmental health sciences. The mission of NIEHS: "to reduce the burden of human illness and disability by understanding how the environment influences the development and progression of human disease" is closely aligned with SOT's vision of "creating a safer and healthier world by advancing the science of toxicology."

Dr. Birnbaum joined SOT in 1982 and is a Lifetime Member of the North Carolina Regional Chapter. She served as the 2004–2005 SOT President. In 2007 she received the SOT Public Communications Award and in 2008 she was the first recipient of the Elsevier Mentoring Award conferred by the Women in Toxicology Special Interest Group. For additional information, view the NIEHS press release.

Stability of the SOT’s Resources during Turbulent Times

Submitted by William Slikker, Jr., SOT Treasurer

All are aware of the difficult economic conditions as described by some as "the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression." Many banks, financial institutions, corporations, and individuals have been affected. So, how is the SOT faring during these uncertain times? As a 501(c)3, not-for-profit organization, SOT holds it resources in a diversified portfolio of investment, money market, and savings accounts that are managed by Merrill Lynch as directed by SOT established policies. During the last several years while the markets were expanding, SOT benefited appreciably from this growth. And now that the markets are contracting (S & P 500: -18% from January to October 2008), SOT’s resources have also contracted (-6%), but have outperformed the market’s key indexes. During the next several months, it is anticipated that the markets will remain volatile and members of the SOT Finance Committee will continue to actively monitor SOT’s relatively conservative and diversified portfolio.

Two recent events have altered the way SOT interacts with Merrill Lynch. To reduce management costs, SOT Council, as recommended by the Finance Committee, has approved that selected investments will be automatically indexed to benchmarks rather than managed by individual account managers. The second change, although without direct effect on SOT, is that Merrill Lynch was recently purchased by Bank of America. Since our portfolio manager has not changed and the Bank of American acquisition of Merrill Lynch has reportedly strengthened the investment firm, this is considered a good thing for SOT.

As we all look forward to greater stability in the financial markets and a return to those years of sustained growth, it is good to know that the diversified portfolio of SOT’s assets is stable and performing better than the markets at large.

Upcoming Election—Be Sure to Vote

Ballots for the election of SOT Council officers and elected standing committees will be sent via e-mail to Full members and Retired Full members by December 31, 2008. Offices to be filled include the Vice President-Elect, Secretary-Elect, two Councilors, two Membership Committee members, two Education Committee members, four Awards Committee members, and three Nominating Committee members. The ballot will be available prior to December 31. If you are a Full member, please vote on-line on or before February 1, 2009, or if you vote by paper ballot, fax the signed cover sheet and ballot to the fax number on the form. The results of the election will be announced via e-mail in late February, as well as at the 2009 SOT Annual Meeting in Baltimore, Maryland.

By-Laws Changes to Standing Committees Included on Upcoming Ballot

Each year, SOT Council undertakes a complete review of the Constitution and By-Laws of the Society of Toxicology and determines if By-Laws changes are needed to reflect organizational changes and to facilitate SOT reaching its strategic objectives. The proposed By-Laws changes provided below, which have been approved by SOT Council, are all related to Article Fourth of the By-Laws: Standing Committees. SOT voting members who have comments should send them to SOT Headquarters by January 16, 2009. After consideration of the comments by SOT Council, the proposed By-Laws changes will be disseminated to the voting members. A two-thirds vote of the ballots cast shall be required for adoption.

By-Laws Changes

Article Fourth. Standing Committees. Section 2. Nominating Committee.

(This change allows for the addition of Special Interest Group representation on the Nominating Committee.)

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section and notwithstanding anything else in these By-Laws, the slate of nominees for elected office and elected standing committees to be submitted by the Nominating Committee shall not include the name of any person elected a member of the Nominating Committee for a term of office which has not yet elapsed, irrespective of whether he or she has continued to serve in that capacity.

There shall be a Nominating Committee, consisting of ~~seven~~nine voting members of the Society who hold no other elective office. All members, including the Chair, shall have a single vote. The Chair shall be the Past-President of the Society who has most recently completed the term as Immediate Past President. The remaining ~~six~~eight members, who shall be elected by the voting members of the Society, shall consist of an at-large member, a member from the Society’s Past Presidents, ~~two~~three members from the Society’s Specialty Sections, ~~and~~ two members from the Society’s Regional Chapters and one member from the Society’s Special Interest Groups, all of whom shall serve for two year terms and be eligible for re-election only after a lapse of one year. ~~Three~~Four members of the committee shall be elected each year as follows: the at-large member, ~~one~~two of the ~~two~~three Specialty Section and one of the two Regional Chapter representatives shall be elected in even years, and the representative from the Past Presidents, the other Specialty Section representative, the other Regional Chapter representative, and the one Special Interest Group representative shall be elected in odd years. Candidates for election to the Nominating Committee shall be submitted to the Secretary prior to November 1. They shall be determined in the following manner: (1) A portion of the Regional Chapters will nominate one candidate; from this group, one member shall be elected by a plurality vote. Council shall determine and may revise from time to time, a rotation plan for selecting ~~the four~~a portion of the chapters that is based on having chapters of similar size nominate individuals in any given year. (2) A portion of the Specialty Sections will nominate one candidate; from this group, one member shall be elected by a plurality vote. Council shall determine and may revise from time to time, a rotation plan for selecting ~~the three~~a portion of the sections that is based on having sections of similar size nominate individuals in any given year. (3) A portion of the Special Interest Groups will nominate one candidate; from this group, one member shall be elected by a plurality vote. Council shall determine and may revise from time to time, a rotation plan for selecting a portion of the Special Interest Groups that is based on having Special Interest Groups of similar size nominate individuals in any give year. (4) The Past Presidents of the Society shall nominate three candidates from their group; one shall be elected by a plurality vote. ~~(4)~~(5) Three candidates shall be nominated from the membership at large by the President; from this group, one shall be elected by a plurality vote. A member’s name shall only appear once on the ballot. The entire ballot shall be submitted to the voting membership for election according to the procedure given in Section 13.

The Chair of the elected Nominating Committee shall advise Council of the names of all nominees for elected office and elected Standing Committee (except the Nominating Committee) prior to October 15 and before finalizing the nominations. The Nominating Committee shall submit in writing to the Secretary by October 15 of each year at least two nominations for each elective office and committee to be filled.

Article Fourth. Standing Committees. Section 4: Audit Committee.

(The addition of an Audit Committee is in response to Sarbanes-Oxley regulations. The Audit Committee will act in an oversight capacity, making recommendations from time to time as to the SOT financial processes, procedures, and controls.)

There shall be an Audit Committee consisting of three members who hold no elective office. One member shall be appointed annually for a three-year term by the President. The President shall designate the chair. The Audit Committee shall be responsible for examining the processes, procedures, and controls in place for the daily financial operations of the Society. The Audit Committee also shall engage independent auditors and otherwise oversee the annual independent financial audit of the Society.

Article Fourth. Standing Committees. Section 7: Regulatory Affairs and Legislative Assistance Committee. Section 8: Animals in Research Committee.

