Spring Issue 2008

News in This Issue

President's Message

President Kenneth Ramos

Our Annual Meeting affords us a magnificent opportunity to share new advances in toxicology, to network with friends and colleagues, and to evaluate our goals and aspirations for the year ahead. And 2008 was no exception! The roll-out of our new strategic plan was a hot topic for discussion at the meeting, and I was pleased to witness the enthusiastic reception of the plan—at all levels of the organization—and the swiftness with which we have begun to “own” the plan. The plan is being used to chart our path forward and to guide our efforts in the areas of scientific advancement, advocacy for the value of toxicology, the future of the profession, services to our members, and stability of the organization.

My own expectation is to tie our strategic activities to the concepts outlined below in order to actualize programs and events of importance to SOT members. These concepts are:

• Reaffirming and emphasizing our core values
• Strengthening scientific and professional competitiveness
• Promoting new partnerships
• Defining the frontiers of 21st century science.

Each of my forthcoming columns will explore in detail these concepts, beginning with the meaning of “reaffirming our core values.” Since 1961, the Society has steadily moved forward in its commitment to “creating a safer and healthier world by advancing the science of toxicology.” This core value has in fact been captured in our new vision statement and helped us to crystallize our strategic objectives for the next 3 years. We already demonstrate our commitment to impacting the science through our prestigious Toxicological Sciences journal. Each issue of the Communiqué newsletter highlights the Top Five Frequently cited articles, challenging each of us to aspire to a prominent place on this list.

As asked at the Business Meeting in March, I now ask those of you reading this column, “What will you do this coming year to advance the frontiers of science?” “How will you rely on those advances to create a safer world?” and “How can SOT help you get there?” A critical element in this dialogue will require effective communication between Council and the membership. To this end, I am working with SOT staff to develop short surveys addressing issues of topical interest and relevance in an effort to sustain a dialogue about opportunities and challenges and to work together to evaluate new and existing programs in support of our strategic priorities.

One way in which the Society is advancing the toxicological sciences is through concerted efforts to feature high profile speakers at the Annual Meeting and special conferences that enlighten and inspire the membership. Indeed, several presentations at the 2008 Annual Meeting represented outstanding depictions of the application of fundamental research to elucidate our understanding of human health and disease and their linkages to toxicology. Of note were Nobel Laureate Lee Hartwell who presented a Plenary Opening Lecture on “Perspectives on Science in the 21st Century,” and Nobel Laureate Professor Sir John E. Walker who delivered the Medical Research Council (MRC) Lecture on “Biological Energy Conversion and Its Toxic Consequences.” These lectures assisted in framing many of the events and activities at the Annual Meeting—attended by over 6800 attendees—the largest in the history of SOT.

The response to the new thematic approach has been overwhelmingly positive and the stage is now set for moving forward with the themes for 2009, including Biomarkers, Epigenetics, Inflammation and Disease, and Neurodegenerative Disease. Because of the great interest and promise of Nanotechnology, this theme will again be highlighted. To ensure programming flexibility, new themes will be developed from submitted abstracts in other areas, as appropriate.

A session of great importance to SOT Members was a dialogue with the NIH Center for Scientific Review Director Dr. Antonio Scarpa who described the creation of a new Systemic Injury by Environmental Exposure (SIEE) Special Emphasis Panel (SEP) as part of the Digestive Disease Integrated Review Group. This SEP establishes a temporary review body populated by toxicologists to evaluate toxicology grant applications starting June 2008. For this SIEE to be considered for conversion to a standing Study Section, toxicologists need to request their qualifying grants to be assigned to this new SEP. SOT leaders and members worked diligently over a number of years to realize this breakthrough and now it is imperative that we work together to sustain and expand the effort.

As the major Society in the world organized to advance the science of toxicology, we face multiple challenges. Of particular concern to me are the reduced financial resources now available to carry out our mandate, the shrinking pool of students attracted to science careers, the increasing scrutiny of core scientific values and the credibility of science, and the increased emphasis on what pulls the scientific community apart rather than what brings us together. Our ability to overcome these and other challenges demands that we continue to build on our reputation for value and to create nimble structures poised to tackle the challenges of an ever changing landscape.

And, the impact of our discipline continues to be affirmed by the greater scientific community! Recently, I attended a meeting of the Council of Scientific Presidents (CSSP) and was pleased to witness the central role of toxicology in many of CSSP’s initiatives. CSSP is an organization of presidents, presidents-elect, and recent past presidents of about sixty scientific federations and societies whose combined membership numbers well over 1.4 million scientists and science educators.

It is clear that our discipline is vital to “defining the frontier of 21st century science” and in future columns I will explore how you and SOT can take an increasingly active role in this progress.

Kenneth Ramos,
2008–2009 SOT President

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Expanded Interaction Between SOT and FDA Underway

The SOT Council continues to identify and explore opportunities for the Society to have a greater impact in areas of interest to the membership. As part of this effort, SOT leadership recently met in Washington, D.C. with Andrew C. von Eschenbach, M.D. (Commissioner of FDA), Janet Woodcock, M.D. (Deputy Commissioner of FDA), and five other members of the FDA leadership on January 31, 2008. The purpose of the meeting was to identify areas of mutual interest where cooperative action would assist both the FDA and SOT to meet their respective responsibilities, particularly as related to enhancing the safety of food and drugs for the American public. Dr. von Eschenbach expressed FDA's strong commitment to the field of toxicology, as evidenced by appointments of toxicologists to leadership positions in the Agency and support of the National Center for Toxicological Research. The meeting was productive and participants identified several opportunities for expanded interactions in the future.

The FDA and SOT will jointly explore ways to increase FDA participation in the SOT Annual Meeting. This will result in greater exchange of information and views among the FDA, industry, and academic attendees with interests in the safety of food and drugs. In addition, specific plans are being developed for the identification of topics on food and drug safety for inclusion as Symposia, Workshops, Roundtables, and/or Informational Sessions at future SOT Annual Meetings starting with the 2009 meeting. Through discussions at the January meeting and follow-up interactions, the SOT and FDA are exploring ways to assist FDA in identifying individuals with toxicology expertise for FDA advisory panels. Additional discussions focused on how SOT might assist in training efforts that are planned within the Agency. The possibility of using the SOT Contemporary Concepts in Toxicology series as a mechanism for FDA to obtain broad-based input on scientific issues was also discussed.

Moving forward on the issues of interest identified at the January meeting will require additional Council deliberations and interactions between the Agency and the Society. To this end, the SOT and FDA are forming a joint Liaison Group to facilitate future interactions. The SOT Council is confident that the outcomes of expanded interactions will be mutually beneficial to both SOT membership and the FDA.

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CCT Workshop Focuses on Hemangiosarcoma in Rodents—Abstract Submission Deadline Approaching

A Contemporary Concepts in Toxicology (CCT) Workshop, “Hemangiosarcoma in Rodents: Mode-of-Action Evaluation and Human Relevance,” will be held December 4–5, 2008, at the Westin Arlington Gateway Hotel, Arlington, Virginia. The abstract submission deadline is September 24, 2008. This workshop is sponsored by the ILSI Health and Environmental Sciences Institute (HESI) and SOT.

The purpose of the workshop is to explore the modes of action (MOAs) and human relevance of hemangiosarcoma induced in rodents by various classes of compounds. This event will provide a unique opportunity for scientific exchange among experts from government, academia, and multiple industry sectors.

Hemangiosarcoma is a tumor of the endothelial cells and is seen primarily in organs with sinusoidal blood supply such as the liver, spleen, and bone marrow, but also in other tissues, such as adipose tissue. This tumor can be induced by genotoxic and nongenotoxic compounds. Genotoxic agents, such as vinyl chloride, induce hemangiosarcoma in mice, rats, and humans. Nongenotoxic compounds, such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) agonists, however, induce hemangiosarcoma only in mice. To date, the MOA for hemangiosarcoma induction by nongenotoxic compounds is not known nor is the human relevance of these tumors understood. Visit the Hemangiosarcoma CCT Meeting section for additional information on this workshop.

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SOT Proposed By-Laws Changes to Three Committees Approved

A majority of the ballots received at SOT Headquarters supported the proposed changes in the By-Laws for the Nominating, Continuing Education, and Program Committees. The most apparent revision is the change of name from the Program Committee to the Scientific Program Committee. Another change prohibits the ballot nomination of a member currently serving on the Nominating Committee to an overlapping term. The language for the Continuing Education (CE) program clarifies the purposes of the CE courses. The voting was completed on March 25, 2008. View the Society’s By-laws and Constitution.

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Recognize Outstanding Toxicologists: SOT Award Nominations Due October 9

The Awards Committee recommends that each member of SOT think about those scientists in our membership who match the criteria for the various awards presented by SOT and assist in nominating these individuals. In addition, Council has charged Committees to put forth deserving candidates. It is not too early to begin preparations for these nominations, due October 9. A full list of all awards presented each year at the Annual Meeting, awards conferred by other SOT groups, a list of previous recipients, and the required application items are available on the SOT Awards and Fellowship section of the Web site.

Students intending to apply this fall for Graduate Travel Support through the Graduate Fellowship should submit their SOT membership applications in advance of the September 1 membership application deadline in order to be eligible.

