A Message from the President of IUTOX, Kai Savolainen (June 2008)

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

It is again time to send greetings to all IUTOX member societies and through the societies to all the individual members of IUTOX. IUTOX has new challenges and opportunities lying ahead.

As mentioned in my previous message, IUTOX is facing financial challenges. To manage responsibly the IUTOX budgetary situation and at the same time maintain a high level of activity, the IUTOX Executive Committee has created strict rules to save money in all its activities and at the same time assure that essential activities can be continued and expanded where appropriate. Our ability to identify sponsors interested in supporting IUTOX financially is critical to expanding programs of interest to member societies. The goal of the Executive Committee is to assure that IUTOX is in excellent financial position when the 12th International Congress of Toxicology takes place in Barcelona, Spain.

In the meantime, the IUTOX Executive Committee has been working to increase its impact on issues relevant to toxicology and human health by generating plans for capacity building especially in developing countries and reaching out to assure an understanding of chemical safety in areas where such activities are needed. IUTOX has arranged for the 13th time a Risk Assessment Summer School (RASS XIII) in Germany. Torbjörn Malmfors continues to be, together with Birgitta Lewander, the prime mover of this activity. A Risk Assessment Workshop was held in Sao Paulo, Brazil in early 2008, under the capable leadership of Silvia Barros. Both courses are designed to help young toxicologists better understand the risk assessment process.

Ultimately the goal of these courses is to merge local and global activities into a series of courses that will better serve the needs of toxicologists and regulators in developing countries. IUTOX will do this through its novel Risk Assessment School concept by organizing several courses each year in different parts of the world (e.g. countries in South East-Asia, Africa or South America). The plan is to increase the local and regional impact of these courses by organizing them in collaboration with IUTOX member societies and local authorities. 2008 is a "hybrid" year since a traditional RASS XIII will be organized together with a RAS course in Latin America. IUTOX is soliciting proposals from member societies to sponsor a RAS course in their region. Please base your proposal on the course outline (IUTOX Web site) and send your proposal to Donna Breskin at IUTOX headquarters.

In addition to the capacity building activities, the IUTOX Executive Committee has been seeking collaboration with other organizations to increase its impact on issues such as children's health in chemically challenging environments or utilizing novel technologies such as nanotechnologies to improve the quality of life of individuals living especially in developing countries. Important potential partners in the promotion of these goals are the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and the World Health Organization (WHO).

In parallel with these IUTOX activities, the Executive Committee has been making preparations for the upcoming IUTOX scientific events. These include the 7th Congress of Toxicology in Developing Countries (7CTDC) to be held in Sun City in South Africa on September 6–9, 2009. Preparations for the Congress, chaired by Professor Mary Gulumian, are proceeding smoothly. We can expect an exciting and scientifically and socially rewarding event.

The next important event under the umbrella of IUTOX is the 12th International Congress of Toxicology to be organized in Barcelona, Spain and chaired by Professor Eugenio Vilanova. The Congress takes place on July 11–15, 2010 and preparations for finalizing the program and all the necessary details have been in progress for several years. This is another exciting IUTOX event that everybody should mark one's calendar for in 2010.

As to future scientific events, organized by IUTOX together with its national member sociieties, are the 8th Congress of Toxicology in Developing Countries (8CTDC) organized by the Thai Society of Toxicology in 2012 in Bangkok. Professor Songsak Srianujata, the current President of the Thai Society of Toxicology, will chair the congress.

The IUTOX General Assembly decided to hold the 13th International Conference of Toxicology (ICT XIII) in Seoul, South Korea in 2013 under the capable leadership of Professor Jin Ho Chun, Chair of the Steering Committee of ICT XIII and Professor San Seop Han, current President of the Korean Society of Toxicology.

I hope to see many of you in Rhodes in October of this year during EUROTOX.

I wish all of you an enjoyable and rewarding summer vacation.

Kai Savolainen
President, International Union of Toxicology

Archive of Presidential Messages

• 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