The Scientific Liaison Coalition (SLC) was established to foster stronger scientific collaboration to promote human health. Our core guiding principle is that increased collaboration among scientists across sectors (academia, industry, government) and spanning diverse disciplines drives scientific progress that directly improves public and environmental health.
Our member organizations benefit through global partnerships, the promotion of interdisciplinary scientific advances, and content only available to members. We operate through virtual monthly teleconferences and an annual face-to-face gathering. These are opportunities for raising awareness of member society events and to update on the progress of SLC-planned events.
Currently, the SLC comprises 11 members, among Societies and Associations, including one Union (IUTOX), one Federation (Eurotox), and one coalition (NC3rs). Since its creation in 2008, SLC has organized various work groups to explore and develop issues of cross-cutting impact of interest to our members. The SLC currently has four active work groups: Animal Models and Alternatives; Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, and Digital Engagement; Occupational Exposures; and Psychedelics and Cannabis. Although these groups have specific objectives, many intergroup activities are developed. During the past year, SLC work groups organized events and activities on multiple topics. The Occupational Exposures work group offered the CE Course on Considerations for Occupational Risk Management during Pregnancy at the Congress of Toxicology in Developing Countries held at the American Industrial Health Association meeting, May 2025. The presentations of this course have been compiled in a manuscript (doi:10.1177/07482337241273833). The Animal Models and Alternatives produced a paper entitled Protecting Human and Animal Health: The Road from Animal Models to New Approach Methods. (doi:10.1124/pharmrev.123.000967) authored by some SLC Animals Models and Alternatives work group members and published in 2024 in Pharmacological Reviews. This material was presented at the PLOS SciComm blog and as a poster during some of the SLC Societies members’ meetings, including BDRP, and IUTOX’s CTDC.
Work group activities are fundamental for SLC development. Some challenging issues are in discussion as the implementation of NAMs in the regulatory sector, the future of animal models, psychedelic and cannabis use, and developmental and reproductive toxicology, environmental contaminants in psychedelics and cannabis, and challenges in communicating the exposure-related risk of psychedelics and cannabis, among others.
SLC’s activities only happen thanks to the voluntary commitment, expertise, and enthusiasm of its members’ representatives
As the newly appointed SLC Chair, as of May 2025, I extend my sincere gratitude to my predecessors for their dedication and hard work in maintaining a strong and active SLC. I am committed to serving the best interests of our members and their representatives to the fullest of my ability.
Best regards,
Alan M. Hoberman, PhD, DABT, Fellow ATS
Chair (2025–2026), Science Liaison Coalition