For SOT Awards, a sponsor and seconder who are full members of SOT must submit a nomination using the Awards Nomination on-line, which involves posting the required documents to the Web. Applications for 2009 will be accepted beginning July 1. The supporting documentation must include letters detailing the candidate's achievements in toxicology and a curriculum vitae. Nominations for most awards remain valid for two additional years.

Alternative Methods Award

June 15 is the next deadline for the Colgate-Palmolive Awards for Student Research Training in Alternative Methods. These applications are also accepted October 9 and February 15. Graduate Student applicants submit a proposal for funding of a training experience in in vitro or alternatives methodology to enhance their thesis or dissertation research.

ToxSci—Best Paper Awards

The Board of Publications Best Paper Award for the Best Paper in Toxicological Sciences is presented to the author(s) of the best paper published in the official SOT publication during a 12-month period, terminating with the June issue of the calendar year preceding the Annual Meeting at which the award is presented. The Postdoctoral Assembly accepts nominations for the Best Postdoctoral Publication during the same interval.

The SOT Regional Chapters, Specialty Sections, and Special Interest Groups confer a number of awards, principally to graduate students and postdoctoral fellows.

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The Top Five Most-Frequently Cited ToxSci Articles—As of May 1, 2008

Each issue of the Communiqué will highlight the top five articles among the 50 most-cited articles in Toxicological Sciences for the month that the newsletter is disseminated. Most-cited rankings are calculated at the beginning of the month and count citations from articles in HighWire-hosted journals.

1.	Akiko Enomoto, Ken Itoh, Eiko Nagayoshi, Junko Haruta, Toyoe Kimura, Tania O’Connor, Takanori Harada, Masayuki Yamamoto
		High Sensitivity of Nrf2 Knockout Mice to Acetaminophen Hepatotoxicity Associated with Decreased Expression of ARE-Regulated Drug Metabolizing Enzymes and Antioxidant Genes
		Toxicol Sci Jan 01, 2001; 59: 169–177. (In Systems Toxicology)
2.	Eve Mylchreest, Russell C. Cattley, Paul M. D. Foster
		Male Reproductive Tract Malformations in Rats Following Gestational and Lactational Exposure to Di(n-butyl) Phthalate: An Antiandrogenic Mechanism?
		Toxicol Sci May 01, 1998; 43: 47–60. (In Reproductive and Developmental Toxicology)
3.	Louise G. Parks, Joe S. Ostby, Christy R. Lambright, Barbara D. Abbott, Gary R. Klinefelter, Norman J. Barlow, L. Earl Gray
		The Plasticizer Diethylhexyl Phthalate Induces Malformations by Decreasing Fetal Testosterone Synthesis during Sexual Differentiation in the Male Rat
		Toxicol Sci Dec 01, 2000; 58: 339–349. (In Reproductive and Developmental Toxicology)
4.	Hisham K. Hamadeh, Pierre R. Bushel, Supriya Jayadev, Karla Martin, Olimpia DiSorbo, Stella Sieber, Lee Bennett, Raymond Tennant, Raymond Stoll, J. Carl Barrett, Kerry Blanchard, Richard S. Paules, Cynthia A. Afshari
		Gene Expression Analysis Reveals Chemical-Specific Profiles
		Toxicol Sci Jun 01, 2002; 67: 219–231. (In Molecular and Genetic Toxicology)
5.	L. Earl Gray, Joseph Ostby, Johnathan Furr, Matthew Price, D. N. Rao Veeramachaneni, Louise Parks
		Perinatal Exposure to the Phthalates DEHP, BBP, and DINP, but Not DEP, DMP, or DOTP, Alters Sexual Differentiation of the Male Rat
		Toxicol Sci Dec 01, 2000; 58: 350–365. (In Reproductive and Developmental Toxicology)

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Seventh Triennial Toxicology Salary Survey Results Posted on SOT Web Site

The Seventh Triennial Toxicology Salary Survey results are now available on the SOT Web site, providing employment and salary information based on responses from 3,424 toxicologists.  This survey was conducted by Shayne Gad, Gad Consulting, and the Society of Toxicology (SOT) Career Resource and Development (CRAD) Committee. In addition to SOT, the organizations that participated in this salary survey include the Academy of Toxicological Sciences, American Board of Toxicology, American College of Toxicology, Environmental Mutagen Society, Safety Pharmacology Society, Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, and the Teratology Society.

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Graduate Advisors—SOT Student Members Are Eligible for Travel Support and Reduced Annual Meeting Registration Fees

Mentors should encourage students to apply for SOT Membership before September 1. Graduate students must be members of SOT to receive 2009 SOT Travel Support. Also, students accepted as members will be eligible to register for the 2009 Annual Meeting in Baltimore, Maryland (March 15–19, 2009) at the member rate.

The SOT on-line membership application form is convenient and the only certification required is one letter from the student's research advisor or director of graduate studies. Students with questions about membership can e-mail SOT Headquarters.

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SOT Scientific Program Committee Carries Forward Thematic Approach

SOT will begin accepting abstracts August 1 for platform and poster sessions for consideration for the 2009 Annual Meeting. The deadline to submit an abstract is October 3, 2008, at 11:59 PM EST.

The SOT Scientific Program Committee is excited to carry forward the thematic approach for the 2009 Meeting. All submissions will be reviewed under the current criteria for their timeliness and relevance to the field of toxicology. However, SOT is actively soliciting abstracts for the themes listed below:

• Biomarkers
• Epigenetics
• Inflammation and Disease
• Nanotechnology (repeated from 2008)
• Neurodegenerative Disease

To assist you in submitting an abstract, the SOT Scientific Program Committee has developed a Frequently Asked Questions fact sheet. Please note that the ScholarOne Abstract Central site uses a database other than the SOT member database and it does not recognize your SOT membership login information unless you use the same information when you create your Abstract Central account. For additional information, please contact Nichelle Sankey.

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SOT E-mail Center Is Available All Year

The SOT Annual Meeting E-mail Center that helped to keep you connected to your colleagues during the SOT Annual Meeting is available all year. SOT Members, 2008 Annual Meeting attendees, exhibitors, and CRAD Job Bank registrants can continue to communicate via this system. Although the system functions just like a standard e-mail application, the E-mail Center gives you a unique mailbox without having to provide your personal e-mail address to correspondents.

• Is there a speaker with whom you would like to communicate?
• Do you want to continue the interesting conversation with someone you met at a roundtable, symposium or workshop?
• Do you have a position that is the right fit for a candidate you found through the CRAD On-site Job Bank Center?
• Are you ready to engage the services of a ToxExpo™ exhibitor?

By using the searchable, user-friendly SOT E-mail Center, you will facilitate sustaining the dialogues and relationships initiated at the SOT Annual Meeting as well as reaching out to all SOT Members.

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Other Societies' News of Note

This section features information from the societies of which SOT is a member.

AAALAC Announces Newcomer to Serve as Executive Director

Submitted by: Loren D. Koller, D.V.M., Ph.D., SOT Representative AAALAC Board of Trustees

AAALAC International, the Association for the Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care, has appointed Christian E. Newcomer, V.M.D., Dip ACLAM as it new Executive Director. Christian will oversee the administration of AAALAC’s three offices (U.S., European, and Pacific Rim); supervise fiscal and personnel management for the association; provide oversight of AAALAC’s accreditation, Program Status Evaluation and Education & Outreach programs; and serve as AAALAC International’s spokesperson. Dr. Newcomer assumed his duties June 1 and succeeds Dr. John G. Miller who is retiring after serving as Executive Director since 1996.

Dr. Newcomer has served on AAALAC’s Council on Accreditation, is current president of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science, and is a past president of the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine. He earned his B.S. in zoology and M.S. in pathology from the University of Michigan and his V.M.D. from the University of Pennsylvania. He has been an ACLAM Diplomate since 1982.

AAALAC International was established in 1965 and is a private, nonprofit organization that promotes the humane treatment of animals in science through voluntary accreditation and evaluation programs. Institutions seeking accreditation receive an independent, expert assessment of their animal care and use program. Those that meet or exceed applicable standards are awarded accreditation—a symbol of quality assurance recognized around the world. More than 750 institutions in 29 countries have earned AAALAC accreditation, demonstrating their commitment to high quality animal care and good science.

NABR to Hold Leadership Conference/ International Forum for Animal Research—June 23–25

The National Association for Biomedical Research (NABR) will hold its leadership conference on June 23, 2008 in Washington, D.C. This meeting will be followed by an International Forum for Animal Research: Communication & Collaboration, June 24–25. The stated purpose of this forum is to “learn the direction of global regulation, prospects for harmonization of standards and ethical concerns from leaders directly involved in science and public policy.”

International Union of Toxicology (IUTOX)—7th Congress of Toxicology in Developing Countries to Convene in South Africa

The Toxicology Society of South Africa (TOXSA) will be hosting the 7th Congress of Toxicology in Developing Countries (7CTDC) in Sun City, South Africa, September 6–10, 2009. Please visit this website for the First Announcement (9.3 MB).

