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News and Reviews President's Message A Message from the President of IUTOX, Kai Savolainen (November 2007)
Dear IUTOX Members, I want to thank you all for electing me President of IUTOX in Montreal in 2007. As you are probably aware, this was an extraordinary situation since the IUTOX President-elect, Robert Kroes, tragically passed away at the end of 2006. Thus, a President had to be elected even though that meant that the new holder of the position would not have had any recent experience of sitting on the IUTOX Executive Committee. I had served on the IUTOX Executive Committee (EC) for nine years, from 1989 to 1998, six of those years as the Secretary-General. Furthermore, I organized the ICTX in Tampere in 2004, but nonetheless I had not been involved in the day-to-day operations of IUTOX. This does mean that the challenges of the IUTOX Presidency will be formidable for me, but let me make it clear that I consider it a special honor to serve you as the president of IUTOX. IUTOX has enjoyed an extremely successful three year term (2004–2007) under the leadership of Dr. Ali Esat Karakaya and the distinguished Executive Committee of IUTOX. I heartily congratulate Professor Karakaya and the whole EC for being able to consolidate the membership of the Union which now consists of 52 national and regional member organizations. In addition, a number of activities have been implemented during the 2004–2007 term, including the 6CTDC which was held as an integrated Congress together with the EUROTOX-2006 in Cavtat, Croatia on Sept. 20–24, 2006 (www.eurotox2006-6ctdc.org). The second main event was the 11th International Congress of Toxicology which was held in Montreal, Canada on 15–19 July, 2007 (www.ict2007.org). Both congresses were excellently organized and had a very good representation from toxicologists from all over the world. I want to extend my own sincere thanks and also the congratulations from the whole IUTOX EC to the host societies, the Croatian Society of Toxicology, and the Society of Toxicology Canada. The newly elected IUTOX 2007–2010 Executive Committee intends to continue along the successful path laid down by the previous IUTOX Executive Committees in organizing important and topical activities related to toxicology on a global scale. I am fortunate that in approaching this challenging though at the same time highly rewarding job, that I can rely on the assistance of such excellent Executive Committee members. These individuals are talented, dedicated toxicologists who volunteer their time to serve the world toxicology community. The other Executive Committee members are Dr. Linda Birnbaum (USA), President-Elect; Dr. Tohru Inoue (Japan), Vice President; Dr. Wallace Hayes (USA), Secretary-General; Dr. Alexander Buerkle (Germany), Treasurer; and Directors, Dr. Silvia Barros (Brazil), Dr. Mumtaz Iscan (Turkey), Dr. Lewis Smith (UK), Dr. Elaine Faustman (USA), and Dr. Barbara Hales (Canada). The IUTOX EC is now preparing a strategic plan for the new term. You will find this document soon on the IUTOX website. The strategic plan will be prepared to achieve many of the goals set out in the long range goals and mission of IUTOX. This mission includes fostering of international scientific cooperation among toxicologists, promoting the acquisition, dissemination and utilization of knowledge in the science of toxicology on a global scale and encouraging continued training and development of toxicologists world-wide. The long range goals of IUTOX are:
Everyone is aware that our world faces major problems and these threats appear to arrive at an ever-quickening rate. If IUTOX is to have any relevance on the world stage, it must find ways to tackle these challenges so that it can have a practical impact on global toxicological issues. This means creating new ideas and generating new programs capable of combating the emerging chemical safety challenges. We must also actively seek out new partners to help us implement these new programs if we are to make any impact in global terms. This will mean intensifying our collaboration with partners such as the World Health Organization, International Council for Science (ICSU), Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, even financial organizations like the World Bank, since it is only through collaboration that we can achieve the goals of IUTOX. The potential partners mentioned above are especially crucial because most of the IUTOX long-range goals emphasize the importance of increasing activities in the developing countries. Issues such as threats to children's health by environmental contamination or utilization of novel technologies may be areas in which IUTOX could contribute to capacity-building in relevant areas in the developing world, and these are clearly areas where cooperation with new and existing partners will prove to be especially valuable. IUTOX also needs to work more with local governments in the developing