(Several of the key components of the 2008-2011 SOT Strategic Plan call for increased activity and capability in communicating about the value of toxicology to external audiences. During the strategic process, it became clear to Council that there was a need to provide integrated and targeted messages and therefore a Communications Committee was constituted in March 2008. The responsibilities of the Regulatory Affairs and Legislative Assistance Committee and the Animals in Research Committee have been consolidated into the new Communications Committee.)

Section 7. Regulatory Affairs and Legislative Assistance Committee. There shall be a Regulatory Affairs and Legislative Assistance Committee consisting of six members who hold no elective office. Two members shall be appointed annually for a three-year term by the President. The President shall designate the Chair. This Committee shall be the Societys focus for activities which aid and support the scientific activities of regulatory agencies and legislative bodies. The Committee shall keep Council abreast of new developments which concern the funding of research in toxicology and related sciences, the regulation of chemicals, drugs, biologics and devices, or legislation pertaining thereto. The Committee shall report its findings and recommendations to Council.

Section 8. Animals in Research Committee. There shall be an Animals in Research Committee consisting of six members who hold no elective office. Two members shall be appointed annually for a three-year term by the President. The President shall designate the Chair. This Committee shall be the Societys focus of activities relating to the effective and humane use of laboratory animals in research. The Committee shall also be concerned with the development of valid alternatives to animal testing. The Committee shall report its findings and recommendations to Council.

SOT's Global Mega Issue—Preview of SOT's Global Strategy

Submitted by SOT Councilors Michael Holsapple and Denise Robinson Gravatt

The 2007–2008 SOT Council developed a survey under the auspices of a Global Working Group. Some of the principle conclusions include the following:

SOT is currently a "global" organization rather than an "international" one (e.g., according to conventional thinking—to be international, some portion of SOT programs would need to be conducted outside the U.S.).
While SOT is mainly a U.S.-based Society, the proportion of members and revenue that is non-U.S. based is growing. Statistics show that: approximately 15% of SOT members are non-U.S. based; SOT Affiliates from countries other than the U.S. account for slightly more than 10% of the affiliate income; and 23% of the participants in the 2007 SOT Annual Meeting came from outside the U.S., as did 28% of the exhibitors.

These statistics indicate that it is very timely for SOT Council to consider and articulate a proposed strategy for SOT's global role and influence.

Because there are a number of ways to think about a global strategy, the 2008–2009 SOT Council utilized the Knowledge-Based Decision Making Framework during discussions at their July and September meetings. The first step was to identify the following "Mega Issue:" What should be our role in advancing the science of toxicology globally? To develop some perspective about our "capacity" and the "strategic position" of our organization that is relevant to our global strategy, Council considered the current committees, task forces, and other components of SOT's organizational structure (e.g., Special Interest Groups), as well as our Strategic Plan. Council agreed that some aspects of each of our five Strategic Priorities will support our future global strategy; although some Key Objectives and Committees are obviously more relevant to the global strategy than others. Therefore, the primary focus has been on those committees and those key objectives considered as a higher priority.

Council has identified a number of potential elements of our Global Strategy, which were prioritized at their November meeting. Because Council recognized that our Global Strategy should include some components that are conducted in partnership with IUTOX, as well as some others that will be addressed independently by the Society, this relationship will be considered during that process.

The remaining steps will be to determine areas of consensus and to identify actions, intent, and accountability associated with each of the elements chosen to become part of our Global Strategy. A Global Focus Group has been asked by Council to review a draft SOT Strategy and report to Council in April. In lieu of a "Town Hall Meeting" at the 2009 SOT Annual Meeting, Council will use a portion of the SOT Annual Business Meeting to outline the activities thus far taken to develop the SOT Global Strategy. An expanded presentation of the elements of our Global Strategy will be included in a future issue of the Communiqué, following the Global Focus Group Report.

SOT CCT Workshop Draws Global Participation:
Hemangiosarcoma in Rodents: Mode-of-Action Evaluation and Human Relevance

Sir Colin Berry

An international workshop on "Hemangiosarcoma in Rodents: Mode-of-Action Evaluation and Human Relevance" was held in Arlington, Virginia, on December 4–5, 2008, as part of the Society of Toxicology (SOT) Contemporary Concepts in Toxicology (CCT) series. Government officials and researchers from around the world met to explore knowledge gaps and uncertainties related to the mode of action for the induction of hemangiosarcomas in rodents and to evaluate the potential relevance for human risk. Professor Sir Colin Berry delivered the Plenary Lecture, entitled "Trivial to Catastrophic, Necessary to Deadly: Vascular Proliferation and Malignancies in Humans and Animals." He is a Professor Emeritus of Biology at Queen Mary, University of London, United Kingdom.

The two-day workshop was organized as a follow-up to a project conducted by the ILSI Health and Environmental Sciences Institute (HESI) which focused more narrowly on several knowledge gaps and uncertainties that were identified from a mode-of-action framework developed for peroxisomal proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) agonists, many of which are known to induce hemangiosarcomas in mice.

Although rarely occurring in humans, hemangiosarcomas have taken on significant importance in the evaluation of the potential human risk of a variety of chemicals, including industrial, agricultural, and pharmaceutical agents. In contrast to humans, spontaneous hemangiosarcomas are known to arise frequently in mice and less commonly in rats. In addition, numerous breeds of dogs are also known to have high incidences of spontaneous hemangiosarcomas. Possible interspecies differences were discussed including pathology, genetics, and pathobiology.

For genotoxic chemicals, such as vinyl chloride and thorotrast which are known to induce hemangiosarcomas in humans, significant information is known concerning mode of action. Additional information was presented and discussed regarding DNA adducts from exogenous and endogenous sources that appear to be related to vinyl chloride, as well as possible potentiating factors in humans, such as steatohepatitis identified in vinyl chloride-exposed workers.

In contrast, the numerous commercial chemicals that produce hemangiosarcomas in rodents act predominantly by non-genotoxic, proliferative mechanisms. An overall framework was presented which included a variety of modes of actions including direct and indirect actions on endothelial cells. Evidence for the possible role of adipose tissue as a source for endothelial growth factors, a possible role for bone marrow-derived endothelial precursor cells, and a potential contributing role for hypoxia were presented. Possible relationships between angiogenesis, a normal process in numerous biological phenomena, and vascular tumor induction were discussed, with many similarities identified but with some significant differences.

Numerous obstacles were identified in the investigations into mode of action for hemangiosarcomas, as well as for an evaluation of the relevance of the mouse tumors to humans. These included the lack of identifiable precursor lesions, the usually late occurrence of the tumors in bioassays, and the complexities of endothelial biology. The approach in evaluating these tumors in risk assessment was presented by scientists from various government regulatory agencies, with several key issues being identified, including dose response, interspecies differences, and identification of specific modes of action. Scientists were particularly interested in the specificity and susceptibility of different rodent species and strains, including possible genetic bases for these species differences which are likely to be critical.

The workshop was an opportunity for investigators from different scientific disciplines to discuss the considerable data deficiencies and uncertainties regarding the mode of action of these tumors and their human relevance. Presentations were supplemented with posters at the workshop. A report from the meeting will be prepared by the Workshop Organizing Committee and submitted for publication to Toxicological Sciences within the next few months.