The XII International Congress of Toxicology Scheduled for Barcelona—July 2010

The proposal submission process is underway for the ICTXII meeting scheduled for July 10–15, 2010, in Barcelona. For further information about preparing and submitting a proposal, download the proposal instructions. If you have any questions, please send an e-mail to IUTOX Headquarters.

Links to other societies newsletters are below:

International Union of Toxicology

National Association for Biomedical Research

American Association for the Advancement of Science

For information about the American Association for the Advancement of Science, go to the AAAS Web site. AAAS Advances, a members-only e-newsletter, provides additional science news, event announcements, career information, award deadlines and more. Learn more about AAAS membership.

SOT PDA represented at the National Postdoctoral Association Annual Meeting

Heather Floyd, the 2008–2009 Chair of the SOT Postdoctoral Assembly (PDA), attended the National Postdoctoral Association Annual Meeting in Boston, Massachusetts at the end of April. During the Leadership Workshop, Dr. Floyd discussed a number of topics including sustaining membership, leadership, and participation and the status of ten action items relative to postdoctoral training identified in the Committee on Science, Engineering, and Public Policy. She and the other participants also explored topics including mentoring, career and family issues, and conflict resolution.

Johnson & Johnson Honored with NJABR’s 3Rs Award

Johnson & Johnson, an SOT Affiliate, was the recipient of the New Jersey Association for Biomedical Research (NJABR) 2007 3Rs Award, presented at Alternatively Speaking, a public education forum about the use of animals in research, testing, education, and training, held last fall, at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Brunswick, New Jersey. The award honors outstanding contributions to the development or implementation of alternative research methods resulting in one of the 3Rs—Reduction of the number of animals used in research and testing, Refinement of procedures to minimize animal pain and distress, and Replacement or use of a lower order of animal when scientifically appropriate. SOT and other sponsors provided support for this award.

Johnson & Johnson 3R activities include research on alternatives for animal models, awards acknowledging important advancements related to the 3Rs, postdoctoral appointments that recognize the mentorship role of scientists who have achieved the level of Research or Engineering Fellow in the Advanced Scientific Ladder, publicly posted policies regarding the humane care and use of laboratory research animals, and external partnering with several non-profit organizations concerned with the advancement of the 3Rs.

Use of the 3Rs improves scientific research and animal welfare. The 3Rs Award reflects NJABR’s core commitment to promoting understanding of alternatives as integral to the humane care of laboratory animals and the scientific process in which animals play a vital role. The goals of NJABR in sponsoring this award are to applaud and encourage those who work to make research better, as well as to educate the public about the high level commitment within the scientific community to develop and implement the 3Rs.

47th Annual Meeting Highlights

2008 SOT Annual Meeting Sets New Attendance Record

More than 6800 toxicologists and other professionals attended the 47th Annual Meeting in Seattle this past March, setting a new attendance record for the Society. This year’s meeting featured 54 Symposia, Workshops, and Roundtables, 11 Informational Sessions, one Historical Highlights Session, 26 Platform Sessions, 72 Poster Sessions, and a Soapbox Session. In addition, 2363 abstracts were submitted for presentation. More than 2600 attendees participated in the 13 Continuing Education Courses.

Breaking all previous attendance records, more than 6800 attendees participated in diverse programs and activities.

Historical Highlight Chair Michael Madden introduced the session on Ozone Toxicology: Historical Perspectives of the Science that Shaped the Regulatory Standards.

For a pictorial overview of the meeting, please visit the 2008 Annual Meeting Photo Gallery. 

For the second year, the Soapbox Session proved a popular addition to the SOT Annual Meeting.

More than half of the conference attendees took full advantage of the meeting and arrived on Sunday and half of the attendees participated in Thursday’s sessions.  SOT received rave reviews from attendees and based on survey results, over 80 percent of the attendees rated the scope of the scientific sessions the top two numbers of a 5 point scale.  Additionally, more than 70 percent of the attendees were able to attend those seminars that were most relevant to them and more than 80 percent of the attendees reported they had ample time to network.

Highlights of the five-day event included an Awards Musical Prelude featuring Kaley Eaton, a versatile musician and pianist, the 47th Annual Awards Ceremony, the 25-Year Member Reception, the Student/Postdoctoral Fellow Mixer, the Postdoctoral Assembly Luncheon, the Regional Chapter, Specialty Section, and Special Interest Group Receptions, all of which were held at various times between Sunday and Wednesday. 

Two Nobel Laureates delivered key addresses during the course of the meeting.  Nobel Laureate Lee Hartwell, President and Director of Seattle’s Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, delivered the Plenary Opening Lecture, “Perspectives on Science in the 21st Century.”  Dr. Hartwell had made major contributions to our understanding of cell division and cancer through his study of genes that control cell division in yeast.  He received the 2001 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.  He is also the recipient of the Medical Research Award, the Gairdner Foundational International Award, and the Alfred P. Sloan Award in cancer research. 

Nobel Laureate Lee Hartwell delivered the Plenary Opening Lecture	Nobel Laureate Professor Sir John Walker delivered MRC Lecture

Nobel Laureate Professor Sir John Walker delivered the Keynote Medical Research Council (MRC) Lecture, “Biological Energy Conversion and Its Toxic Consequences.”  He received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1997.  He is also the recipient of the A.T. Clay Medal, the Johnson Foundation Prize, the CIBA Medal and Prize of the Biochemical Society and the Peter Mitchell Medal of the European Bioenergetics Congress and the Gaetano Quagliariello Prize for Research in Mitochondria by the University of Bari, Italy.  Both presentations by these Nobel Laureates are available on the 2008 Annual Meeting site.   

Vishal Vaidya chaired the Professional Career Development as a Toxicologist informational session.

Informational sessions included topics such as “Putting Your Best Foot Forward: Job Interviewing Session for Early Career Scientists” to “Cross-Cultural Understanding of Asian and Western Cultural Values in the Workplace.” These sessions continue to grow in number, variety, and attendance at the Annual Meeting.

A session of note was presented by Dr. Antonio Scarpa, Director of the NIH Center for Scientific Review, who described the "Enhancements in the Review of NIH Grant Applications." SOT welcomes the formation of the new Systemic Injury by Environmental Exposure (SIEE) Special Emphasis Panel (SEP) under the existing Digestive Disease Integrative Review Group. The SIEE SEP will provide for the review of a broad range of toxicology grant proposals by toxicologists. Dr. Scarpa answered questions about how the new SIEE SEP will operate and what would be required for it to become viable for conversion to a standing Study Section.

The Town Hall Meeting focused on the 2008–2011 Strategic Plan. SOT 2007–2008 President George B. Corcoran and SOT 2008-2009 President Kenneth S. Ramos described how the Society will work to advance its vision of "Creating a Safer and Healthier World by Advancing the Science of Toxicology," emphasizing that the Society must position itself to face the challenge of Increasing the Impact and Future Vitality of Toxicology by setting priorities that:

• Increase Scientific Impact
• Advocate for the Value of Toxicology
• Build for the Future of Toxicology
• Expand and Deepen Member Engagement
• Strengthen Organizational Effectiveness.

2008 ToxExpo™ Breaks Records

The 2008 ToxExpo™ in Seattle once again proved to be the biggest and best toxicology-related exhibition in the world with a record breaking 358 companies represented in the exhibit hall. Exhibitors included 72 international companies and 51 first-time vendors who displayed the latest cutting-edge technology and services available in scientific development. The 6800 Seattle attendees were also able to view several hundred scientific poster sessions on a multitude of topics of interest to the Toxicologists.

Planning for 2009 Annual Meeting and ToxExpo™ Underway

SOT is preparing for another successful meeting in 2009.  The thematic approach that was used for the 2008 program will be carried forward for the 2009 Annual Meeting and will include Biomarkers, Epigenetics, Inflammation and Disease, and Neurodegenerative Disease. Due to its timeliness, Nanotechnology will again be highlighted. At the close of the proposal submission site in April 30, the Society had received 150 session proposals for consideration.  The sessions tentatively accepted for the Baltimore meeting will be posted to the SOT Web site in July.

 

Information on the ToxExpo™ is available twenty-four hours a day. Current information on the latest technology, products, and services provided by ToxExpo™ Exhibitors is at your fingertips with just a few clicks of the mouse! If your company is interested in exhibiting at the 2009 Annual Meeting and ToxExpo™ in Baltimore, Maryland, please use the “Become an Exhibitor” link to submit a booth request. For more information, please contact Liz Kasabian, Exhibits Manager, at SOT Headquarters, 703-438-3115. If you know of a company that should be exhibiting at ToxExpo™, please let us know!

 

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2009 Annual Meeting Sponsorship Opportunities Are Available

Our Thanks to SOT's 2008 Annual Meeting Sponsors.

Sponsorship opportunities are available for the 2009 SOT Annual Meeting. Sponsorship serves as visible evidence of an organization's commitment to the science of toxicology. In addition, sponsorship provides an opportunity for companies to increase overall awareness of their company to SOT members and over 6800 Annual Meeting attendees. As a sponsor, companies will be featured in post-meeting newsletters, the ToxExpo™ Directory, pre-meeting publications, on-site meeting registration materials, and the SOT Web site. In addition, acknowledgement signs will group sponsors by levels of support and will be displayed at many of the SOT functions during the 2009 Annual Meeting. There are four levels of sponsorship available, as follows:

• Diamond (over $10,000)
• Platinum ($5,000–$9,999)
• Gold ($2,500–$4,999)
• Silver ($1,000–$2,499)

Sponsorship will help offset the cost of the following functions: Undergraduate Program, K–12 Outreach, Student/Postdoctoral Fellow Mixer, Continuing Education Program, Refreshments, and the Welcoming Reception. If you are interested in SOT Sponsorship, contact Marcia Lawson at SOT Headquarters (703) 438-3115.