countries if it is to have a positive impact on health in the inhabitants. Important steps have been taken; we are making a positive impact on chemical safety in the developing countries. One major IUTOX activity was the integration of the "Congress of Toxicology in Developing Countries" (CTDCs) into IUTOX activities. The goals of these congresses are 1) to provide a platform where the toxicological issues and problems that mainly concern the developing countries can be addressed; and 2) to promote cooperation between scientists from the developed and developing countries to work on the specific toxicological problems faced by the developing world. Two important congresses will be organized by IUTOX during the next three years: The first is the 7CTDC which will be held in South Africa, in Sun City, on September 6–10, 2009, (www.7ctdc.co.za/); and the second, the 12th International Congress of Toxicology will be held in Barcelona, Spain, on 11–15 July, 2010 (http://gestion.pacifico-meetings.com/www/iutox2010/). During the next few months, the scientific committees of these congresses will start asking the member societies to submit their contributions to the scientific programs of these two congresses. We hope for enthusiastic involvement from the member societies in their preparation, and active participation of individual members of the member societies at these meetings. Your new IUTOX-EC looks forward to serving the world toxicological community. We need strong and active support from the IUTOX member societies and would very much appreciate your feedback and your contributions so that we can effectively implement and promote the goals of IUTOX. Kai Savolainen New 2007–2010 Executive Committee Elected in Montreal The IUTOX General Assembly convened in Montreal, Canada on July 18, 2007 to elect a new Executive Committee serving three year terms. Kai Savolainen (President), Linda Birnbaum, (President-Elect), Tohru Inoue (Vice President, A. Wallace Hayes (Secretary-General), Alexander Buerkle (Treasurer), Silvia Barros (Director), Elaine Faustman (Director), Barbara Hales (Director), Mumtaz Iscan (Director), Lewis Smith (Director). 2007–2010 Committees, Commissions and Task Forces Committee assignments were also transitioned to new leadership as listed below. Membership: Reports: 2007–2010 Committees, Commissions and Task Forces Implementation of the 2007–2010 strategic plan is underway as the Executive Committee carries on the well-established work and focus of IUTOX. See the Strategic Plan and committee reports below.
IUTOX Meetings Report on the Eleventh International Congress of Toxicology (ICT XI) Prepared by Mallé Jurima-Romet and Douglas L. Arnold The Eleventh International Congress of Toxicology (ICT XI) was held in Montreal from July 15–19, 2007. The Congress was hosted and organized by The Society of Toxicology of Canada (STC) and the National Research Council Canada (NRC), under the auspices of IUTOX. By all accounts, we believe that ICT XI was highly successful. For example, there were over 1,500 participants from more than 70 countries in attendance, making this one of the largest and internationally diverse ICTs ever. On the Sunday preceding the official opening of the Congress, more than 300 delegates participated in the six Continuing Education sessions. Over the next 3-1/2 days, more than 150 invited speakers from 25 different countries participated in the Scientific Program, reflecting the extent to which internationally—recognized advances in the science of toxicology are being made. Nearly 1,000 posters were presented over three days while 56 companies and organizations participated in an informative and lively commercial exhibition. The official opening of the Congress on Sunday evening was very well-attended. The Deichmann Award lecture, delivered by Dr. Allan Okey of the University of Toronto, entitled: "An Ah Receptor Odyssey to the Shores of Toxicology", was informative and engaging. Four keynote lectures, one on each morning of the Congress, were likewise well-attended. Several of the keynote lectures and symposia attracted attention from local radio and newspapers as well as from international science journalists who interviewed the speakers. Both the Deichmann Lecture and Dr. Moshe Szyf’s provocative keynote lecture on epigenetics were recently published in Toxicological Sciences. One of the many highlights of the scientific program was an entertaining debate on the topic of "Environment and Human Health Effects of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals: Is There Really a Problem?," with Dr. Frederick vom Saal and Dr.Linda Birnbaum arguing "For" and the chair of the Scientific Program committee, Dr.Daniel Cyr, arguing "Against". An interesting aside was the chairperson asking for a show of hands prior to the debate to ascertain how the audience viewed this topic. While a majority of the attendees were "For" initially, a show of hands at the conclusion of the debate favored the "Against" argument. The