SOT Endowment Fund: Staying the Course

Submitted by Roger O. McClellan, Chair, Endowment Fund Board

The current global financial crisis has reached dimensions beyond the imagination of most of us and a return to stability is not yet in sight. The impact on individuals, families, communities, and institutions has been widespread. The SOT Endowment Fund, like most endowment funds with which I am familiar, has lost asset value. With this as a back drop, one of my colleagues asked if it would be appropriate to discontinue our campaign to raise funds for the SOT Endowment Fund. I quickly responded—No, it is important to stay the course.

My response is grounded on the view that the SOT Endowment Fund is a long-term venture. The stated goal for most of the individual funds is that the funds will be continued in perpetuity, i.e., forever. I am optimistic that the economy of the United States and, indeed, the world, will stabilize and return to a growth mode. Thus, I am optimistic that in the long term the SOT Endowment Fund investments will grow and increase in value. The guidelines for use of proceeds from the SOT Endowment Fund are purposefully conservative to aid in long-term growth.

In the near future, you will be receiving a copy of the 2007–2008 SOT Endowment Fund Annual Report. I encourage you to carefully read the report that documents the remarkable generosity of the many SOT members and their families who have given to the SOT Endowment Fund. The report includes details on the four General Purpose and 19 Specific Purpose Funds that are a part of the SOT Endowment Fund. A review of the descriptions of the individual funds may suggest opportunities for you to personally create a similar fund or for you to provide leadership for initiating a specific purpose fund aligned with a Specialty Section or Special Interest Group. If you have questions concerning any of these existing funds or the creation of a new fund, please contact me, Roger O. McClellan.

The Endowment Fund Board recognizes that individual SOT members and their families must be more prudent than ever in managing their financial resources, including decisions on philanthropic giving. As you consider your gifting options in the months ahead, please continue to give careful consideration to making a contribution to a fund within the SOT Endowment. We are confident that gifts to the endowment over the long-term will prove to be sound investments that will help ensure a bright future for toxicology.

SOT Receives the Support of Three New SOT Affiliates

We are pleased to announce that the Society has received the support of three new SOT Affiliates, Battelle, Celsis In Vitro Technologies, and Suburban Surgical Company, Inc.

Learn more about demonstrating your support of the Society of Toxicology by becoming an SOT Affiliate, or you can contact Marcia Lawson via e-mail or by phone at (703) 438-3115, ext. 1446.

Member Spotlight

Indian Society of Toxicology Presents K.S. Rao with Lifetime Distinguished Scientist Award

SOT Member K.S. Rao received the Lifetime Distinguished Scientist Award from the Governing Body of the Indian Society of Toxicology (STOX), of which he is now the President (2008–2010). He worked in the United States for nearly 38 years and is now employed at Advinus Therapeutics Private Limited, Department of Toxicology, Bangalore, India. Dr. Rao joined SOT in 1984. He has worked to expand the global reach of toxicological understanding by working with SOT Past President Curtis Klaasen to organize the Mid-America Toxicology course in India (with 10 faculty from the U.S.) and to work with the American Board of Toxicology (ABT) to hold examinations in India, beginning in 2009.

Martin Philbert Featured Speaker at Minority Student Meeting

Martin Philbert

Martin Philbert was a plenary speaker at the 2008 Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS) in Orlando, Florida, on November 5. His presentation "Nanomaterials & Health: the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly" was the featured talk in the opening session of the conference. Dr. Philbert is currently serving as SOT Secretary and is Professor of Toxicology, the Executive Director of the Center for Risk Science and Communication, and the Senior Associate Dean for Research at the University of Michigan School of Public Health. His research focuses on the development of flexible polymer nanoplatforms for the optical sensing of ions and small molecules and the early detection and treatment of tumors. His other research interests include the mitochondrial mechanisms of chemically-induced neuropathic states.

Enrique Fuentes Mattei

Sponsored by NIH-MARC, ABRCMS is the largest multidisciplinary student conference in the United States. The conference attracts approximately 2,600 individuals, including 1,650 undergraduate students, 300 graduate students/postdoctoral scientists, and 750 faculty and administrators. The conference features talks from premier scientists, an array of professional development workshops, career coaching, and student research posters.

SOT's sponsorship of this lecture provided high visibility of toxicology as a career. José Manautou, who also represented the University of Connecticut, provided the introduction of Dr. Philbert, and Enrique Fuentes Mattei, student member of SOT from the University of Puerto Rico, staffed the SOT exhibit booth during the conference.

Career Insights

Mentor Match Program Helps Toxicologist Address Career Challenges

Erica Dahl, an SOT member since 1999, provides her personal experience as a beneficiary of mentoring initiatives. She is now a toxicologist and study director at IIVS, Inc. in Gaithersburg, Maryland. The new SOT Mentor Match program is provided as a benefit to all SOT Members and is intended to provide services appropriate for each career stage.

The postdoctoral training period is both "years past terminal degree" and "not experience," so it is easy for industry to miss this population of highly trained scientists while attempting to fill open positions in toxicology. Since toxicologists are very much in demand, SOT has taken a proactive approach to addressing a potential labor shortage by actively reaching out to the postdoctoral population through its on-line mentoring program, Mentor Match. As a beneficiary of the pilot program, I am happy that this program has been launched formally and expanded to include scientists at all stages of career development.

Anyone who has been a postdoc knows how hard it can be to finish and move on. After earning a Ph.D. in toxicology, I saw my postdoc as an opportunity to learn something really new that would be difficult to learn in an industrial setting; in my case this was malaria research. Despite my best intentions, my 2 year postdoc stretched into 5 years, and I felt my connection to the toxicology world fade as I explored the more obscure aspects of parasite biology and was blindsided by the demands of new parenthood. I still wanted a toxicology career in industry, but hadn't had many opportunities to network with toxicologists who could offer any advice on what to do next. Since I had maintained my membership in SOT, I still received newsletters and updates from the Postdoctoral Assembly. When they announced the launch of a pilot mentoring program for postdocs, I nearly broke a finger speed-typing a "YES SIGN ME UP" reply.

I was matched with two terrific mentors who were more than happy to answer my questions by e-mail. The questions came slowly at first (Q: Is it really unprofessional for me to talk about my new baby during networking events? A: No. It's an icebreaker. Everybody does it). As I started applying for jobs, the questions came more easily (Q: Is it a really bad sign if I'm not invited to interview on-site after a phone interview? A: No, phone interviews are more on the "screening" end of the hiring spectrum). Probably the best advice that my mentors gave me was on the contents of my curriculum vitae; I'd encourage everybody to share C.V.s with a mentor. Though their practical advice was invaluable, the moral support and encouragement my mentors offered helped my confidence tremendously, and industry felt much more welcoming. After a few months, I found myself in a new job in industry as a toxicologist. I finally got to meet one of my mentors in person at the SOT Annual Meeting in Seattle. He is still happy to answer my questions and would gladly mentor more postdocs. It turns out that many of us in industry had a difficult time finding that first job after our postdoc, and we're here now because somebody helped us. We're always looking for ways to help the next group of toxicologists. The Mentor Match mentoring program just makes it easy.