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Badham is 2008 Graduate Fellowship Recipient

Congratulations to Helen Badham of Queens University, the 2008 recipient of the Novartis Graduate Fellowship. The Awards Committee made the selection after completing interviews with an excellent pool of candidates in Seattle in March. Finalists included Julie Moreno, Colorado State University, Annmarie Ramkissoon, University of Toronto, and Lu Wang, University of Mississippi.

Applications for the 2009 Fellowships are due October 9. This includes the Colgate-Palmolive Postdoctoral Fellowship Award in In Vitro Toxicology, which is only offered in alternate years. More details are found in the Awards and Fellowship section of the SOT Web site.

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Undergraduate Students Get a Special Dose of Toxicology

The Committee on Diversity Initiatives (CDI) hosted an excellent group of undergraduates and advisors in the Undergraduate Education Program at the SOT Annual Meeting in Seattle.  Forty-four students and nine faculty advisors participated.  Students from ethnic/racial groups under-represented in the sciences and their advisors received travel funding through NIH-MARC grant # GM08397.  An additional group of students who are from institutions that receive low levels of federal funding in science and math received travel support from SOT.  The Sunday portion of the program is open to any undergraduate student who is registered for the Annual Meeting, including the Pfizer Undergraduate Travel Award recipients.

Myrtle Davis received recognition from Marian Ehrich (left) and Vicente Santa Cruz (right).

Special recognition was presented to Myrtle Davis by Marion Ehrich and CDI chair Vicente Santa Cruz. Dr. Davis succeeded Dr. Ehrich as PI on the NIH grant and has provided many years of significant leadership for the Undergraduate Education Program.

Saturday evening groups of students, advisors, graduate student peer mentors, and toxicologist host-mentors are assembled and discuss graduate school and careers in toxicology in an informal setting.  The now traditional ice-breaker based on the FDA Tox Squad got things rolling, and Craig Marcus provided the lecture in introductory toxicology.  Presentations on Sunday by Martin Philbert, Judy Zelikoff, and Charles Miller provided interesting insights into specific topics in toxicology.  Malari Coburn, an undergraduate from Centenary College of Louisiana, who participated in a summer internship with Heather Kleiner, presented her work. 

Students learn about tox programs.

Special sessions to learn about graduate school admissions and success in graduate school were provided to break-out groups by Enrique Fuentes, Lauren Aleksunes, Antonio Baines, and Angela Slitt.  Mary Kanz and Mary Ann Smith facilitated the faculty advisor session.  Several academic program directors and internship hosts—34—participated in the open session in which students could ask questions one-on-one. Career opportunities in different employment sectors and balancing work and family were discussed by a panel including Myrtle Davis (moderator), Alice Villalobos, Vanessa Silva, and Marquea King.

Informal discussion about toxicology careers is an integrated part of the program.

The undergraduates reviewed a special section of posters in ToxExpo and had the opportunity to talk to graduate students and other toxicologists about their work, seeking to uncover the Mystery Scientist. This person was identified by asking questions and collecting clues, and the group who uncovered the Mystery Scientist received special prizes. Program participants also attended the Plenary Lecture and the In Vitro Luncheon.

The members of the CDI invest a great amount of time and energy all year preparing the program, and SOT extends appreciation and congratulations for this important program that brings toxicology to the attention of potential scientists. Peer mentors, mentors, and speakers are also very critical to successful engagement of the students, and have agreed to continue to be in touch with these students to encourage them to keep graduate school in their career plans.

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RC, SS, and SIG Presidents and Officers Convene at 2008 Annual Meeting

The presidents and officers of the SOT Regional Chapters (RC), Specialty Sections (SS), and Special Interest Groups (SIG) met at the SOT Annual Meeting to discuss issues of mutual interest and to receive up-to-date information on the Society’s Strategic Plan and Endowment Fund. SOT Council Liaisons Janice E. Chambers (RC), Kim Bokelheide (SS), and William Slikker, Jr. (SIG) facilitated discussions that will be continued at the Summer Leadership Meetings, July 24–25, 2008, in Reston, Virginia.

Jan Chambers and Roger O. McClellan addressed the Regional Chapter officers.

Cheryl Lyn Walker presented the Society’s Strategic Plan for 2008–2011 and provided an overview of the changes to the Scientific Program Committee process developed to more fully involve SOT Members in the Specialty Sections, Special Interest Groups, and Committees. Endowment Board Chair Roger O. McClellan described the successful launch of this initiative, encouraging participation now that the “50th Anniversary Match” funds are available. The Regional Chapter officers also heard presentations by Education Committee Chair Steven G. Gilbert on the ToxScholar Program and by Committee on Diversity Initiatives Member Lin Mantell on the Guest Lecture Program, as well as by Patrick J. Shaw of the Student Advisory Council, who explained the Graduate Committees. The Specialty Section leadership also heard from Continuing Education Chair Kok Wah Hew.

For more information on the Regional Chapters, Specialty Sections, and Special Interest Groups, use the links below. For headquarters assistance for Regional Chapters and Special Interest Groups, contact Allison Branco Maxwell and for Specialty Sections, contact Kristy Rand.

Regional Chapters

Specialty Sections

Special Interest Groups

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Committee on K–12 Education leads Outreach Efforts in Seattle

The Committee on K–12 Education organized a public outreach program for schools across the state of Washington in conjunction with the SOT Annual Meeting and provided outreach materials as part of the SOT Resource Pavilion in the ToxExpo™ Skybridge. Vanessa A. Fitsanakis was Chair of the committee in 2007–2008.

Students.

Students from six classrooms around Washington State were involved in the Toxicologists Educating and Mentoring Students (TEAMS) video-conference symposium during the Annual Meeting. Participants gave presentations to one another and to an audience at the Seattle Hyatt Amphitheater through the Washington K–20 education videoconference network. Two of the local classes' made their presentations live from the Hyatt. A virtual poster session in the afternoon showcased other student presentations that had been recorded and submitted on CD. Among the topics the students addressed were artificial sweeteners, caffeine, PCBs, energy drinks, sunscreens, and lead in cosmetics. A panel of toxicologists discussed the videoconference presentations with the students and provided live feedback. Each class had the opportunity to work with a toxicologist mentor prior to the event. Katie Sprugel chaired the event, and she was assisted by Jon Sharpe (teacher coordinator), Dan Arrieta (mentor coordinator), and Frank Koegler (technical coordinator).

SOT members were a review panel for the presentations.

Others on the local organizing committee included Dianne Botta, Steven G. Gilbert, India Carlson, Tao Wang, Reitha Weeks, Jay Young, Nancy Sedlacek, Gilda Wheeler, and Tim McFaul. The SOT panelists for the videoconference included Cynthia A. Afshari, Dianne Botta, Vanessa A. Fitsanakis, Maureen R. Gwinn, George C.T. Jiang, Robert I. Krieger, Linda G. Roberts, and William S. Utley. Toxicologists who served as volunteer mentors to the classes were Herve N. Lebrec, Chunmei Ji, Karen Riveles, Jeffrey S. Tepper, Jane M. Gunther, Peter J. Korytko, Mark R. Fielden, Dorothy B. Colagiovanni, and Teresa Wegesser. Many other SOT members helped review and comment on the prerecorded student presentations.

More information about the project can be found at the TEAMS section of the SOT Web site.

Preparation for the K–12 Outreach exhibit was done by Nicole Soucy and Deepa Rao, and Clara Thomas and Keith Erikson provided coordination on-site. Many SOT volunteers assisted in discussing the variety of materials that were on exhibit with the passers-by. Approximately 550 meeting attendees stopped at the booth and learned about items that could assist them with career presentations, science days, and activities for their children’s classrooms or when invited to schools. Resources for grades K–12 were available, including the Toxicology Enrichment Materials booklet and career posters.

As part of the reorganization for alignment with the SOT Strategic Plan, the Committee on K–12 Education is one of the four committees merged to form the new Communications Committee.

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Postdoctoral Scholars Were Busy in Seattle

More than 400 postdocs attended the SOT 2008 Annual Meeting, with 64 of them having the distinction of being inaugural members of the newly established “Postdoctoral” membership category. The Postdoctoral Assembly (PDA) was pleased to offer numerous events geared towards postdocs at the 2008 Annual Meeting.

Monday Afternoon Symposium

This year, the PDA organized an informational session entitled “Putting Your Best Foot Forward: Job Interviewing Workshop for Early-Career Scientists.” Linda Birnbaum provided valuable insights and tips into interviewing for a scientific position in government, while Leigh Ann Burns-Naas educated the audience on how to succeed during an industrial interview, with Kristen Mitchell describing her recent experience interviewing for an academic research position. We are thrilled to have had a great turnout for this event and enthusiastic participation from the audience. PowerPoint slides from this seminar will be available on the PDA section of the Web site.

