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News and Reviews President's Message A Message from the President of IUTOX, Kai Savolainen (December 2008)
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 Helsinki, December 15, 2008 IUTOX Bids Farewell to Linda Birnbaum As She Assumes Director Position at NIEHS IUTOX is pleased to congratulate IUTOX EC President-Elect Dr. Linda Birnbaum on her appointment as Director of the U.S. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS). As NIEHS director, Dr. Birnbaum will oversee $730 million budget funding for biomedical health research into the health effects of environmental pollutants. As she was quoted as saying when her appointment was announced, "I am excited about serving as the director of NIEHS at a time when integration across disciplines is essential, from molecular biology to pharmacology and physiology to epidemiology. Complex environmental issues require individual and team efforts to address the interactions between the environment and human health," said Dr. Birnbaum (NIEHS Newsletter, December 2008). Dr. Birnbaum has offered her resignation to IUTOX EC as she accepts this wonderful new opportunity. IUTOX will miss her enthusiasm and insights but will look forward to the important contributions she will make at NIEHS. Please join IUTOX EC to thank Dr. Birnbaum for all her significant efforts on behalf of IUTOX. IUTOX Leadership IUTOX Officers and Directors welcome comments from all member societies. If you have any suggestions or you’d like your meetings added to our "Upcoming Meetings" section on www.iutox.org, please send us an e-mail to: iutox@iutoxhq.org 2007–2010 Executive Committee 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), Open, (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: IUTOX Meetings 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 at the present time and 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 Hotel deadlines Will be announced on Web site: www.7ctdc.co.zaContact information Congress Organizer Member Highlights EUROTOX Honors Professor Robert Kroes Professor Robert "Bobby" Kroes, respected friend and colleague of scientists around the world, was active in numerous organizations, was widely published and sat on numerous international scientific committees. Bobby was elected President-Elect of IUTOX at the 2004 General Assembly, but sadly, was unable to serve his term due to his death in December of 2006. Bobby served two terms as President of the European Societies of Toxicology (EUROTOX), and was honored by EUROTOX earlier this year when they dedicated a special issue of Toxicology Letters to his memory (see below). Multiple Facets of Human Risk Assessment of Chemical Exposures: Recognizing the late Professor Robert Kroes Corrado Galli & Erik Dybing, Co-Guest Editors
"This special issue 'The Multiple Facets of Human Risk Assessment of Chemical Exposures' is dedicated to the memory of Professor Robert Kroes (1940–2006). Bobby, as his friends knew him, was in his professional career especially devoted to the scientific underpinnings and practice of human risk assessment. He spent a lot of energy in the continuous search for scientifically based improvements in risk assessment, both with respect to developing novel methods as well as establishing principles for evaluating and interpreting data. The contents of this special issue illustrate many important facets of the risk assessment paradigm. Written by a renowned group of experts, each article will illustrate how the numerous procedures typically leading to a risk assessment are determined by the specific needs of the particular case under evaluation. The Federation of European Toxicologists & European Societies of Toxicology (EUROTOX) is honoured to dedicate this special issue to Bobby as a way to commemorate his outstanding career as a toxicological scientist." In order to reserve your copy please contact EUROTOX Secretariat Ellaine Ferioli at secretariat@eurotox.com EUROTOX2008 The Hellenic Society of Toxicology hosted EUROTOX2008 in October. Rhodes, Greece provided a stunning backdrop for a very well-organized meeting marked by an excellent scientific program, lively exhibit hall and highly regarded presenters. By Prof. Dr Aristidis M. Tsatsakis, Ph.D., DSc, E.R.T., President of the Hellenic Society of Toxicology, Member of the Executive Committee of EUROTOX, Chairman of the Organizing Committee EUROTOX 2008. The forty fifth (45th) Congress of the European Societies of Toxicology was held in Greece, on October 5–8, at the beautiful island of Rhodes. The theme of the Congress was "FROM TOXINS TO OMICS: HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELL-BEING." Over 1,000 scientists and participants from all continents of the world attended the Congress. The scientific program was, by general admittance, most comprehensive, complete and extensive and all twenty three scientific sessions and three educational courses were very well attended. Nine symposia, eight workshops, an oral presentation session, the roundtable discussion on education in toxicology and, the SOT-EUROTOX debate were encompassed in the scientific program while the plenary and keynote lectures were received with great interest.
The President of the Organising Committee, Prof. Aristides Tsatsakis, abided by EUROTOX’s initiative to make fellowships available to excellent scientists who live in less financially resourced countries. In fact, most requests from such scientists were granted enabling them to attend this important Congress. Over one hundred (100) distinguished scientists addressed the Congress, presenting state of the art themes on the science of toxicology. The Congress also covered the latest scientific innovations, discoveries and practices on significant issues in the multidisciplinary field of toxicology. Over eight hundred (800) posters were presented and are now published in a special issue of "Toxicology Letters."