Visit the On-Line SOT Job Bank—A Service Free to SOT Members

Postdoctoral Fellowship in Toxicology at a Major Pharmaceutical Company in the United Kingdom
Senior Director in Toxicology Position in Foster City, California
University in Waco, Texas is Looking for an Assistant Research Scientist
Biologist, Toxicologist, and Physical Scientist Opportunities in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina

Did any of these positions catch your attention? These are just a small selection showing the range of positions available through the SOT Job Bank; a free member benefit to job seekers. Employers can attract potential candidates in a targeted and cost-effective manner through this SOT service.

Simply visit SOT Job Bank and use your full e-mail address and SOT password to access the Job Bank.

The Society's Job Bank makes it easy for candidates and employers alike to access this year-round service any time, any place through the SOT Web site. There is fresh information regarding candidates and employment positions on an ongoing basis. Your registration is effective for six months.

You will want to keep your registration current, so you can take advantage of the Career Resource and Development services available at the 2009 SOT Annual Meeting.

For further information, visit the SOT Job Bank. For questions, contact Kristy Rand via e-mail or by phone at (703) 438-3115, Ext 1429.

Regional Chapters, Specialty Sections, and Special Interest Groups News

MWSOT's 26^th Annual Meeting Focused on "Epigenetics in Toxicology"

Submitted by Philip J. Moos, Vice President, MWSOT

The Mountain West Regional Chapter of the Society of Toxicology (MWSOT)
held its 26th Annual Meeting on October 2–3, 2008, in Salt Lake City, Utah. The theme of the meeting was "Epigenetics in Toxicology," which coincidently aligns well with one of the major themes of the upcoming National Meeting in Baltimore. This regional meeting was hosted and supported by the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology at the University of Utah. Additional support for this meeting came from National SOT, Covance, and the commercial suppliers VWR and Thermo Fisher Scientific. Our regional chapter is broadly distributed geographically and is highly academic, with the majority of the members being affiliated with the major research universities that contain toxicology programs. One of the major objectives of our regional meeting is to provide opportunities for trainees to present their work as well as a learning opportunity through new interactions with scientists both from within our region and speakers invited to inspire new research or career opportunities. Full Epigenetics in Toxicology report.

Northeast Regional Chapter Annual Meeting Addresses "Biologics—Past, Present, and Future"

Submitted by Jessica E. Sutherland, President, NESOT

On October 24th, the Annual Meeting of the SOT Northeast Regional Chapter (NESOT) was held at Charles River Laboratories in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts. Attendance was very strong; 125 people registered for the meeting. The theme was "Biologics—Past, Present, and Future."

As is traditional at the NESOT Annual Meeting, the first speaker was the first place winner of the 2007 Student Poster Award. Meeghan O'Connor, from the University of Connecticut, presented "Identification of Genes that may Contribute to Development of Resistance to Hepatotoxicity." Laura Andrews, from Genzyme Corporation, presented: "Where Have We Been and What Have We Learned from the Past 26 Years of Biologic Drug Development…I Miss Back When…" Christina Gamba-Vitalo, Alnylam Phamaceuticals, followed with her presentation entitled, "Progress in Developing siRNAs as Drugs." Tim MacLachlan, Genzyme Pharmaceuticals, presented: "Gene Therapy…Where Are We Today…and How Did We Get Here??" The keynote speaker was David Jacobson-Kram, from the Office of New Drugs, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research at Food and Drug Administration. His presentation, "Preclinical Development of Biologics: Case-by-Case, So Get Off of My Case!" provided an excellent wrap-up to the meeting's theme.

The Annual Meeting concluded with a Poster Session that featured 31 presentations and a Student Poster Award Competition. First place was awarded to Xinyuan Yu of the University of Rhode Island for his poster "Cadmium-Induced Proliferation of Breast Cancer Cells is Mediated by GPR30." Second place was presented to Natasha Caitlin of Salve Regina University for her poster "Pyrethroid Inhibition of the Mammalian T-type Voltage Sensitive Calcium Channel (CaV3.2)." Third place went to Gregory Marusov of the University of Connecticut for his poster "Metallothionein Expression Affects the Functional Immune Response of Murine Macrophages."

OVSOT 2008 Annual Meeting Hosted by Wright State University

Submitted by David R. Mattie, President, OVSOT

On November 7, 2008, the Boonshoft School of Medicine at Wright State University hosted the annual meeting of the Ohio Valley Regional Chapter of the Society of Toxicology (OVSOT) in Dayton, Ohio. The attendees were treated to keynote presentations pertaining to Defense Against BioChem Warfare and Terrorism from members of academia, the Department of Defense, and private industry. Outreach activities such as "Lunch with an Expert" and the K–12 Healthrich Project were also included in the program. Several highly informative and thought-provoking posters were presented by a number of student attendees during platform or poster sessions, resulting in several student awards as follows: Ph.D. Graduate Platform Award—Erica Rogers, University of Louisville; Ph.D. Graduate Poster Award—Rick Salisbury, Wright State University; M.S. Graduate Poster Award—Ntube Ngalame, University of Louisville; Battelle Minority/Women Travel Award—Clarisse Muenyi, University of Louisville; Undergraduate Poster Awards—Kelly Dingess, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, and Sharon Ochs, Wright State University. The OVSOT would like to thank all of the attendees for a very successful 2008 meeting, and look forward to continued scholarly interactions at our next meeting in November of 2009.

OVSOT Student Abstract Competition Announced

To encourage and support the participation of local graduate students at the 2008 Toxicology and Risk Assessment Conference (TRAC) in West Chester, Ohio, the Ohio Valley SOT (OVSOT) Regional Chapter sponsored a student award that covered the meeting registration cost. The winner was Rick Salisbury who was presented with a check at his poster during the conference poster session. Rick is a Ph.D. student in Dr. Courtney Sulentics laboratory in the Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology at Wright State University. OVSOT plans to sponsor a Student Abstract Competition at the 2009 TRAC to be held April 27–30, 2009, at the Cincinnati Marriott North, West Chester (Cincinnati), Ohio. OVSOT will provide details on how to apply in the Winter Newsletter and further information for the 2009 TRAC can be found at http://www.team-psa.com/trac2009.

SOT's Special Interest Groups Develop Distinctive Web Sites

One of the strategic goals of the Society is to increase the diversity and inclusiveness of the organization. SOT promotes and facilitates the formation of subgroups of members with a common ethnicity, country of origin, and gender. Thus far, six Special Interest Groups (SIGs) have been established to promote the recruitment of toxicologists who share a common interest in toxicological research issues germane to their community. Several of these groups have launched Web sites that demonstrate the unique qualities of each group, all of whom are committed to the overarching goals of SOT (see below).

American Association of Chinese in Toxicology

November 2008 Newsletter

An upcoming Communiqué will announce the Web site, now under development, for the Toxicologists of African Origin Special Interest Group (TAO-SIG).