Tuesday Afternoon Postdoctoral Luncheon

The recipients of the 2nd Annual Best Postdoctoral Publication Award are Joshua Gray (left), Christie Sayes (center), and Khristy Thompson (right).

Around 150 postdocs gathered Tuesday afternoon for the PDA-sponsored Postdoctoral Luncheon. Attendees were given a warm welcome from SOT Council Liaison Scott W. Burchiel and SOT President George B. Corcoran. Highlights of this event included the recognition of postdoc award winners from Specialty Sections, Regional Chapters, and Special Interest Groups, and the recipients of the 2nd Annual Best Postdoctoral Publication Awards: Joshua Gray of University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Christie Sayes, Texas A&M, and Khristy Thompson, Elizabethtown College. The luncheon concluded with a discussion of possible events at the 2009 Annual Meeting in Baltimore, as well as a drawing for numerous door prizes. The PDA hopes to sponsor another successful luncheon in Baltimore next year!

Sunday Evening Student/Postdoc Mixer

Students and postdocs gathered Sunday evening to kick off the Annual Meeting. While eating, drinking, and mingling, attendees also had the chance to view posters set up by SOT Regional Chapters, Specialty Sections, and Special Interest Groups. PDA Board members were on hand to meet postdocs and distribute collectable “Postdoc” lapel pins. The PDA would like to thank the Student Advisory Council for once again spearheading the organization of such a lively mixer this year!

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Student Advisory Committee Increases Student SOT Involvement: 2007–2008 Highlights

Submitted by: Alison Hege, outgoing SAC Secretary-Treasurer and SS-GC Chairperson Pat Shaw, outgoing SAC President and RC-GC Chairperson.

SAC President Pat Shaw and Alison Hege.

In May of 2007, the Student Advisory Council (SAC) initiated a major reorganization of student representatives in which two separate, but collaborative, committees with their own leadership were formed, with the SAC serving as the coordinating body. The Committees are the Regional Chapter Graduate Committee (RC-GC), composed of the Regional Chapter and Special Interest Group student representatives, and the Specialty Section Graduate Committee (SS-GC).

 

Students mingle during the Mixer.

 

Each is headed by three elected officers, the Chairperson, Chairperson-Elect, and Secretary; the six officers, combined from the two groups, comprise the leadership for the SAC. Through the SAC meetings, communication between the two committees is maintained at all times. We consider this reorganization to be a resounding success, allowing for the development of new initiatives to increase student involvement in SOT. For an orientation to election of representatives and functioning of these groups, you can review the SAC Guidelines and other information on the Student Section of the Web site.

The Mixer is a chance to meet new friends and old.

SAC

Our major goal this year was to improve communication among students. We implemented a Contact SAC on-line form by which students can directly contact SAC with comments or questions via the SAC Secretary-Treasurer. To increase student membership, we developed a student recruitment card in collaboration with the Membership Committee. This new communication tool was distributed at the Annual Meeting in Seattle. Finally, to maintain communication between student members and SOT, we identified volunteers from the Graduate Committees to serve as a liaison to key SOT committees.

RC-GC

Members of the Regional Chapter Graduate Committee were instrumental in planning the Graduate Student/Postdoc Mixer this year. The event was a great success and had a record registration. Door prizes were given to the following winners: Holly Martinson and Christina Hickey received SOT portfolios; Chester Rodriguez and Anna Neri were the receipents of Starbucks gift cards; Fanny Casado-Pena and Irene Abraham took away Barnes and Noble gift cards; Igor Koturbash and Mitsuko Yamamoto jumped on the chance to claim their a jump drive; and Marissa Lauren Papaccioli and Heather Klintworth received the sought after iPOD shuffle. To assist graduate students in navigating the SOT meeting, we put together the 2008 Annual Meeting Student Event Planner that explained each of the Annual Meeting event types, listed times and locations for all of the planned student and career development events, and contained contact information for all student representatives. During the RC-GC business meeting, new representatives were elected or transitioned to their new positions. For 2008–2009, Kristina DeSmet is Chairperson and incoming SAC Secretary-Treasurer, Erica Sparkenbaugh, is Chairperson-elect, and Melanie Weed is Secretary.

SS-GC

A major project for the Specialty Section Graduate Committee was to organize and implement the Lunch with an Expert (LWAE) Program at the Annual Meeting. We had a great deal of interest and support for the program this year. We greatly appreciate and thank the 57 expert volunteers and over 120 students and postdoctoral fellows who participated during the Seattle meeting. Throughout the year, we archived LWAE materials and developed a SOP so that we may focus on additional initiatives in future years. During the SS-GC business meeting, the 2008–2009 officers were elected or transitioned to their new positions. The incoming officers are Thomas Kannanayakal, Chairperson and SAC President, Sheppard Martin, Chairperson-elect, and Daniel Hochman, Secretary. We have a number of exciting initiatives for the upcoming year. These include putting together a Symposium proposal in collaboration with the Postdoctoral Assembly to highlight the research of graduate student and postdoctoral fellows in a theme area for the 2009 Annual Meeting. We will also strive toward better informing students of our activities by improving and updating the student informational pages on the SOT Web site.

We look forward to serving the SOT community and sincerely thank the SOT Council members, James A. Popp, our Council Liaison in particular, and our staff liaison, Betty Eidemiller, for their outstanding guidance and support.

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SOT 2008 Business Meeting Highlights Available

Highlights from the SOT 2008 Annual Business Meeting (large PowerPoint presentation—allow a few minutes to download) are now available to SOT members.

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Annual Meeting Lost and Found

At the conclusion of the 2008 SOT Annual Meeting in Seattle, several items remained unclaimed in the SOT Headquarters office lost and found. These items include three pairs of glasses, a SOT baseball cap, two umbrellas, a pair of gloves, and an ear warmer. To reclaim these items, please contact SOT Headquarters.

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Regular Features

Member News

Sue Ford Receives Teaching Excellence Award

Sue Ford received the Teaching Excellence Award for Undergraduate Teaching at St. John’s University Commencement in May 2008.  Dr. Ford was cited for her leadership and teaching in the Toxicology Program at St. John’s.  She has been chair of the St. John’s Committee on the Toxicology Program for 20 years, overseeing development of an innovative curriculum and introducing methods to foster student engagement.  She is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences.   Her service to SOT includes active participation for many years in the Undergraduate Toxicology Faculty Group.  Last fall she was selected by the Education Committee to participate in the Undergraduate Faculty Focus Group to help make recommendations concerning the support of undergraduate toxicology teaching and learning.  She is a member of the National Library of Medicine (NLM)/SOT ToxLearn Work Group, which was appointed by the Education Committee to update the NLM ToxTutor on-line modules.  Dr. Ford has served SOT as an officer of the SOT Mid-Atlantic Regional Chapter and the In Vitro and Alternative Methods Specialty Section. 

Dr. Ray Receives Lifetime Scholarly Achievement Award

Dr. Sidhartha D. Ray received the prestigious biennial Abraham Krasnoff Memorial Award for Lifetime Achievement in Scholarship at the Long Island University's (LIU) special campuswide award ceremony, and at the Arnold & Marie Schwartz College of Pharmacy's Commencement in May 2008. Dr. Ray was cited at a campuswide ceremony for his scholarly work and contribution to the Pharmacology/Toxicology Program at the LIU. Dr. Ray has been the chair of the Faculty Research & Scholarship Committee and his research program is now well known nationally and internationally. Dr. Ray is a Professor of Toxicology, directs the graduate program in Molecular Toxicology and Pharm.D. Medical Microbiology & Immunology programs. He joined SOT in 1986, becoming a full member in 1991. He is one of the first members of the SOT to begin researching on 'Drug and Chemically-Induced Apoptosis' and one of the first members to organize CE courses on apoptosis (1996 and 2002). He has trained numerous graduate and undergrduate students in toxicology and his active service to SOT began as an elected member to the Education Committee and serving as the liason to NIH-NLM Toxlearn project (2007–2010). Dr. Ray was also recognized at his university for his "Excellence in Teaching", known as 'David Newton Award for Excellence in Teaching Pharmacy' in the year 2005.

Is Your SOT Member Information Up-To-Date? Membership Directory Preparation is Underway

SOT is preparing to print its 2008–2009 Membership Directory. Please take a few minutes to review the accuracy of your SOT member information as it will be used in the published Membership Directory. As part of the review process, determine if all demographic information, your member join date, and your title are correct and current (e.g., Graduate Student, Postdoctoral Fellow, Associate Professor, and Research Director). Please be sure that your primary address is correct and is your preferred mailing address. Check that each address type is marked appropriately, for example: Business, Delivery, and Home.

View and/or edit your membership information.

Edits completed by July 1 will be included in the 2008–2009 Membership Directory. Please note that your degrees and certifications listing can be entered in the order you prefer.

If you have any questions, please contact Member Services by e-mail at SOT Headquarters or by phone at (703) 438-3115.