Palais des Congrès convention centre, located in downtown Montreal, was an excellent venue with the ICT XI logistics being handled smoothly and seemingly effortlessly by the Palais and NRC personnel. One delegate commented afterwards: "flowed like a symphony." Graduate student volunteers helped in a variety of roles, serving as ‘ambassadors’, directing delegates to meeting rooms and providing general information. Highlights of the social program included the Welcoming Reception, a sumptuous dinner and scenic boat cruise on the St. Lawrence River hosted by STC, and the Congress Banquet on Wednesday evening. Musical entertainment at the Banquet was provided by the Quebec-based, internationally - acclaimed Painchaud family who delivered an incredible performance featuring a diverse repertoire of classical, jazz, pop, and French-Canadian folk music, using a variety of instruments. Throughout the week, even the weather cooperated—the days were sunny and warm, and the evenings clear and cool, allowing delegates to enjoy their stroll along the streets while they took in the sights, sounds and tastes of the vibrant mid-summer Montreal atmosphere. Financially, the Congress was highly successful, generating a large surplus that will become available for IUTOX to use for future programs and other scientific endeavors. The organizers acknowledge the generous contributions of the many companies and organizations that provided financial support. We are also grateful to the many people who volunteered their time and energy towards the planning and implementation of ICT XI, including the members of the various subcommittees of the Organizing Committee, advisory committees, and students. In addition, the Organizing Committee gratefully acknowledges the assistance provided by IUTOX and SOT. From the outset, the Organizing Committee’s objectives were to organize and host an ICT that would be scientifically rewarding, financially successful, and personally memorable for delegates and their families. We are proud to claim that ICT XI met all three objectives! South Africa TOXSA to Host CTDC7 Congresses on Toxicology in Developing Countries (CTDC) are sponsored by IUTOX every three years. Sun City, South Africa will provide a beautiful venue for CTDC7 scheduled for September 6–9, 2009. CTDC meetings provide a forum for discussing toxicological problems facing developing countries in the future and exchanging views with toxicologists from all over the world, especially from developing countries and regions. Please see the schedule below for abstract deadlines and other preliminary information. Awards Deadlines to be considered
Hotel deadlines Contact information Member Highlights We are delighted to feature the Korean Society of Toxicology, the Toxicology Society of South Africa, and the Spanish Association of Toxicology in this issue. If you’d like to see your member society featured in the next issue, please send your information to IUTOXHQ at iutoxhq@iutox.org. Korean Society of Toxicology Misun Park, Ph.D. The Korean Society of Toxicology (KST) was established in 1984 to play a leading role in the advancement of toxicological science in Korea. During the past two decades, KST has grown to be one of the major scientific societies in Korea with around 750 members from academia, industries, research institutions, and governmental sectors, promoting toxicological research and education in the country. Currently lead by Dr. Sang-Seop Han, the president of Korea Institute of Toxicology, together with the council members representing diverse professional activities and scientific disciplines within toxicology, KST continues to make numerous scientific achievements and contributions to the local communities and abroad. Toxicological Research in Korea KST Publications
In addition, an online newsletter is published biannually on the KST homepage to deliver updates in research trends, noteworthy scientific achievements, and related professional issues in the society. Biannual Conferences Educational Programs Toxicology Experts GLP Training Program KST also concentrates on the education and training of younger generation toxicologists by holding symposia and workshops on various areas of interest in toxicology. International Collaborations In an effort to augment the international compliance and acceptability of Korean GLP research, KST signed a memorandum of understanding with the US Society of Quality Assurance (SQA) in which they agreed on joint meetings and conferences to enhance the services the societies provide to their memberships by increased communication between the two organizations. Future Challenges The Toxicology Society of South Africa (TOXSA) Dr. Mary Gulumian Short History and Achievements: TOXSA was established as a Learned Society on 15 May 2001 in Stellenbosch, South Africa, by a group of scientists interested in various fields of toxicology. The aims of the Society are to promote and advance the study and application of toxicology in