SOT Toxicologists of African Origin Welcomes Your Participation

The Toxicologists of African Origin (TAO-SIG) was launched at the 2008 SOT Annual Meeting held in Seattle, Washington, bringing the number of SIGs within the Society to six. The specific objectives of the TAO-SIG are:

To promote career development opportunities for toxicologists of African origin, and to increase the recruitment and retention of Africans and African Americans entering the profession of toxicological sciences,
To promote information exchange, collegiality, and networking among toxicologists and related professionals of African origin; and to recognize the accomplishments of toxicologists of African origin,
To propose, develop, and sponsor scientific and educational programs. These would include but are not limited to: symposia, workshops, poster and platform sessions, continuing education courses, and informational sessions which reflect current scientific and policy issues relevant to populations of African origin,
To enhance focus within SOT on environmental and public health issues relevant to populations of African origin, and
To act as a liaison to other SOT organizations regarding toxicological issues that are relevant to populations of African origin.

Attendance at the launching mixer exceeded expectations with more than 100 attendees. The event also provided a forum for the President of the African Society of Toxicological Sciences (ASTS), Dr. Sanmi Areola, to honor the many members of the Society who have supported and contributed to ASTS over the years. ASTS co-funded the mixer and played an integral part in founding the TAO-SIG.

An interim Executive Committee for TAO-SIG was also announced that includes Bernard Gadagbui (President), Marquea King (Vice President), Tony Ndifor (Treasurer/Secretary), Antonio Baines (Councilor), Mildred William-Johnson (Councilor), and Abe Dalu (Councilor). A postdoctoral representative is currently being sought.

News Update

Consistent with the objectives of TAO-SIG to contribute program items at the meetings, a proposal titled "Career Opportunities and Transitions in Toxicology" sponsored by TAO-SIG and the Postdoctoral Assembly, has been accepted for the Education-Career Development Sessions at the 2009 SOT Annual Meeting in Baltimore, Maryland. This session will highlight career options for graduate students and toxicologists and offer insights into how to successfully transition between employment sectors.
A TAO-SIG Web site is under construction and should be running prior to the 2009 Annual Meeting.
Our strength is in our membership. We strongly urge you and your colleagues, friends, etc., to visit the SOT Membership Renewal and add TAO-SIG to your SOT membership. Students are entitled to one free membership in a SIG. Please exercise this option.

In Memoriam

In Memoriam

Bryan Ballantyne
Gale Clark Boxill
Lorraine F.H. Irvine
Paul E. Newton
Barry E. Osborne

Gale Clark Boxill passed away on September 15, 2008, at home with his family in Ridge Manor, Florida. He joined the Society of Toxicology in 1965 and served in leadership positions including as the Secretary of the Society and a member of the Finance and Program Committees. He received his B.A. degree from Washington and Lee University in 1947 and his M.S. in 1951 and his Ph.D. in 1954 from the University of Tennessee. Dr. Boxill was a World War II veteran. He was a Senior Scientist for the William S. Merrell Co. (Evansville, IN), Senior Pharmacologist and Director of Toxicology for Warner Lambert Research Institute (Morris Plains, NJ), Head of Drug Safety Evaluation for Wyeth Laboratories (Malvern, PA), and Assistant Professor of Pharmacology at the University of Georgia (Athens, GA). He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Irene, as well as children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Lorraine F.H. Irvine, who was the Executive Director of toXcel International Ltd., Gloucestershire, UK, passed away on October 31, 2007. She was widely known and respected, both nationally and internationally. She had worked at several contract research organizations, including Hazelton (now Covance) in Harrogate, UK, at Toxicol in Ledbury, UK, and most recently in her own company, ToxCel International. She was a member of the European Teratology Society throughout her career. A tribute submitted to the Communiqué included the following highlights: "Lorraine was born on November 22, 1954 in Glasgow. She completed her Scottish higher level exams and gained University entrance at the age of 16, but was not old enough to leave school. As a result she had to mark time by taking some "A" level exams—on her own—at school, which was very rare in Scotland at that time. She went to Aberdeen University in 1972, graduating with honors in 1976….In her social life Lorraine loved acting and the theatre and was involved in local drama societies. She is also famous for being the only teratologist to have been regularly sawed in half as a magician's assistant." Submitted by friends Frank Sullivan, Carole Kimmel, Nancy Doerrer, Jim Lamb, and Sue Barlow.

Paul E. Newton passed away at the age of 63 on October 23, 2008, at hospice in Kalamazoo, Michigan, after a long and courageous fight with prostate cancer. Paul was born in Terre Haute, Indiana, and received a Bachelors degree in Mathematics and a Masters degree in Biological Engineering from Rose Polytechnic Institute in Terre Haute. He then proceeded on with his education by receiving his Doctorate degree from The Medical College of Wisconsin. In 1984, he was certified as a Diplomate of the American Board of Toxicology and received recertification every five years hence. At the time of his death, Paul was employed by MPI Research where he held the title of Senior Principal Study Director and Director of General Toxicology. In addition, he served as the MPI Research IACUC chairman for many years. Prior to joining MPI Research in 1996, Paul was Director of Inhalation Toxicology at Huntingdon Life Sciences (formerly Pharmaco LSR and Bio/dynamics) from 1986–1996, Director of Inhalation Toxicology at American Biogenics Corporation from 1985–1986, and Head of Respiratory Toxicology, Toxic Hazards Research unit of the University of California at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base from 1979–1985. Paul published 6 book chapters, approximately 80 abstracts and journal articles, and issued over 800 confidential toxicology reports for studies conducted in all common animal species, by all routes of administration, and for a wide variety of compound classes. He was a Full member of the Society of Toxicology, as well as the Michigan and Midwest Regional Chapters, serving as a Councilor of the Midwest Chapter from 1998–2000. He also served on the board of directors for the Michigan Society for Biomedical Research from 2004 until the time of his death.

Paul was a bright scientist who was especially gifted as a problem solver. He was a teacher at heart and was outstanding in explaining the issues involved in toxicology studies with both technical staff and younger toxicologists. He was well respected across the industry as demonstrated by the number of emails and telephone calls received at MPI Research mourning his passing. Paul lived with cancer for a large portion of his life, but I never heard him once complain that this was unfair. He never let cancer stop him from living his life to the fullest, loving his family, excelling in his profession, or enjoying the special beauty and symmetry of nature. Paul was a man of strong Christian beliefs and his faith sustained him, especially at the end. He did not want to die and he fought his cancer relentlessly, including numerous rounds of harsh chemo during the past year. But even when his body began to fail him at the end, he still watched the entire process with not only dread but with a certain scientific curiosity that he could casually discuss with his professional colleagues.

Paul is survived by his wife Julie (38 years), his daughters Jennifer, Kathryn, and Laura, and his four grandchildren. His honesty, counsel, intelligence, and laughter will be missed by all of his colleagues at MPI Research. He died too young and missed out on the opportunity to love his family more, expand his scientific knowledge, and explore this world that fascinated him so much. Submitted by David G. Serota, Ph.D., DABT, Vice President of Toxicology and Pathology/Senior Principal Study Director, MPI Research

Annual Meeting

SOT 2009 Annual Meeting Registration Underway—
Early Bird Deadline January 30^th

When you take advantage of the SOT Annual Meeting Early Bird Registration, you realize a significant discount against the cost of final registration. On-Line Registration is available for SOT members and non-members to greatly facilitate this process.