Nominate SOT Members for SOT Offices by August 1

The Nominating Committee will prepare a slate of nominees for the 2009 elected officers and elected standing committees this fall. Names for the offices of Vice President-elect, Treasurer-elect, and two Councilors will be on the ballot. Candidates for the Awards, Membership, Education, and Nominating Committees will also be on the ballot. Please send your candidate recommendations to SOT Headquarters by August 1.

Casillas Elected to NIH Committee

Robert Casillas, Vice President and Manager of Battelle’s Biomedical Science and Technology Product Line, has been elected to the National Academy of Sciences Committee on Capitalizing on the Diversity of the Science and Engineering Workforce in Industry. His term runs from April 2008 through October 2009. He is also an Adjunct Associate Professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology at Wright State University’s Boonshoft School of Medicine. Dr. Casillas is a member of the Society of Toxicology’s Hispanic Organization for Toxicologists, the Dermal and Immunotoxicology Specialty Sections, and the Ohio Valley Regional Chapter.

The committee, operating under the National Academies Committee on Science, Engineering and Public Policy will analyze and synthesize all of the most recent data on the subject of diversity in the science and engineering workforce and develop practices to recruit, retain, and advance women and underrepresented minorities as they increase their industry presence. It will identify and evaluate best practices, draw figures and conclusions and develop recommendations for the corporations that rely on the skills of scientists and engineers and provide guidance to Congress, funding agencies, corporations, and industrial leaders. Visit the National Academies Web site for additional information on this committee.

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2008–2009 Council Conference Calls and Face-to-Face Meetings

2008–2009 Council Top Row: Kim Boekelheide, Patricia E. Ganey, Michael P. Holsapple, Shawn Douglas Lamb, William Slikker, Jr., Martin A. Philbert Bottom Row: George B. Corcoran, Cheryl Lyn Walker, Kenneth S. Ramos, Denise E. Robinson Gravatt, Lawrence R. Curtis

Council:
July
Conference Call	Wednesday, July 16, 2008	10:00 AM–1:00 PM
Face to Face Meeting	Wednesday, July 23, 2008 Thursday, July 24, 2008	1:00 PM–7:00 PM 8:00 AM–2:00 PM	Off Property Dinner Meeting
September
Conference Call	Monday, Sept 22, 2008	2:00 PM–5:00 PM
Face-to-Face Meeting	Monday, Sept 29, 2008 Tuesday, Sept 30, 2008	1:00 PM–7:00 PM 8:00 AM–2:00 PM	Off Property Dinner Meeting
November
Conference Call	Monday, Nov, 17, 2008	2:00 PM–5:00 PM
Face-to-Face Meeting	Monday, Nov, 24, 2008 Tuesday, Nov 25, 2008	1:00 PM–7:00 PM 8:00 AM–2:00 PM	Off Property Dinner Meeting
January
Conference Call	Wednesday, Jan 14, 2009	9:30 AM–12:30 PM
Face-to-Face Meeting	Tuesday, Jan 27, 2009 Wednesday, Jan 28, 2009	8:00 AM–7:00 PM 8:00 AM–2:00 PM	Off Property Dinner Meeting
March
Conference Call	Friday, Mar 6, 2009	10:00 AM–1:00 PM
Face-to-Face Meeting	Saturday, Mar 14, 2009	8:00 AM–1:00 PM

*Committee chairs should note that, in order for items to be placed on the agenda, supporting material must be submitted to your staff liaison about two weeks before the Council conference call.

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In Memoriam

In Memoriam Theodore M. Brody Charles C. Capen Seymor L. Friess Ronald Joiner Sven Moeschlin Richard A. Mueller Arthur J. Palotta Harold M. Peck Farrel R. Robinson Roger W. Russell Thomas Salthouse Fred H. Snyder Torald H. Sollman Julius D. Taylor R. Tecwyn Williams Hyman J. Zimmerman

Theodore M. Brody

Dr. Theodore M. Brody, a medical researcher and educator, died June 11, 2007, in East Lansing, Michigan, at the age of 87. He graduated from Rutgers University and served in the Pacific Theatre during World War II. He received his doctorate from the University of Illinois, Chicago, and joined the faculty of the University of Michigan in 1952. He was the founding chairman of the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology at Michigan State University and fostered the establishment of the medical school in 1966.

In 1955, the American Society of Pharmacology and Toxicology recognized his achievements by conferring to him the John Jacob Abel Award. In 1974 he served as the President of this society and was awarded the Sollman award for achievements in pharmacology in 1995. He was also the recipient of the Distinguished Faculty Award at Michigan State University. Moreover, he co-authored multiple editions of a textbook of pharmacology, now entitled Brody’s Human Pharmacology. He is survived by his wife, Ethel, children Steven, Debra, Laura, Elizabeth, and seven grandchildren.

Charles C. Capen (1936–2008) Internationally Acclaimed Comparative Toxicologist and Endocrine Toxicologist

Submitted by Roger O. McClellan, Albuquerque, New Mexico

Dr. Charles C. Capen passed away after a brief heroic battle against metastatic colon cancer on March 1, 2008, at his home in Westerville, Ohio where he lived with his wife, Dr. Sharron Martin Capen. Charles was born on September 3, 1936, in Tacoma, Washington and grew up on a farm near Yelm, Washington in sight of majestic Mt. Rainer. His father, a dairy farmer, taught him a never-ending work ethic and to love and respect animals, and his mother, a primary school teacher, instilled in him a love of learning.

At the memorial service for Charles, I saw a wonderful photograph of him in bib overalls at about age 9 taken in the barnyard of his parent’s farm. Although I knew the answer, I could not help but ask the rhetorical question—What was the young boy going to be when he grew up? At the time the photograph was taken, I am sure the young boy did not know nor did his parents. Growing up on a dairy farm, Chuck saw first hand cows that required the attention of a Veterinarian. These experiences, no doubt, led Chuck to study Veterinary Medicine at Washington State University (WSU).

I had the great fortune to have Chuck as a classmate at WSU. In the fall of 1956, we joined 48 other young men determined to graduate in four years with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree. When we started classes that fall, I suspect that all of us shared a somewhat similar, and perhaps narrow, vision of what Veterinarians do based on personal contact with Veterinarians taking care of cows or other domestic livestock or pets.

That vision soon began to change for some of us as we became immersed in a challenging Veterinary Medicine curriculum. With some exceptional faculty as role models, our vision of what we might do just kept getting broader and broader. For Chuck, that vision started to crystallize in his second year of Veterinary Medical College when he got the “pathology bug.” Chuck had always been an excellent student, now he became a superb student—the more he learned the more he wanted to learn, especially about pathology and disease processes. After receiving his DVM in 1960 from WSU, he continued his quest for knowledge as a Veterinary Pathology resident and graduate student at The Ohio State University (OSU). He received his M.S. degree (1961), his Ph.D. degree (1965), became a Diplomate (1965) of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists, and joined the faculty of the College of Veterinary Medicine, OSU. He became a true scholar. He continued to learn and, more significantly, he developed a love of teaching—conveying to others what he knew, and did not know, and seeking to reveal the unknown through research. Most importantly, he developed enthusiasm for applying what he knew to important issues in animal and human health and disease. It is not surprising that his earliest research was concerned with a common disease of dairy cows—post parturient hypocalcomia. That path of research led him to become an expert on diseases involving Vitamin D and calcium metabolism. His vision expanded from comparative pathology to also embrace endocrine toxicology.

At OSU, he rapidly progressed through the academic ranks, ultimately receiving the title of Distinguished University Professor in 2002. For 21 years, he was Chairperson of the Department of Veterinary Biosciences (formerly Veterinary Pathobiology) shaping it into a significant link between Veterinary and Human Medicine. Over the past 40 years, his influence and contributions to the fields of endocrinology, toxicology, and veterinary pathology have been enormous. Considered by most to be the world authority on veterinary endocrine pathology, he was renowned for his work in the use of animal models to study human diseases. Dr. Capen published over 200 peer-reviewed manuscripts in the top journals of his fields. In addition, he wrote more than 100 book chapters, many in textbooks still used widely by students in endocrinology, toxicology, and pathology. His students are now leaders throughout academia, government, and industry and have contributed significantly to his reputation as an outstanding teacher and research mentor.

Chuck received many honors for his substantial achievements. I doubt they were ever a part of his vision nor did he ever seek them. They just came along as was most appropriate, later he opened doors so others could receive similar accolades. These included being named a Distinguished Member of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists—at the time one of only 22 Diplomates of 1300 in the College to receive such a designation. Other honors include election into the National Academies Institute of Medicine (1992), Distinguished Scholar Award-OSU (1993), Distinguished Alumnus of the WSU College of Veterinary Medicine (1997), recipient of the Career Achievement Award for the Society of Toxicologic Pathology (2006), American Association for the Advancement of Science Fellow (2006), numerous American Veterinary Medical Association Awards, and Distinguished Alumnus of WSU (2007). Dr. Capen was a widely sought-after consultant for many of the top pharmaceutical companies around the globe. In addition, due to his international reputation, he was elected to leadership positions in major scientific societies including the American College of Veterinary Pathologists, the Society of Toxicologic Pathology, and Society of Toxicology. These awards and positions of honor reflect his sustained excellence as a scholar and the respect he garnered as a dedicated researcher and as a mentor/teacher.