The Exhibition Hall most certainly enhanced the Congress and introduced participants to products and services valuable in their work. The island of Rhodes, which is world-renowned for its impressive architecture and an extremely well preserved medieval city characterized by UNESCO as a monument of world cultural heritage, proved to be an ideal host city for the Congress. The EUROTOX 2008 Congress provided an important channel for the exchange of information between researchers and scientists from Europe and around the world. Scientifically and educationally, the meeting was a great success and served as an excellent celebration for the global toxicology community! Risk Assessment Summer School RASS XIII By Torbjörn Malmfors, Course Director and Birgitta Lewander, Course Secretary The Thirteenth Risk Assessment Summer School was held 6–14 September, 2008 at Hoeri am Bodensee, Hemmenhofen, Germany. Twenty-seven students from 23 different countries took part. The participation of four students from developing countries was supported by The Organisation of the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and two students from Eastern Europe were supported by Eurotox. The Faculty consisted of Elaine Faustman, Sonja Jeram, Marie Haag Grönlund, Ernie Harpur, Paul Peters, Wally Hayes and Paul Slovic., All students had to prepare and bring a written study case to the course. The study cases were appreciated and discussed in the groups and successfully summarised in the plenary sessions. The students were exposed to lectures on toxicology and risk analysis. The students were divided into five groups in which lectures and the study cases were thoroughly discussed with the help of one member of the faculty as tutor. In this way the students were exposed to a variety of risk assessment problems of chemicals. After the group discussion the students presented the conclusions of their study cases in plenary sessions. Furthermore, the students had ample time for individual discussions both with the faculty members and other students. It was obvious that this type of hands-on-training is very efficient as the students improved in their performance during the course. Two half-days excursions were included in the program. Participants visited the island of Reichenau to sightsee and attend an organ concert by Alexander Burkle, the Treasurer of IUTOX.A second trip featured a boat trip to the island of Mainau, with sightseeing in Konstanz and dinner at a local restaurant. From the evaluation survey it is obvious that all students thought the course was very successful and valuable, particularly the work with their study cases. The students made many valuable contacts for the future and will recommend the course to others in the future. Students from developing countries particularly valued the opportunity to meet with toxicologists from developed countries. They found the course very inspirational and were eager to return home and continue their work on risk assessment of chemicals. The course ended with a Farewell dinner when certificates were handed out to the students.
Latin America Risk Assessment Workshop For the first time, IUTOX partnered with the Brazilian Society of Toxicology to sponsor a Risk Assessment Workshop in Latin America. The workshop was so successful that another one is underway for March 2009. Please see a full report below. By Silvia Berlanga de Moraes Barros (SBT and IUTOX) Organized by Silvia Berlanga de Moraes Barros (SBT and IUTOX) and Wally Hayes (ITUOX), the Latin America Risk Assessment Workshop was held April 5 to 13, 2008 at the Grande Hotel Águas de São Pedro (http://www.hoteis.sp.senac.br/jsp/) in the city of Águas de São Pedro, São Paulo State, Brazil, with 25 participants. Thirty-five applications were received, with 30 selected for the course. The workshop was held with 25 students, an ideal number for future workshops. Selection of the participants was based, among other criteria, on their place of work: academia (10 students, 40%), government (7 students, 28%), and industry (8 students, 32%). Participants were mostly from Brazil, with one student each from Peru and the Colombia, and three more participants from the United States. In the next session of the workshop we hope to have more participants from other Latin American countries. The workshop followed the RASS (IUTOX) structure with lectures on toxicology and risk analysis and discussion of study cases previously prepared by the participants. The students were divided into five groups of 5 participants and the student cases were discussed with the help of one member of the faculty as a tutor. After the discussion, the participants presented the conclusions of their study cases in plenary sessions followed by a question and answer session for all participants.
At the conclusion of the workshop, evaluations reflected high marks for the program and participants indicated they would recommend the workshop for others. We are already preparing for the second Risk Assessment Workshop tentatively scheduled to be held from March 21 to 29, 2009. Sponsors Many sponsors contributed variable amounts of money (ANDEF, Syngenta, Society of Toxicology USA, American College of Toxicology, Milenia and the National Research Council, Brazil). Ten fellowships were distributed among the participants from academia and covered their registration fee, accommodations, and food. Faculty Elaine Faustman—University of Washington—Seattle Upcoming Society Meetings View a full listing of the Upcoming Meetings 7th Congress of Toxicology in Developing Countries/7CTDC XII International Congress of Toxicology IUTOX Congratulates 2009 SOT/AstraZeneca Award Winners The scientists listed below will attend the 48th Annual Meeting of the Society of Toxicology in Baltimore, Maryland (March 15–19, 2009) due to the generous support of SOT and AstraZeneca. IUTOX thanks everyone who applied and congratulates all the winners!
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 2009 dues notices in February. 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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