The registration fee for the SOT Annual Meeting includes admission to all scientific sessions, Awards Presentation, ToxExpo™, a copy of the Program, The Toxicologist on CD-ROM (abstracts), and the ToxExpo™ Directory. For additional information and to register, please visit the 2009 Annual Meeting Web site.

2009 SOT Annual Meeting Features Human Health and Disease Prevention Themes

The 2009 SOT Annual Meeting, to be held March 15–19, 2009, in Baltimore, Maryland, will include sessions around five themes of topical interest. These themes include the following:

Biomarkers
Epigenetics
Inflammation and Disease
Nanotechnology
Neurodegenerative Disease

The use of this thematic approach will provide Annual Meeting attendees with the opportunity to benefit from a depth of analysis and reflection on timely topics of relevance to toxicologists. Additional details on the sessions highlighted under these themes can be found on the Scientific Program section of the 2009 Annual Meeting Web site.

CE Courses Offered at the SOT Annual Meeting Address a Wide Range of Topics

Twelve continuing education courses will be offered on Sunday, March 15 at the Baltimore Convention Center. A sunrise course will begin at 7:00 AM, six morning courses will begin at 8:15 AM, and six afternoon courses at 1:15 PM.

The courses will encompass a rich variety of topics, including the following:

policy considerations—ethical, legal, and social challenges, particularly conflict of interest and bias, with an examination of a recent case study involving an EPA review panel
free radicals as they impact immune-mediated events and exposure to environmental toxicants
application of a framework for evaluating the relevance of an animal mode of action (MOA) in assessing human health
how to assess toxicant-related effects on animal reproduction and the potential risks to human reproduction
fundamental and clinical aspects of immunology with a focus on the interactions between innate and adaptive immunity
the role of toxicokinetic data in risk assessment, design of toxicokinetic studies, and explanation of how pharmacokinetic analyses are conducted
improving the characterization of variability and uncertainty and demonstrating the predictive capabilities of physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) models
translation of safety biomarkers in drug discovery and development
tools for evaluating the joint toxic action of chemicals and drugs in mixtures and mixture risk assessment
key concepts to consider in design of a predictive program for a biotherapeutic product
useful biomarkers of metal intoxication, roles of genetic susceptibility, and population adaptability for early diagnosis of metal diseases
understanding the pathophysiology of major systems impacted by stress and the potential range of responses

The course levels are basic or advanced and are open to all meeting attendees with a separate registration. Additional information about these courses, including a detailed overview and list of speakers, can be found on the Continuing Education section of the SOT 2009 Annual Meeting Web site.

Are you a student and want to attend CE courses free of charge? CE courses are offered free-of-charge to students who are willing to assist CE Committee liaisons in running their courses. Students are provided a free syllabus and the opportunity to attend the course(s). Please contact Courtney Sulentic or Chris Reilly to sign up.

Do you have an idea about a CE course that should be given at the SOT 2010 Annual Meeting? It is not too early to start thinking about courses that you think would be of interest to the SOT community. Please convey these ideas to the representatives in your Specialty Sections. Proposals for CE courses are due on April 30, 2009.

SOT Recognizes the 20^th Anniversary of the Undergraduate Minority Program

Vanessa Silva and Adrian Nanez are members of the Committee for Diversity Initiatives. Like many SOT members, they provide hours of their time to develop and implement programs that further the discipline of toxicology. Not only do they share membership on this committee, they share another connection. Both first became involved in SOT as undergraduate students invited to participate in the SOT Undergraduate Education Program for Minority Students, an important step that led them to subsequently pursue graduate study in toxicology. Dr. Silva attended the 1995 program, and Dr. Nanez participated in 2000. Both have been faithful supporters of the program ever since, serving as peer mentors while graduate students and then as host mentors and program organizers. These two toxicologists and countless others who have supported the program will be celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the Undergraduate Program for Minority Students on March 14 in Baltimore.

Through the flagship Undergraduate Program for Minority Students, SOT has an excellent track record supporting recruitment of students from underserved groups into the profession. The Undergraduate Program began in 1989 when Faye Calhoun, then at NIH, and Mary Jo Vodicnik, Education Committee chair, and others arranged for local students to attend the Atlanta meeting. The Education Committee organized a similar program the next year in Miami. Education Committee chair Marion Ehrich, after brainstorming with Faye Calhoun, Claude McGowan, and Jay Gandolfi, submitted a successful proposal to NIH-Minority Access to Research Careers for three years of funding beginning with the 1991 meeting in Dallas. A testimony to the strength of the program and the efforts of the organizers is that this funding has been sustained for every year of the program except for a hiatus for the Philadelphia meeting in 2000 when revision of the evaluation program was needed. That year Pfizer stepped in to provide funding, and they have continued their support in subsequent years. Among others who have provided financial support are Johnson & Johnson, Covance, and Chevron Phillips Chemical.

Marion Ehrich continued to serve as PI on the grant for a total of four funding intervals, followed by Myrtle Davis, and José Manautou is the PI on the current grant that runs through the 2011 program. Leadership and organization was provided through the Education Committee, then the Education Subcommittee for Minority Initiatives was established, and then the separate Committee on Diversity Initiatives was created in 2005.

About 35–40 outstanding undergraduate students and 6 undergraduate advisors are selected each year from institutions around the United States. Awardees receive support for travel and lodging and complimentary meeting registration and attend a special program that begins on Saturday before the official start of the meeting. Elements of the program that have been in place across the years include an orientation to what toxicology is, research lectures, a poster session organized explicitly for the students, opportunities to meet with academic program directors, and information about successful application to graduate school. Students are organized into small groups, each of which has one or more toxicologist host-mentors and graduate student peer mentors, so that students can get to know individual toxicologists and talk informally about careers in toxicology.

Undergrad Students Participate in 2008 Program

Anniversary activities are planned for the evening of Saturday, March 14, including special presentations, recognition of invited guests, sharing of historical perspectives, and networking among the many people who have provided the energy for this program through the years. Watch for additional details. All who have been part of the program in the past two decades are encouraged to attend.

You can help build the program in 2009 by serving as a mentor for a group of students in Baltimore. For more information, contact Betty Eidemiller.

Academic training programs and research internship sponsors have the opportunity to showcase their programs in an information and recruiting session on the afternoon of Sunday, March 15. Contact Kim Daniel or Betty Eidemiller to reserve a space for your program

"Eye on CDI" provides vignettes of some of the other program participants who have pursued careers in toxicology.

Experts Needed for "Lunch with an Expert" in Baltimore

Lunch with an Expert continues at the SOT 2009 Annual Meeting in Baltimore. This is an excellent opportunity for established toxicologists to mentor early career toxicologists and for students and postdocs to explore research and career questions. Organized on behalf of the Student Advisory Council by the Specialty Section Graduate Committee, groups of about five are composed by matching areas of interest selected by Experts and students and postdocs. The Expert selects the site for the informal breakfast or lunch. Experts are encouraged to register by January 4 and Students and Postdoctoral Scholars by February 1. For additional information and to register, visit the Lunch with an Expert page.