Chuck’s vision also changed when he met and married Sharron Martin, a fellow professor in the OSU College of Veterinary Medicine, in 1968. He continued his teaching and research and the thrill of owning and driving fine cars. Chuck and Sharron enjoyed classical music, the opera, and their home in the woods. They enjoyed fine food and wine and the company of friends, both local and around the world. They became accomplished nature photographers and traveled the world together visiting every continent, indeed, returning several times to some remote locations to see and photograph wildlife.

We now know the answer to our question about the young boy in bib overalls in the barnyard. It was a long and wonderful road from a small dairy farm in western Washington to a named professorship at The Ohio State University and international acclaim as a veterinary and comparative medicine scientist. He was a great friend to many people, a mentor to his graduate students and many professional students. Along that path he never forgot his roots or his friends. He enjoyed and lived every day to its fullest. We have lost a remarkable scholar and wonderful friend, but we will carry our memories of him forever.

Ronald Joiner

Dr. Ronald Joiner, 63, died on Sunday, May 11, 2008, in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. He received a bachelor of science degree (1966) from Southeastern Louisiana University, a master’s of science degree (1968) from Louisiana State University, and a doctorate (1971) from Mississippi State University. He was a postdoctoral fellow at Texas A& M from 1971 to 1973. Dr. Joiner was the Manager of Global Toxicology, General Electric Plastics, from May 1997 to April 2005. He is survived by his wife, Michelle, three sons, a daughter-in-law, and two grandchildren.

Arthur J. Pallotta

Dr. Arthur J. Pallotta, died on June 1, 2007, four days from his 80th birthday, at his home in Ashburn, Virginia. He was born in Boston and moved to the Washington, D.C. area to attend Georgetown University, from which he received a bachelor’s degree in chemistry (1950), a master’s degree in biochemistry (1953), and a Ph.D. in pharmacology (1956). He served in the U.S. Army in China from 1945–1947.

He was a member of the Society of Toxicology, the American Chemical Society, the American Association for Clinical Chemists, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Federation for Clinical Research, the American Institute of Biological Sciences, the Washington Academy of Sciences, and the Virginia Academy of Sciences. He is survived by his wife Mary, seven children, two sisters, a brother, 23 grandchildren, and 17 great-grandchildren.

 

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Regional Chapters

NCAC SOT Sponsors Girl Scout Science Day

Submitted by Maureen Gwinn, NCAC Chapter

Which Gene do I Have?

The National Capital Area Regional Chapter (NCAC) of SOT sponsored the 2nd Annual Girl Scout Nation's Capital Science Day this past January, organized by the Girl Scouts Council Nation's Capital Service Unit. This event introduces scientific terms and ideas to Brownies (grades 1–3), Juniors (grades 4–6), and Seniors (grades 10–12) with hands-on experimental protocols. Experimental protocols are designed to be performed by a group of 10–12 girls in 30 minutes and are led by Senior Girl Scouts with the assistance of volunteers, including troop "moms" and "dads" and area scientists. All participating Girl Scouts rotate through 4 to 6 experiments depending on their age group and the theme their troop has selected. This year Brownies earned either a Chemistry Try-It or a Science in Action Try-It while the Juniors earned a Science Sleuth badge. The Senior troop that leads the experiments volunteer for this event as one of their main fundraisers for the year.

Make Your Own DNA.

All experiments were adapted from a variety of resources, including Great Explorations in Math and Science, Northwest Association for Biomedical Research, the American Chemical Society, Strive to Thrive!, and You Be The Chemist!. Further assistance with supplies and volunteers came from local supporters including MD Biolab (Rockville, MD) and University of Baltimore Biotechnology Institute (Baltimore, MD).

Brownies earning the Science in Action Try-It were exposed to different phases of matter (Weird Glop); the idea of germs and how they spread (Germ Spread/Making Soap); what is carbon dioxide (Balloon Blow-Up/Dancing Raisins) as well as why some things dissolve and others do not (Dissolving). For the Chemistry Try-It, Brownies learned about polymers (Meg A. Mole Bouncing Ball), oxidation, and toxicology (Lemons, Onions and Fruit, Oh My!), chromatography (Chromatography), and how chemistry helps to make ice cream (Making Ice Cream).

Sletzer Reactions!

The afternoon session with the Junior Girl Scouts focused on where DNA comes from (Make Your Own DNA), and how genetics can determine different traits (Which Gene Do I Have?). Juniors learned how different materials added to a mixture can have a different chemical effect (Baggie Science). Juniors also learned about polymers and emulsions (Making Lotion), as well as density (Density) and how temperature can affect the rate of a reaction (Seltzer Reactions). Throughout all the experiments, Girl Scouts were encouraged to think scientifically about what reactions are occurring and why, and to write their hypothesis and results in the supplied lab notebooks. All experiments had questions at the end for the students to answer before leaving the “bench.” Students were encouraged to work together and discuss as a group the results of each experiment.

Density Experiment.

Based on the evaluation responses SOT received, Science Day was a great success. The Brownies and Juniors learned a variety of scientific facts in a hands-on fun way. The Girl Scouts were able to take copies of experimental protocols home to share with their family. These lab notebooks not only included the experimental set-ups, but also the Instructor's Notes to help explain the protocols to their families. In some cases, the Girl Scouts were also able to bring home the results of their experiments, including DNA necklaces, vials of lotion that they made, and personalized weird glop. Many of these experiments would not have been possible without the financial support of the NCAC SOT Regional Chapter, and through SOT. The hope is to continue this collaborative relationship for future Science Days, which will allow us to introduce even more aspects of science to the Girl Scouts in our area.

Experimental protocols are available upon request by contacting SOT Headquarters.

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Northland Chapter Has Active Year of Public Outreach

The K–12 Education Committee of the SOT Northland Regional Chapter continues to organize substantial and effective activities in schools and other venues to promote toxicology in the region and beyond. Currently led by Pamela Shubat, the group includes Teri Fick, Helen Goeden, past-chair Laura Solem, Nicole Soucy, Julia Dady, Jeffrey Stevens, Shalene Thomas, and Sheila Keefe.

The committee displays, demonstrates, and distributes materials that the chapter has developed (a pharmacology puzzle created by Jeff Stevens; a bottled water literacy activity; and our popular seed bioassay, which is also posted on the NLSOT education Web site. In addition we display and promote materials from other sources such as Tox-in-a-Box, the toxicology history poster developed by Steve Gilbert, and SOT materials such as the career poster and career brochure.

In March 2007 and 2008, Teri Fick, Pam Shubat, Helen Goeden, and Laura Solem staffed a booth at the Minnesota Science Teachers Association Meeting and distributed approximately 160 seed bioassay kits and various curricular materials. Also in March 2008 the chapter assisted with a Girl Scout project to integrate toxicology activities in three Minnesota classrooms with materials that may be used in future years. Pam Shubat served as a judge at the March Minnesota Academy of Sciences State Science Fair.

Other presentations in 2007–2008 include two presentations for grades 1–3, one presentation grades 5–6, two high school presentations (about 200 students total); a university career day, an academic fair, and a science camp for 80 students in South Korea. Teri Fick also participated in Super Science Saturday last fall introducing toxicology to about 100 teachers.

In May 2008, Teri Fick and another presenter participated in two high school presentations in Minnesota and a session at The Center for Science and Mathematics Education (CSME), Our Lady of the Lake University, San Antonio, Texas.

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Specialty Sections

SOT Regulatory and Safety Evaluation SS Sponsors Workshop: Evaluating the Human Relevance of Modes of Action in Animals

Submitted by Stephen S. Olin, Ph.D., Deputy Director, ILSI Research Foundation

There has been a steadily increasing expectation for the use of mode of action (MOA) information to improve the scientific basis of human health risk assessment. On February 12, 2008, the ILSI Research Foundation, in collaboration with scientists from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Health Canada, and the University of North Carolina, held a workshop in Chapel Hill, North Carolina entitled, “Evaluating the Human Relevance of Modes of Action in Animals.” This full-day workshop was sponsored by the Regulatory and Safety Evaluation Specialty Section of SOT and focused on the application of a framework that uses a weight of evidence approach to evaluate the human relevance of modes of action in animals. The framework, developed over the past several years, has already been widely adopted and used by government agencies and international organizations.

This framework starts with a plausible hypothesis that describes the series of key events that lead to an adverse response (including lifestage-specific responses) produced by a given compound in experimental animals. The involvement of the key events in the MOA is established based on weight of evidence using modified Bradford Hill criteria, taking into account factors such as dose-response and temporal concordance, specificity of association, biological plausibility, coherence, consistency, and alternative MOAs. If an MOA is established, qualitative and quantitative comparisons of each key event between the experimental animal and humans enables a conclusion as to likely relevance of the MOA for human risk. These comparisons are made transparent by use of concordance tables that help identify the kinetic and dynamic differences of the key events between species. Although application of the framework is not a complete risk assessment, the conclusions regarding MOA have implications for dose-response extrapolation, cross-species scaling, and risk characterization. This framework approach provides structure and transparency to the MOA analysis and clarifies the weight of evidence assessment as a basis for decision making. It also promotes use of all relevant data (including non chemical-specific) and aids in the identification of critical data needs, thus promoting an iterative dialogue between risk assessors and researchers.

