Specialty Section (Regional Chapter)
National Capital Area Chapter (NCAC-SOT)
ANNUAL REPORT:
2002-2003
2002-2003
President Susan
Makris
Vice
President/President-elect Sidney
Green
Secretary Mercedes
Serabian
Treasurer Laurie
Roszell
Councilors Harry
Milman
Katherine
Squibb
Myrtle
Davis (4/02-10/02)
Daniel
Byrd (10/02-4/03)
Bernard
Schwetz (past president, 2001-2002)
SOT Student
Representative Amy
Wang
SOT Student
Vice-representative Robert
Mitkus
Committees:
Student Research
Awards – chair: Katherine Squibb
Nomination for SOT
Nominating Committee ballot (if applicable):
N/A
# of Members: 133 regular, 14 student members (147 total)
as of Feb 5, 2003 (per HQ SOT records)
Scientific Meetings:
2002 Fall Symposium:
Theme: Potential Applications of Noninvasive
Techniques to Toxicology
Program
description: The goal of this symposium
was to introduce and discuss noninvasive techniques that may have application
to a number of toxicological endpoints, and provide possible tangible benefits,
e.g., the use of fewer animals in research and the better interpretation of
physiological data. These techniques include magnetic resonance imaging,
ultrasound, computer-assisted tomography, and positron emission
tomography. Speakers addressed the
contributions of each technology to advancing science, and the advantages and
disadvantages of each. The manner in
which these technologies might be used in the future and provide a significant
contribution to the science of toxicology was discussed. Communication was encouraged between
toxicologists who are developing these techniques and those who are using them.
Date: December 13, 2002
Location: Howard University, Towers Auditorium,
Speakers and topics:
Dmitri
Artemov, The Johns Hopkins University, Novel Applications of MRI in Cancer
Jan N. Johannessen, US Food and Drug Administration, The Use of MRI for Evaluation of Fixed Tissues After Toxic Insult
Alexei Bogdanov, Jr., Massachusetts General Hospital, In Vivo Imaging of Gene Delivery and Expression
G. Allan Johnson, Duke University Medical Center, Image-Based Phenotyping in Toxicology
D. Martin Fridmann, US Environmental Protection Agency, Application of Magnetic Resonance Histology (MRH) to Morphometric Assessment of the Developing Rat Brain
Kathleen Gabrielson, The Johns Hopkins University, Overview: Application of Imaging to Toxicological Studies
Attendance:: 17 members, 7 non-members, 11 students
2003 Spring Symposium:
Theme: Emerging Issues in Human and Veterinary Pharmaceutical Contamination of Water Supplies
Program description: According to a recent United Nations survey, potable water is becoming one of the more scarce natural resources on Earth. Studies from Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Switzerland, Germany, and the United States indicate the presence of various contaminants in water, including pharmaceuticals. Over the last 10 years, much attention has been directed to the possibility that pharmaceuticals, human as well as veterinary, may be entering the water supply in increasing concentrations and could pose a health and/or environmental hazard. These studies raise several important questions including: (1) What evidence is there that pharmaceuticals are indeed present in water and at what levels are they present? (2) Do the concentrations of these potential water contaminants pose a human health risk? (3) What are the implications for the environment given the concentrations at which these contaminants may occur? (4) What actions are government agencies currently taking in response to this perceived problem and what are some of their future plans? (5) What views does industry hold regarding potential contamination of the water supply by pharmaceuticals and what role should it play in this issue? Finally, (6) what additional research is needed to better understand the health and environmental implications of this growing problem? The goal of this symposium was to generate discussion about these issues and to bring about a better understanding of the associated toxicological implications. Speakers from academia presented their latest research while industry representatives discussed the views of the pharmaceutical industry. In addition, scientists from the FDA and the EPA identified various governmental efforts in this area. A better-informed scientific community resulted from this exchange of views and information.
Date: May 12, 2003
Location: National
Library of Medicine, Lister Hill Auditorium,
Speakers and topics:
Michael J. Focazio, US Geological Survey, A National Reconnaissance for Pharmaceuticals and Other Organic Wastewater Contaminants in Untreated Drinking Water Sources
Anthony Maciorowski, US Environmental Protection Agency, Pharmaceuticals in Drinking Water: Assessing the Risks
Nancy Sager, US Food and Drug Administration, FDA: Environmental Assessments – Human and Animal Drugs
Thomas X. White, Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, Pharmaceuticals in the Environment: Overview of PhRMA Activities
Damian Shea, North Carolina University, Pharmaceuticals in the Environment: Integrating Human and Ecological Risk Assessment
Attendance: 21 members, 30 non-members, 10 students
Student Activities:
Student Workshop:
Theme: Student Day for Graduate Students and
Post-Docs – How to Present Effectively
Program description: This program was designed to offer a unique
opportunity for graduate students and post docs to improve their presentation
skills. Experts shared secrets of an
effective oral or poster presentation, including tips on selecting and summarizing
main points and presenting them in a limited time frame, as well as techniques
for answering questions after a presentation. Also covered: how judges and
employers evaluate presentations for considering awards and hiring. Students were offered the opportunity to make
a presentation and get instant evaluations and suggestions from a panel of
experts.
Date: December 12, 2002
Location: Howard University, Towers Auditorium,
Speakers and topics:
Nancy Grimshaw, University of Maryland, Say What? A Communication Crash Course
Fran Younger, Chesapeake Biological Laboratory, How to Present a Poster
Suzanne Fitzpatrick, US Food and Drug Administration, How to Present a Poster
Marion Ehrich, Virginia Tech, How to Make a Short Platform Presentation
Gary Kimmel, US Environmental Protection Agency, How to Make a Short Platform Presentation
John Robertson, Virginia Tech, How to Make a Longer (40-minute) Platform Presentation
Bernard Schwetz, US Food and Drug Administration, How to Make a Longer (40-minute) Platform Presentation
Awards distributed by the
NCAC-SOT:
Type: Bern Schwetz Student Travel Award for 2003
SOT annual meeting
Date: February, 2003
Recipients and amounts: Damini Parran, $500
Gensheng
Wang, $500
Christina
Borgeest, $250
Susan
McKarns, $250
Lemuel Russel, $250
Melinda
Pomeroy, $250
Type: SAC Student Travel Award for
2003 SOT annual meeting
Date: February, 2003; matching
contribution
Recipient and amount: Amy Wang, $250
Type: Student poster award
Date: May 12, 2003
Recipients and amounts: Lemuel Russel, $250
Robert
Mitkus, $150
Symposia, Workshops,
Roundtables, and CE Courses presented at 2003 SOT Annual Meeting: None
(Note: HQ SOT maintains financial records and
should provide this information)
Balance as of 7/1/02 _______________
Revenue from Dues _______________
Non-dues Revenue _______________
Expenses _______________
Balance as of 6/30/03 _______________
2004 SOT Student Roundtable on Effective Presentations, co-chaired by Rob Mitkus (University of MD) and Amy Wang (Virginia Tech)
2003 Fall Symposium – December 2003 –