Paracelsus Outside the Classroom in Baltimore

On March 15, 2009, SOT will take Paracelsus and 650 students "Outside the Classroom" at two sites near the Baltimore Inner Harbor. Students will engage in exciting science activities and learn more about toxicology as part of SOT public outreach during the Annual Meeting. Toxicologists at the Port Discovery Children's Museum will supplement this active learning environment with a series of stations featuring hands-on explorations. Families of SOT meeting attendees are invited to join elementary students from Baltimore-area schools, scout groups, home schools, and other organizations. Those who pre-register to be part of the organized groups will be scheduled into a morning or afternoon session. These groups will rotate among the stations and will also have time to explore other special SOT displays which will be available to all museum visitors.

Sixty-four high school students will play a special role in this event. In the morning or afternoon these students will lead the hands-on activities for the groups at Port Discovery. When they are not with the groups at Port Discovery, they will participate in their own workshop at the University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute (UMBI) using state-of-the-art lab facilities to explore toxicology related to natural plant products. UMBI focuses on the applied science of biotechnology and its application to human health, the marine environment, agriculture, and protein engineering/structural biology. UMBI collaborates with other research institutions and industry and has an active education outreach program, including providing loaner biotechnology curriculum and equipment kits for biology classrooms around the state.

Maureen Gwinn is chair of this event, which is sponsored by the SOT Communications Committee. To volunteer, contact Maureen Gwinn. Kathy Gabrielson is also on the K–12 Task Force. Complimentary tickets to Paracelsus Outside the Classroom for SOT meeting attendees and their families can be obtained by submitting the registration form. Tickets will be mailed in advance.

SOT Sponsorship Opportunities Are Still Available—Act Soon

Sponsorship opportunities are available for the 2009 SOT Annual Meeting. Your sponsorship serves as visible evidence of your organization's commitment to the science of toxicology and to SOT's vision of "creating a safer and healthier world by advancing the science of toxicology."

Four levels of sponsorship are available:

Diamond: $10,000 or more
Platinum: $5,000–$9,999
Gold: $2,500–$4,999
Silver: $1,000–$2,499
Contributor: $999 and under

For an overview of each level, please visit Sponsor Opportunities.

2009 SOT Annual Meeting Sponsors

Your sponsorship helps keep registration fees low so scientists at all stages of their career are able to participate in this meeting. This support also helps offset the cost of functions such as: Minority Student Program, Undergraduate Program, Student and Postdoctoral Scholar Events, Continuing Education Program, Refreshments, Public Outreach, and the Welcome Reception. If you are interested in SOT Sponsorship, send an e-mail to Marcia Lawson at SOT Headquarters or phone her at (703) 438-3115, ext. 1446.

ToxExpo™—Its An Exhibition Extraordinaire

ToxExpo™ is the professions largest tradeshow of its kind anywhere. Attendees and exhibitors from around the globe gather to exchange ideas and debut cutting-edge products, services, and technologies. Toxicologists and industry professionals have the unparalleled opportunity to gain first-hand knowledge on the latest advances from more than 350 exhibitors. The following are the exhibit hours for the 2009 ToxExpo™ in Baltimore:

Monday:	9:00 AM–4:30 PM
Tuesday:	8:30 AM–4:30 PM
Wednesday:	8:30 AM–4:30 PM

2009 SOT Annual Meeting Exhibitors

Daily Access All Year

ToxExpo™ continues throughout the year. Visit www.toxexpo.com for all your toxicology-related science information and data as well as information about current exhibitors. The site offers 24/7, 365 days per year resources for toxicologists worldwide. ToxExpo™ is a rich resource for the working scientist, the decision maker, the student—anyone looking for the best products and services that toxicology has to offer.

Annual Meeting Features Toxicology History Room Exhibit—Call for Materials

The 2009 SOT Annual Meeting will feature an exhibit that is all about toxicology, its history, and SOT. The room will showcase artifacts, documents, memorabilia, and digital displays that will give the viewers a perspective about this fascinating field of science. The exhibit will explore the interaction of toxicology with society throughout the ages.

The exhibit is being spearheaded by SOT members Steven Gilbert and Phil Wexler, who are working with a task force that includes Toni Hayes, Dori Germolec, Asish Mohapatra, Richard Lane, and Elizabeth Walker and advisor, Ernie Hodgson.

According to History Room Co-Coordinator, Phil Wexler, "We're excited about the possibility of bringing actual artifacts to put on display. Seeing something that is now considered an 'antiquity' helps give everyone some perspective about the origins of toxicology and how toxicology has evolved. We want to grow the exhibit over the next few years and are looking to the membership to help us find those special items that illuminate the history of toxicology."

SOT is seeking volunteers to help staff this exhibit, which will be located in the Baltimore Convention Center. Also, if you have items to contribute to the exhibit or would like to volunteer, please contact Martha Lindauer.

SOT's Resource Pavilion Showcases SOT's Diverse Activities and Programs

You are encouraged to stop by the SOT Resource Pavilion at the SOT Annual Meeting to learn about the many services and opportunities available to help advance the science of toxicology. You can share your enthusiasm about the Society by volunteering to staff this area. It is an ideal venue to encourage SOT membership as well as participation in your Regional Chapter, Specialty Section, or Special Interest Group. Information on the very successful SOT Endowment Fund also will be available. Moreover, you can swap communications tips and materials for topics of importance to toxicologists, including:

Animals in Research
K–12 Education
Public Outreach
Regulatory and Legislative Affairs

Volunteer today!

The SOT Resource Pavilion will be located in the Charles Street Lobby of the Baltimore Convention Center and will be open:
Sunday, March 15:	11:00 AM–2:00 PM
Monday, March 16:	9:00 AM–4:30 PM
Tuesday, March 17:	8:30 AM–4:30 PM
Wednesday, March 18:	8:30 AM–4:30 PM
Thursday, March 19:	8:30 AM–12:00 Noon

At the Annual Meeting, Communicate Electronically or on Paper

There will be a variety of options for connecting with Annual Meeting attendees as well as staying abreast of other pressing matters. All forms of technology will be available in Baltimore, including

Message Boards
Internet Access
Computer Stations
Wireless Access—"Hot Zones"
SOT E-mail Center—Available year-round to SOT members, Annual Meeting attendees, and On-Line Job Bank registrants

For an overview of these services, please visit the SOT 2009 Annual Meeting Web site.

Save On Your Travel and Accommodation Expenses: Share A Room or Share A Ride

Two programs continue this year that will help you to stretch your dollars while attending the largest toxicology meeting in the world. If you would like to find a room mate or someone to share a ride, you can indicate your interest on lists accessible to other Annual Meeting registrants. To learn more, please visit Ride Sharing Program or Room Sharing Program.

Science News

SOT Has Formed Three New Science-Based Task Forces and a New Committee—More Ways to Become Involved

For 2008–2009, SOT leadership has formed three new task forces and a new committee. A description of each follows below.