The full-day workshop in North Carolina featured opening remarks by Dr. George Gray, U.S. EPA Assistant Administrator for Research and Development, speaking on “Advancing Risk Assessment at U.S. EPA.” Dr. Gray highlighted the need for risk assessment to be based on solid scientific information, provided in a timely manner, within a rigorous and transparent process. He noted that the MOA framework is invaluable as part of this process.

Following Dr. Gray’s presentation, Dr. Penny Fenner-Crisp (ILSI Research Foundation Consultant), provided an overview of the human relevance framework. Drs. Vicki Dellarco (U.S. EPA, Office of Pesticide Programs), and Kevin Crofton (U.S. EPA, Office of Research and Development) presented a case study on disruption of thyroid homeostasis to illustrate how to apply the framework approach to evaluate the human relevance of thyroid tumors and neurodevelopmental outcomes. The workshop continued with interactive case studies in which participants were divided into small groups that included a facilitator. These facilitators were Kevin Crofton, Vicki Dellarco, Penny Fenner-Crisp, Bette Meek (University of Ottawa), Jennifer Seed (U.S. EPA, Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxic Substances) and Douglas Wolf (U.S. EPA, Office of Research and Development). Participants were given toxicological information and data on hypothetical chemicals and asked to work through the framework and come to conclusions concerning: whether there was enough information to establish a MOA in animals, whether there were qualitative or quantitative species differences between the animal mode of action and humans, and lastly whether there were any susceptible population issues that might impact the use of the MOA in humans.

Attendance at the workshop exceeded the expectations of the organizers. There were a total of 43 participants, including government agencies (U.S. EPA, and NIEHS), industry (Bayer CropSciences, BASF Corporation, GlaxoSmithKline, ILS, Inc., Merial Limited, and Syngenta), and other organizations (The Hamner Institute for Health Sciences). Also in attendance were a number of students from the Curriculum in Toxicology at the University of North Carolina.

The workshop concluded with a plenary lecture given by Dr. James Swenberg, UNC Chapel Hill, entitled “Key Events for a Mutagenic MOA: Implications for Risk Assessment.” In this lecture Dr. Swenberg guided the audience through a framework risk assessment with analysis of the key events for selected mutagenic chemicals. He emphasized the need to incorporate background rates of mutagenesis in quantitative assessments of the MOA.

This workshop is the fourth in a series of training workshops on this topic organized by Health Canada, the U.S. EPA, and the ILSI Research Foundation. Previous training workshops have been held at Society for Risk Analysis Meetings (2006 and 2007) and the ILSI offices, Washington, D.C. (2007). Interest is growing to organize training workshops in Europe, Asia, Australia, and other regions. Potential target audiences include groups or organizations that are involved in hazard classification and risk assessment. The next workshop was held this past April in Cincinnati, Ohio at the Toxicology and Risk Assessment Conference.

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Special Interest Group

Birnbaum Recipient of WIT SIG Elsevier Mentoring Award

In March, Linda Birnbaum received the first Women in Toxicology (WIT) Special Interest Group (SIG) Elsevier Mentoring Award in recognition of her role in encouraging and guiding individuals involved in the field of toxicology. The award was presented to Dr. Birnbaum, Division Director, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA), Experimental Toxicology Division, at the WIT SIG reception held in conjunction with the 2008 SOT Annual Meeting.

Dr. Birnbaum has mentored over 30 students and postdocs and had a tremendous impact on numerous others through her role at the U.S. EPA, her contributions to the field of toxicology, and her commitment and involvement with the Society of Toxicology, including having served as SOT President. As outgoing WIT SIG President Maryka Battacharyya noted, “Her letters of recommendation document a life dedicated to the success of women and men whom she has mentored, through personal care and technical guidance, inspiring her mentees to believe in themselves and to perform at the highest level.”

The WIT SIG received 12 nominations for this award, which is funded by a $10,000 grant from the Elseiver Foundation. A third of this funding ($3,333) is to be presented to the recipient of this award each year from 2008–2010.

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Watching Washington

SOT Members Participate in Two Congressional Briefings on Nanotechnology

Michael Holsapple, SOT’s Vice President-elect, provided the opening remarks for the April Congressional Briefing, “Nanotechnology 102: Understanding Congress’ Role.” Dr. Holsapple, executive director for the International Life Sciences Institute Health and Environmental Sciences Institute (HESI), noted that “by working on a scale of one or a few atoms, we now have the ability to design new materials and improve existing products.” Nanotechnology offers the potential for improved medicines and health care, safer and stronger materials, and better-performing and longer-lasting products, according to Dr. Holsapple. He also raised a number of questions about the regulator’s role in “ensuring that nanotechnology lives up to its promise without compromising health and safety.”

Nanotechnology 102 is the second briefing in a series on nanotechnology that the Society of Toxicology, the American Chemical Society, and the Society for Risk Analysis have sponsored this Congress. The briefings were designed to provide Members of Congress and the public with a comprehensive overview of this promising technology and to examine the uncertainties about the environmental, health, and safety impact on human health and the environment.

This session featured the following panelists: Linda-Jo Schierow, Environmental Policy Specialist, and Congressional Research Service; Kristen Kulinowski, Faculty Fellow, Department of Chemistry, Rice University; J. Clarence Davies, Senior Advisor, Woodrow Wilson Center Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies; James Cooper, Vice President of Petrochemicals, National Petrochemical and Refiners Association, and Charles Auer, Director, Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Nanotechnology 101: Science, Technology, and Health

The first briefing, which was held in March, explored the science and the potential benefits that nanoscale materials hold for human health and the environment. Opening remarks were provided by Dr. John R. Fowle III, Treasurer-Elect of Society for Risk Analysis. Panelists included: Martin Spitzer, Senior Fellow, H. J. Heinz Center for Science, Economics and the Environment; Paul Alivisatos, Associate Laboratory Director for Physical Sciences, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory; David Rejeski, Director, Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, and David Warheit, Research Fellow, DuPont Haskell Global Centers for Health and Environmental Sciences. Dr. Warheit, Interim Vice President of the SOT Nanotoxicology Specialty Section, talked about “Environment, Health and Safety Issues: What is Known About the Hazards of Nanotechnology?”

More information about the briefing and nanotechnology is available at:

American Chemical Society, Nanotechnology 101: Science, Technology and Health

American Chemical Society, Nanotechnology 102: Understanding Congress’s Role

Woodrow Wilson Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies

Other useful links are:

National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI)

NNI Strategic Plan

U.S. EPA, Draft Nanomaterial Research Strategy (NRS) January 24, 2008

To submit ideas for future Congressional Science Briefings, contact Martha Lindauer.

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Web Watch

SOT Web Site Unveils Link to Syndicated News

Submitted by: Phil Wexler 2007–2008 WWWAC Chair

SOT’s World Wide Web Advisory Committee (WWWAC) has been investigating options for delivering current world news, over and above internal SOT developments, to our membership. Syndicated News is now available on the SOT Web site. The intent is to broaden the limited news coverage currently available on the SOT Web site, with frequently updated stories of relevance to toxicology worldwide. RSS (Really Simple Syndication) technology seemed the best approach for disseminating news media stories from a balanced array of sources. After evaluating various options, we settled on syndicated coverage from Environmental Health News (EHN). EHN is a publication of Environmental Health Sciences, a not-for-profit organization founded in 2002 to help increase public understanding of emerging scientific links between environmental exposures and human health. Below are some of EHN’s stated criteria for selection of stories.

"We look for all relevant stories in the mainstream press that are published on the web. Most of our sources are daily newspapers and weekly or monthly news magazines. They include English language newspapers with international audiences like the New York Times, the London Guardian and the Jakarta Post; the major newswires like the Associated Press and Agence France-Presse; as well as medium-sized newspapers and small locals published in towns across the US, the UK, India, Australia and New Zealand. We will sometimes post links to radio or television stories. We also cover scientific journals that carry articles relevant to environment and health, such as Science and Nature, and science magazines like New Scientist and Science News. While we do survey several chemical and medical publications like Chemical & Engineering News, we do not post articles from the environmental press nor business trade press".

"Within that universe, EHS publishes what we find, irrespective of the opinion or viewpoint expressed, or whether or not material in the article is consistent with our understanding of current science. We often publish several articles from different newspapers covering the same story, as well as multiple editorials and op-eds about the same subject. We take this approach based on the belief that readers who come to EnvironmentalHealthNews.org want to see a wide range of how issues are being covered by the mainstream press."

EHN offers any number of pre-packaged or customized feeds. For the SOT site, we chose Environment and Health, which story postings are at the top of the page and updated very frequently, typically many times each day, followed by New Environmental Health Science. Each posting consists of a date, a hot-linked story title, a one or two line summary, and a hot-linked media source title. Thus, one can easily jump to the full story.

To access the EHN news component from SOT’s homepage, click on News on the left menu, and then on Syndicated News. A feedback form to help SOT assess the utility of this new feature will also be available. At this point we are considering the EHN page a pilot project, available for use and evaluation, but subject to alteration. We encourage you to use the feedback form to let us know your opinion of it.

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