A Message from the President of IUTOX (October 2005)

Dear IUTOX Member,

A review of the IUTOX activities planned for the next two years was among the agenda items of the IUTOX Executive Committee Meeting held during the EUROTOX 2005 Congress in Krakow, Poland. I am glad to inform you that the scientific program of the EUROTOX 2006 / 6 CTDC Congress has been finalized. Besides symposia and workshop topics on state-of-the-art toxicology, topics on basic toxicological problems that are unique to or most frequently encountered in developing countries, have a prominent place in the scientific program. This scientific program renders the joint EUROTOX/CTDC Congress to be held in Croatia a very important scientific event for the world toxicology community. Meanwhile, the fundamental structure of the scientific program of the ICT XI 2007 Montreal Meeting is now nearing completion; and I am pleased to inform you that it is turning out to be a very exciting program. On behalf of IUTOX, I would like to thank and congratulate the organizers and scientific committees of both congresses for having done an excellent job.

The ICT XI meeting will be celebrating the 30th anniversary of the foundation of the International Congress of Toxicology, the first meeting having been held in Toronto in 1977. Hosted by the Society of Toxicology of Canada, this first ICT congress had also been the venue where final preparations were made for the formation of IUTOX, which was founded in 1980. A committee was formed at the ICT I in 1977 and charged with “preparing the statutes for the founding of IUTOX," thus taking the final steps for actualizing the formation of an International Union of Toxicology, an idea that was first put-forth by William D. Deichmann in 1968.* Thus, ICT XI Montreal Meeting will not only be an outstanding scientific event, but it will also be a congress held at a date that has historical meaning both for ICT and IUTOX.

The 11th Risk Assessment Summer School (RASS XI) to be held in Germany next September, is another IUTOX activity planned for 2006. This summer school, which has been held bi-annually ever since 1985 under the guidance and directorship of Torbjörn Malforms, is a unique opportunity for young toxicologists to broaden their knowledge and experience in the field of data evaluation and chemical risk assessment. Meanwhile, drawing on his 20 years of experience, Dr. Malforms has prepared a document titled "The RASS Training Manual": I think it is an excellent manual and will be of great help to the organizers of similar summer schools, not only on the subject of risk assessment but also on all other prospective subjects.

As has been stated in the IUTOX strategic plan, one of the objectives of our organization is to pursue capacity building in toxicology in developing countries. As IUTOX, we consider each event and activity that I have mentioned above, as a useful and important tool for achieving the said objective. And to this end we make every effort to ensure the active participation of as many toxicologists from developing countries as possible. So we have sought and have obtained some new funds and financial support for this purpose: For instance, we have already succeeded in obtaining funds for 40 IUTOX Fellowships for the ICT XI Montreal meeting.

Last but not least, the IUTOX program that aims at providing lecturers for the national toxicology meetings held in developing countries continues to be implemented with notable success. We want to encourage our members in developing countries to apply for this program. For information on this subject, please visit the guideline regarding this matter on our Web site.
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* Hodel, C., Schou, JS. : Historical Notes on foundation and Functions of the International Union of Toxicology . P.J. Schmidt A/S Vojens, Denmark (1998).

Ali Esat Karakaya
IUTOX President
October 7, 2005