Disease Prevention Task Force: Evaluates current Society activities in the areas of prediction and prevention of toxicity and disease and recommends the SOT role in regulatory and risk assessment sciences, as well as increasing human translational sciences.

Professional Needs Assessment Task Force:Defines key areas where the Society can assist in addressing the long-term needs of the profession.

Scientific Liaison Task Force: Develops approaches that will improve the ability of SOT to partner with other domestic and international organizations that have objectives consistent with our goal of increasing the impact of the science of toxicology to improve public health.

Research Funding Committee: Identifies, formulates, and recommends strategies and mechanisms for increasing conventional and alternative sources of funding for research and training for members.

Additional information about other committees and task forces and the Volunteer Form can be found on the SOT Web site.

Twelve SOT Members Are SIEE SEP Reviewers

Twelve of the 19 Systemic Injury by Environmental Exposure (SIEE) Special Emphasis Panel (SEP) members are active SOT members. SOT provided a vetted list of names of potential reviewers to Anthony Scarpa, Director of the National Institutes of Health Center for Scientific Review (CSR). The following SOT members have agreed to serve as reviewers: F. Peter Guengerich, Ghulam A. Ansari, Aaron B. Barchowsky, Max Costa, Ilona Jaspers, Kenneth Michael Pollard, Stephen B. Pruett, Stephen H. Safe, Mary A. Smith, Laura S. Van Winkle, Cheryl Lyn Walker, and David E. Williams. The final SIEE SEP roster now has been posted on the CSR Web site. The description of the SEP is available on the Web site and is easily located by using the search function on the CSR Web site. For this SIEE to be considered for conversion to a standing Study Section, toxicologists need to request their qualifying grants be assigned to this new SEP. The first meeting was held on October 16, 2008.

ToxSci Press Release Attracts Media Attention: Link Possible Between Pet Food and Baby Formula Contamination

In late October, the SOT's Toxicological Sciences and Oxford University Press coordinated efforts to send the journal's first press release. This media alert announced a study published in the November 2008 issue of Toxicological Sciences by Dobson et al. that described the kidney toxicity of melamine and cyanuric acid based on research that was done to characterize the toxicity of the compounds that contaminated pet food in North America in 2007. This research points to a possible link between the pet food contamination that occurred in this 2007 incidence and the recent adulteration of milk protein and resultant intoxication of thousands of babies from Asia.

The study was reported in numerous publications ranging from the New York Times to Science Week. The article, posted at the Toxicological Sciences Web site, is being made freely available as a public service. To view the press release, please visit Toxicology News.

Toxicological Sciences Table of Contents Delivered to Your Inbox

To keep abreast of the articles in each issue of Toxicological Sciences, you can sign up to receive a monthly electronic table of contents (eToc Alerts). The journal includes articles on all aspects of toxicology and is the premiere peer-reviewed, hypothesis-driven, publication of original toxicology articles.

In addition to the eToc Alerts, SOT members can also subscribe to Email Advance Access, CiteTrack, XML RSS Feed, and PDA access.

SOT Scientific Appointments

Charlene A. McQueen Appointed SOT Representative to AAAS

Charlene A. McQueen is serving as the SOT Representative to three Section Committees of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). Dr. McQueen is Professor and Head of Pharmacal Sciences at Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama. Dr. McQueen is a member of the AAAS Section G, Biological Sciences; Section N, Medical Sciences, and Section S, Pharmaceutical Sciences Section Committees.

Loren Koller Re-Appointed SOT's Representative to AAALAC Board of Trustees

Loren D. Koller has been re-appointed to serve a three-year term as the SOT representative on the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care (AAALAC) International Board of Trustees. AAALAC International is a private, nonprofit organization that promotes the humane treatment of animals in science through voluntary accreditation and assessment programs. More than 750 companies, universities, hospitals, government agencies, and other research institutions in 29 countries have earned AAALAC accreditation, demonstrating their commitment to responsible animal care and use. These institutions volunteer to participate in AAALAC's program, in addition to complying with the local, state, and federal laws that regulate animal research.

Michael Holsapple Appointed SOT Representative to ICTXII

SOT Vice President-Elect Michael Holsapple will represent the SOT on several planning committees of the XIIth International Congress of Toxicology, July 11–15, 2010, in Barcelona, Spain. The Spanish Association of Toxicology (AETOX) and EUROTOX, working with the International Union of Toxicology (IUTOX), welcome participation in this event that will encourage the interaction between academia, industry, regulators, experts in human (e.g., clinical, epidemiology), and environmental toxicology.

John Morris Appointed to Virginia Inhalation Toxicology Advisory Group

John Morris has been appointed to a special group focused on advising risk assessors at the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (VDEQ) on the appropriate methodology for selecting or developing toxicity factors (inhalation unit risks and reference concentrations) for use in developing Significant Ambient Air Concentrations (SAAC) and performing risk assessments in the Air Division. The group is anticipated to hold six meetings in 2009 in order to develop a final report to the VDEQ. Dr. Morris has been an SOT member since 1983. He is the head of the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and a Professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology at the University of Connecticut.

Funding Opportunities Available on SOT Web site

The SOT Web site includes information on funding and grants at Funding Opportunities for both government (e.g., National Institutes of Health) and non-government sources. For example, the Health Effects Institute (HEI) has issued its Fall 2008 Request for (Preliminary) Applications (RFAs) and is still accepting applications for RFA 08-2: Walter A. Rosenblith New Investigator Award and RFPA 08-3: Health Effects of Air Pollution.

Legislative and Regulatory Update

SOT Joined Other Science-Based Organizations in Urging Congress to Increase
NIH Funding Now—It's Essential to Economic Recovery

In an October 30, 2008 letter to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, the Society of Toxicology joined with more than 230 patient groups, scientific and medical societies, research institutions, and industry organizations to emphasize the need to include an additional $1.9 billion for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the economic recovery plan under development. Since FY 2003, NIH has lost more than 14 percent of its purchasing power due to federal funding lagging behind the rate of biomedical inflation.

The letter emphasized the economic stimulus that results from NIH support of research, noting that research "results in preventive, therapeutic, and diagnostic measures to improve the health and quality of life for all Americans. In addition, these advances also contribute to the economic strength of the nation by creating skilled jobs, new products, and improved technologies." Read the full letter.

SOT also participated in a letter-writing campaign to the Senate that ultimately resulted in an additional $1 billion in funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the Reid/Byrd Economic Recovery Act of 2008 (S 3689), which passed in the Senate on November 18, 2008.

SOT Salutes NABR's Recognition as Advocate for Responsible Use of Animals in Research

The National Association for Biomedical Research (NABR) was recognized as one of 15 organizations "of special interest to the medical researcher" by Nature Medicine. Through SOT's membership and support of NABR, the Society has raised awareness of the importance of the humane and responsible use of animals in research. Moreover, the SOT has participated in the efforts of NABR in securing the passage of the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act.

Through NABR, approximately 300 organizations have joined forces to achieve the passage of initiatives of highest importance to the research community. For more information, please visit the Nature Medicine Web site.

SOT —Dedicated to Creating a Safer and Healthier World Through the Advancement of Science.