Dear Friends and Colleagues,

Almost half of the term of the current Executive Committee of the International Union of Toxicology—IUTOX—has elapsed and now is an opportune time to review some of the recent developments that will have  important impacts on IUTOX activities.

Creating international collaboration is often a frustratingly slow process, but often, slow steady efforts have significant payoffs. The IUTOX Executive Committee has used the slow-but-sure approach to strengthen its links with other important players involved in the promotion of toxicology and chemical safety globally.

Towards these aims, the IUTOX EC is very excited to discuss 2 new initiatives with International Agencies that illustrate this principal. IUTOX has actively sought collaboration with the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in The Hague, Netherlands, and the World Health Organization. Both of these organizations are intent on improving chemical safety in the developing countries and hence they are natural partners of IUTOX. There also seems to be a possibility to create closer links with the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP). UNEP also plays an important role in the coordination of a governmental initiative, Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM), which also provides funds to promote safe management of chemicals, especially in the developing world. Other important issues in addition to safe management of chemicals are related to children's health and the utilization of novel technologies in improving the quality of life in developing countries. All of these discussions with different international groups are aimed at helping IUTOX to improve its impact in the developing world and beyond.

Naturally, an essential base for the IUTOX network is that provided by IUTOX member societies, many of which are very active in their own countries or on a regional basis. One example is the Egyptian Society of Toxicology which last spring organized an International Workshop on Marine Toxins, and which will arrange another on algal toxins in December of this year. Many of the Member Societies are also celebrating milestone birthdays! With age comes maturity and they are having a real impact on improving the wellbeing of their societies. At the beginning of next March, the German Society of Toxicology will celebrate its 15th birthday as an independent society of toxicology. The Federation of European Societies of Toxicology, i.e. EUROTOX, and the Federation of the Asian Societies of Toxicology, i.e.  ASIATOX, have become key-players in their regions in the promotion of awareness of the importance of chemical safety. The Society of Toxicology, USA, continues to be extremely important at both the national and regional levels.

This networking of national and regional societies is likely to have continued major impact on IUTOX undertakings. It is clear that one of the goals of IUTOX is to strengthen the links between the IUTOX Executive Committee and the members of IUTOX. When one thinks of the message that toxicologists want the world to hear, then the amplification of a harmonized series of local national events can resonate loud and far. This kind of approach could also galvanize the whole IUTOX organization into more effective action.

Reaching out and supporting capacity building in the developing countries has remained one of the key activities of IUTOX over the years. The amplifying impact of orchestrated national events may become an approach which may serve IUTOX well in its intention to broadcast a global message about chemical safety. We encourage members to use the website to track these opportunities and to notify IUTOX of upcoming activities in your societies so that we can post them for others to see.

As stated in my previous message, IUTOX has built upon the successes of the RASS courses initiated by Torbjörn Malmfors since 1985 by organizing a series of local Risk Assessment courses in selected developing countries. The goal of these educational outreach workshops is also to collaborate with the national societies and local authorities. This concept has already had success in South America where IUTOX helped in organizing a capacity building course in toxicology and risk assessment in Brazil under the leadership of Silvia Barros from the IUTOX Executive Committee.

In parallel with these activities, the year 2009 will be a very active year for all members of IUTOX. Several member societies are organizing their annual or special meetings. The German Society of Toxicology will have its 15th Annual Celebration in early March followed by the 48th Annual Meeting of the US Society of Toxicology to be held in Baltimore. These important events will be followed by several annual national toxicology meetings. There will be the 7th Congress of Toxicology in Developing Countries (7CTDC) in Sun City, South Africa on September 6–9, ASIATOX V in Taipei, Taiwan, which is being organized immediately after 7CTDC on September 10–13. In Europe at about the same time, there is EUROTOX 2009 being held in Dresden, Germany, on September 13–15, 2009. The preparations for these meetings are well underway and we can expect a series of exciting events which will be both scientifically and socially rewarding.

The major IUTOX event in 2010 is the 12th International Congress of Toxicology (ICTXII) to be held in Barcelona on July 15–19. The organizing committee is chaired by Professor Eugenio Vilanova and the meeting is being jointly sponsored by the Spanish Association of Toxicology and IUTOX. The preparation of the ICTXII has proceeded smoothly with a series of meetings between IUTOX, EUROTOX, and the Spanish Society which were held in Rhodes during the excellent EUROTOX 2008 meeting on that island. IUTOX wishes to take this opportunity to congratulate EUROTOX and especially Professor Tsatsakis, President of the Congress, and Professors Corrado Galli and Jyrki Liesivuori, Past and Current Presidents of EUROTOX, for arranging such an excellent Congress. The Congress was a great success; the scientific sessions were superb and the social events were most enjoyable. The large number of participants went home well satisfied with their trip to Rhodes.

There are some other important upcoming events e.g. 8CTDC, chaired by Professor Songsak Srianujata, and organized by the Thai Society of Toxicology and IUTOX in 2012 in Bangkok. The next International Congress of Toxicology after Barcelona, ICT XIII will be held in Seoul, in South Korea in 2013.

I hope to see many of you at the SOT 2009 Annual Meeting in Baltimore or at one of the many other events supported by IUTOX in association with its members.

I also wish all of you much success and prosperity in 2009!

Kai Savolainen
President, International Union of Toxicology

Archive of Presidential Messages

• June 2008: Kai Savolainen
• November 2007: Kai Savolainen
• June 2007: Ali Esat Karakaya
• November 2006: Ali Esat Karakaya
• April 2006: Ali Esat Karakaya
• October 2005: Ali Esat Karakaya
• March 2005: Ali Esat Karakaya
• Sept 2004: Ali Esat Karakaya
• June 2004: Erik Dybing
• December 2003: Erik Dybing
• June 2003: Erik Dybing
• January 2003: Erik Dybing