all its aspects in South Africa, and to cultivate the highest principles of practice and ethics in persons engaged in the sciences of toxicology and ancillary sciences. With a membership of 100 from academic, government, industry and other organisations, TOXSA convenes national meetings and provides the necessary platform to scientists with diverse scientific backgrounds to exchange ideas and present their work for discussion. These include five national conferences in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, and 2007 respectively, some of which were held jointly with other societies with interest in toxicology. In 2009, TOXSA will be hosting the 7th Congress of Toxicology in Developing Countries (7CTDC) to be held in Sun City, South Africa in 6–10 September 2009. The local Congress Organising Committee is well within its time schedule and arrangements are in progress for scientific and social programmes as well as for other activities taking place during the congress. TOXSA is presently actively involved in creating awareness and getting toxicology recognised as a distinct discipline in South Africa. Negotiations are in progress to register the Society as well as the toxicologists with a relevant professional body in South Africa. Future Challenges for TOXSA: TOXSA is presently the only Toxicology Society in the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) region comprising of Angola, Botswana, DRC, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Challenges faced by TOXSA include:
Spanish Association of Toxicology (AETOX) Dra. Guillermina Font The Spanish Association of Toxicology (AETOX) was founded in 1980 in response to the need for communication and sharing ideas among professionals from different areas of toxicology. AETOX is a member of several international organizations such as IUTOX and EUROTOX. Since its beginning, four individuals have presided over the Association, Dr. Guillermo Tena, the former Director of the National Institute of Toxicology of Madrid, Dr. Manuel Repetto, the former Director of the National Institute of Toxicology of Seville and the Director of the International Postgraduate Course "Expert in Toxicology and the International Master in Toxicology" (University of Seville), Dr. Eugenio Vilanova, Professor of Toxicology from the University Miguel Hernandez who was nominated “EUROTOX Honorary Member” in 2007, and Dr. Eduardo de la Peña from the National Research Council of the Center for Environmental Sciences. Dr. de la Peña is responsible for setting up the Spanish Committee of Toxicology in 2004 as part of the International Union of Toxicology (CETox-IUTOX) to serve as a link between the public and various scientific societies. AETOX is the organization to which most of the scientists, professionals and academics who work in toxicology in Spain belong. It has approximately 400 members covering all fields of toxicology. The main objective of the association is to promote the relationship and cooperation among its members and with other national and international associations as well as to coordinate and to contribute to the development and dissemination of scientific knowledge in various areas of toxicology. AETOX includes several sections such as Clinical Toxicology, Environmental Toxicology, Forensic Toxicology, Veterinary Toxicology, Food Safety and Alternative Methods that contribute to the development of these specialized fields. AETOX has organized a variety of conferences, seminars, symposia and meetings. For example, in 2007 the section of Forensic Toxicology of AETOX organized a conference in Barcelona called, “Forensic Analysis: Drug Abuse.” We celebrated the XVII Spanish Congress of Toxicology in Santiago de Compostela (Figure 1), and recently in Torre Guil (Murcia) the section of Environmental Toxicology held the “Conference on Toxicology Environmental: Preparing for REACH Since June 1 2007” from December 10 to December 12 (Figure 2). Since 1983, AETOX has published a journal called "Revista de Toxicología" containing original articles and abstracts of the conferences from the National Toxicology Congress organized by the association every two years. As in other countries where the national societies have taken charge of developing a register of toxicologists, AETOX has a Spanish Registry of Toxicologists that includes professionals specializing in basic and applied toxicology. Members are nominated by a committee according to the guidelines that define the required degree of education and professional expertise in toxicology. The guidelines of the AETOX toxicology register are synchronized with the EUROTOX guidelines of registered toxicologists. AETOX has a future challenge of hosting the XII International Congress of Toxicology together with EUROTOX under the guidance of the International Union of Toxicology in Barcelona during 2010 (11-15 July). Professor Eugenio Vilanova is the Congress President and Chairperson (http://gestion.pacifico-meetings.com/www/iutox2010/).
