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Webinars No events are scheduled at this time. Check back for future event information. Past Webinars A Deeper Understanding of Chemical Early Carcinogenesis for the Development of New and More Effective Preventive Strategies Friday, October 4, 2024 Webinar Recording and Materials Hosted by: The SOT Carcinogenesis and Molecular and Systems Biology Specialty Sections and the Toxicologists of African Origin Special Interest Group Although the accumulation of mutations in cells has long been assumed to trigger tumorigenesis, recent studies suggest a much more complex relationship: cells often carry many known cancer-causing mutations yet remain phenotypically normal. These cells, despite their remarkable genetic similarities with cancer cells, do not form tumors. Does an intrinsic mechanism within the cell or its microenvironment protect against tumorigenesis? How do processes such as inflammation, ageing, stress, or exposure to certain chemicals influence the behavior of cells already carrying cancer-causing mutations? Current key biological questions are what makes cells ‘normal’, what is the protective mechanisms that keep them that way, and what are the steps that trigger early tumor development. With a deeper understanding of the very early stages of carcinogenesis, as a cell travels down the pathway to malignancy, we will be able to identify the critical moment of transition and develop new and more effective strategies to prevent cancer before it starts. Speakers: Dr. Salk investigates through next generation Duplex sequencing the promoter hypothesis, in which cells exposed to mutagenic carcinogens accumulate cancer-driving mutations but remain dormant. After exposure to a ‘promoting’ stimulus, such as chronic wounding, chemicals, these ‘initiated’ cells, through an unknown mechanism, gain a selective advantage allowing them to undergo clonal expansion and progress to malignancy. Justin Colacino, PhD, MA, MPH, Associate Professor, University of Michigan Dr. Colacino utilizes innovative, state-of-the-art imaging and sequencing approaches to study the hallmark of phenotypic plasticity and the related molecular and cellular changes upon chemical exposure, as a risk factor promoting breast carcinogenesis in African American women. Melissa Troester, PhD, Professor, University of North Carolina (UNC), Center for Environmental Health and Susceptibility, UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center Dr. Troester leads epidemiological studies to investigate the impact of the stroma in modifying the relationships between risk factor exposure and age-related epithelial involution in the benign breast.
Advantages and Possible Disadvantages of Carbon Capture and Storage as a Means of Reducing Levels of Carbon Dioxide in an Area Already Exposed to Industrial Pollution Wednesday, September 25, 2024 Webinar Recording and Materials Hosted by: The SOT Toxicologists of African Origin and Arab Toxicologists Association Special Interest Groups Carbon dioxide is known as a greenhouse gas by virtue of it releasing heat, radiating from the earth’s surface, and releasing it in all directions, including back to earth. Each year, human activities release more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere than natural processes can remove, causing the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere to increase Petrochemical plants and refineries release millions of tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere each year. Consequently, industry has been increasingly interested in means to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide it releases. One means of decreasing this greenhouse gas is to capture and store it underground. Objections to this plan have been raised in some communities, especially Black communities where the plants are extremely close to Black churches and schools. In particular, they have been termed, “Cancer Alley,” and objections have been very strong. The purpose of this webinar is to present information on what carbon capturing is as a technology, its possible benefits, and its risks to the health of communities that may be affected. Speakers: Registration required for this free webinar.
TAO and AGHES Webinar:Biological Drivers of Breast Invasive Carcinoma in Black/African-American Patients Friday, October 29, 2021, at 3:00 PM–4:00 PM (EDT) Professor George Acquaah-Mensah, PhD, RPh, Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences School of Pharmacy Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Play RecordingPresentation
TAO and AGHES Webinar: Inequalities and Inequities in Science: From the Scientist to the Sciences Wednesday, Janurary 13, 2021 at 1:00 PM–2:00 PM EST Play RecordingSession 1 There is growing consensus that inequities exist in American life, and the scientific professions reflect this condition as well. The Toxicologists of African Origin (TAO), a special interest group of the Society of Toxicology, and the Association of Government Health and Environmental Scientists (AGHES), are organizing a webinar series that seeks to explore the inequality and inequities in areas such as career training, hiring and advancement, and research grants and publishing. The presentations will address these areas as they relate to the sciences and toxicology. The focus on these topics is part of a continuing effort by both organizations to provide their memberships, including both the scientist and the hiring institutions, with information that can be useful in improving their awareness of these factors and how the membership may contribute to their mitigation. The Under Representation of African Americans in the Natural Sciences Despite the nation’s efforts to increase the number of African American scientists in the biomedical workforce, the numbers are still in the single digits. Dr. Olden maintains that while family and community play a significant role in decreasing the appeal of the natural sciences to African Americans, there has been considerable debate about the extent to which other societal factors such as racism are playing a role. He is of the opinion that scientific enterprise, like other human endeavors, is influenced by the values of society at large; so it is reasonable to question the objectivity of decision-making when considering a black applicant for admission to graduate school or when assessing the relative merit of a grant application or manuscript submitted for publication. Nevertheless, based on his personal experience with the peer-review process, as the former director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences in the NIH for 14 years, and as a grantee of the NIH and the American Cancer Society for a total of 14 years and author of over 230 publications, Dr. Olden is convinced that the purported bias in the peer-review process is not a significant factor in limiting the number of African Americans engaged in the science professions. In his opinion, the family and community issues mentioned above remain the primary barrier. Dr. Olden will elaborate on the points raised above and describe how he navigated potential barriers during his scientific career. Hiring and Career Advancement Ms. Sias will address hiring and career advancement topics including:
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