Awards and Fellowships ICT XI Fellowship Awards IUTOX provided financial support for travel and accommodations to junior and senior toxicologists to attend the ICT XI in Montreal, Canada. Junior toxicologist fellows are individuals at an early stage in their careers and senior toxicologist fellows are involved in organizational activities in their own national society. IUTOX extends congratulations to all of its 2007 award winners and looks forward to supporting additional toxicologists at future meetings. 2007 Junior and Senior Fellowship Award Winners Professor Tetsuo Satoh Named 2007 Merit Award Winner Professor Tetsuo Satoh was presented the IUTOX Merit Award in Montreal at ICT XI in recognition of his long and prestigious career. Professor Satoh has been a leader of the science of toxicology in Japan, as well as the whole of Asia and internationally. The Merit Award is presented to an individual in recognition of a long and distinguished career in toxicology at the international level. Achievements in academia, public service or industry are recognized with an emphasis placed on contributions they have made to strengthen the field of toxicology. Dr. Eddleston Wins Early Toxicologist Award Dr. Michael Phillip Eddleston stood out among a field of distinguished candidates to win the 2007 Early Toxicologist award for his extensive body of work on pesticide poisoning. Dr. Eddleston currently serves as the Wellcome Trust Career Development Fellow and Specialist Registrar with the Scottish Poisons Information Bureau, Edinburgh University, UK. The purpose of the IUTOX Early Toxicologist Award is to recognize and stimulate outstanding research in toxicology by newly established investigators. The Award consists of a plaque and reimbursement of travel expenses incurred to attend the International Congress of Toxicology (ICT). The Award is presented once every three years at the ICT meeting. 2008 AstraZeneca Award Winners—SOT Annual Meeting IUTOX congratulates the winners of four (4) fellowship awards sponsored by AstraZeneca and four (4) fellowship awards sponsored by the Society of Toxicology US. Each award provides $2,000 USD to allow the winners to attend the 2008 Society of Toxicology, USA (SOT) meeting being held in Seattle, Washington, USA from March 16–20, 2008. The awardees must either be senior scientists from a country where toxicology is underrepresented and have an active research program underway or currently be active in the practice of toxicology. Trainee Award Winners Three graduate students and one post-doctoral student were selected from a large field of excellent candidates to receive the IUTOX Trainee Award at the International Congress of Toxicology (ICT XI) in Montreal. Graduate students and post-doctoral fellows are invited to submit their poster abstracts for consideration in the IUTOX Trainee Award poster competition every three years at the ICT meeting. 2007 Graduate Student Trainee Award Winners 1st Place—Tara Barton (Canada) 2007 Postdoctoral Student Winner Lisa Kauri (Canada)
Upcoming Society Meetings The Society of Toxicology (SOT) Other News Hot Off the Press: Effective Media Communication during Public Health Emergencies: A Field Guide published by World Health Organization. Available from WHO Press by contacting bookorders@who.int or visiting http://www.who.int/bookorders. The Toxicology Education Foundation (TEF), announces the availability of its newest video "Is it Safe? Evaluating Chemical Risks" in Latin American Spanish. The 16-minute video provides the Spanish–speaking general public with a clearly explained and engaging look at the basic principles of toxicology and how to apply them in our everyday lives. The video which is also available in English was developed in co-sponsorship with the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS). Concepts are presented simply to the general public and the video offers guidance on how to assess risks from chemicals and the importance of minimizing exposure to potentially harmful chemicals. The video can also serve as a teaching tool. Toxicologists and other public health professionals are encouraged to use the video when giving talks to clubs, PTA groups, seniors and other organizations. "Is it Safe?" can be immediately viewed and downloaded in MPEG format at TEF’s Web site. DVD copies are also available at no charge upon request based on need. The video is the latest of a number of significant outreach products created by TEF, which continues to seek new ways to broaden its educational reach and transmit authoritative toxicological information to the public and other audiences. You may also contact TEF for additional information at tefhq@toxedfoundation.org. Member Corner Did you know... We’re eager to hear from you to benefit from your feedback and ideas, and to share your accomplishments and news with other member societies? Please e-mail your contributions (see below) to iutoxhq@iutox.org.
You’ll be receiving your 2008 dues notices in late January. Please help us give your society proper credit for payment by e-mailing us at iutoxhq@iutox.org with the details of your wire transfer. NewsletterArchives:
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