SOT/ToxExpo Show Preview: Texas welcomes back SOT

The Society of Toxicology revisits sunny San Antonio five years later

Mel J. Yeates
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Society of Toxicology’s 57th Annual Meeting and ToxExpo
March 11-15, 2018
Henry B. González Convention Center
San Antonio, Texas
 
Texas welcomes back SOT
 
The Society of Toxicology revisits sunny San Antonio five years later
 
The 57th Annual Meeting and ToxExpo of the Society of Toxicology (SOT) will take place March 11 to 15, bringing together 6,800 or more toxicologists and toxicology enthusiasts from many different disciplines from all over the world. The SOT Annual Meeting will be held at the Henry B. González Convention Center in San Antonio, and ToxExpo will run concurrently, March 12 to 14, in Exhibit Halls 2 and 3.
 
Since 1961, SOT has brought together scientists from universities, industry and government to, as SOT’s website says, “create a safer and healthier world by advancing the science and increasing the impact of toxicology.” Over 350 exhibitors will be present at the 57th SOT and ToxExpo meeting, as well as more than 160 scientific sessions, 14 continuing education courses, many diverse events and activities for networking, more than 60 educational sessions from exhibitors and more than 2,600 abstracts.
 
Dr. Leigh Ann Burns Naas is SOT vice president and chair of the Scientific Program Committee. She says, regarding this year’s SOT notable moments, “I am excited about so many aspects of this meeting. The 2018 Annual Meeting and ToxExpo will showcase the very best in toxicological science with scientific sessions, featuring leading experts from across the broad range of disciplines and specialties that inform and advance toxicology.”
 
“We have an outstanding plenary speaker in Dr. Matthew H. Porteus from Stanford University. Dr. Porteus will be speaking on the translation of genome editing from the bench to the clinic for treating genetic diseases of the blood and immune system,” she also notes. “He has a unique perspective that I believe will appeal to all attendees. Dr. Porteus has been actively involved in defining a path for these novel therapies from basic research to safety evaluation and clinical trials, including discussions on the ethical and regulatory aspects of genome editing.
 
“Another interesting lecture is the keynote Medical Research Council (MRC) lecture on circadian rhythms, which will be delivered by Dr. Michael Hastings, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology. Dr. Hastings will review recent advances in the understanding of the molecular genetic basis of the cell-autonomous clock in the brain and how it directs circadian behavior and physiology.”
 
According to Burns Naas, the meeting will also have lectures from the recipients of the SOT Distinguished Toxicology Scholar Award (Dr. Roger O. McClellan) and SOT Translational Impact Award (Dr. Jia-Sheng Wang). This year is also the 20th anniversary of SOT’s journal, Toxicological Sciences. Dr. Gary Miller, the editor-in-chief, plans to host a discussion with past editors on Tuesday, March 13, from 11 a.m. to 12:20 p.m.
 
SOT has made changes to poster availability for 2018, making them viewable all day, rather than the previous half-day sessions. Burns Naas points out, “Our members have told us that it can be frustrating to have symposia and workshops occurring at the same time as a variety of posters they desire to see. By having posters available all day, individuals will be able to choose a time to visit the posters which does not conflict with other sessions they want to attend.”
 
The SOT continues its partnership with the Japanese Society of Toxicology (JSOT) and, as part of that, a symposium on environmental neurodevelopmental risk features Dr. Yoichiro Kuroda, Environmental Neuroscience Information Center, JSOT; Dr. Satoshi Kitajima, National Institute of Health Sciences, JSOT; Dr. Susan L. Schantz, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, SOT; and Dr. Deborah A. Cory-Slechta, University of Rochester Medical Center, SOT.
 
“We will [also] continue the highly successful SOT/EUROTOX Debate where the motion under consideration is ‘Adverse Outcome Pathways Are the Future for Regulatory Toxicology.’ Dr. Daniel Villeneuve, U.S. EPA, will argue for the motion and Dr. Brigitte Landesmann, European Commission Joint Research Centre, Directorate F-Health, Consumers, and Reference Materials, will argue against the motion. Of note, these same presenters will argue for the opposite side when the debate is presented at the 2018 EUROTOX meeting in Brussels in September,” Burns Naas adds.
 
Meeting attendees will be able to attend a new Hot Topic session, titled “Exposure and Toxicological Concerns Surrounding Perfluorinated Alkyl Substances (PFAS),” on Tuesday, March 13, from noon to 1:30 p.m. According to Burns Naas, the impetus behind the Hot Topic idea is to address the difficulties surrounding a meeting of this size in presenting late-breaking scientific topics. “This session is intended to specifically address that need, and we are excited to present such a timely topic,” she says.
 
The SOT Scientific Program Committee also plans to present a lecture exchange of eminent scientists between SOT and EUROTOX for the first time this year. Burns Naas notes that Vera Rogiers of Vrije Universiteit Brussel, the EUROTOX 2017 Bo Holmstedt Memorial Lecture awardee, will present at the meeting.
 
“In addition to the official program developed by the SOT Scientific Program Committee, our exhibitors are also offering more than 60 educational sessions where attendees can learn about diverse topics such as new technologies available for their research, new approaches in safety evaluation of specific organ systems, and applied topics in risk assessment and regulatory compliance,” Burns Naas says.
 
DDNews asked about what 2019’s SOT meeting may bring, other than its return to Baltimore, where the 2017 SOT meeting was held. “The 2019 Annual Meeting will continue all-day poster sessions and will likely include a day with a series of shorter scientific sessions with more networking time built in. There will be other changes as well, with our goal being to enhance the overall meeting experience for everyone, but particularly for our younger attendees who represent the future of our discipline and the society,” Burns Naas concludes.
 

Featured Sessions
Opening Plenary Session
Developing Genome-Edited Stem Cells for Therapy of Patients: Assessing Efficacy and Toxicology
Lecturer: Matthew H. Porteus, Stanford University
March 12, 8 a.m.
 
Distinguished Toxicology Scholar Award Lecture
Sixty Years of Contributions to Understanding Radionuclide Toxicity
Lecturer: Roger O. McClellan, Toxicology & Human Health Risk Analysis, Albuquerque, N.M.
March 12, 12:30 p.m.
 
SOT/EUROTOX Debate
Adverse Outcome Pathways Are the Future for Regulatory Toxicology
Chairpersons: Ron Hines, U.S. EPA and Heather Wallace, University of Aberdeen, United Kingdom
SOT Debater: Daniel Villeneuve, U.S. EPA
EUROTOX Debater: Brigitte Landesmann, European Commission Joint Research Centre, Directorate F–Health, Consumers, and Reference Materials
March 12, 4:45 p.m.
 
Translational Impact Award Lecture
Modulation of Toxic Effects and Human Disease Risks: From Synthetic Drugs to Natural Products
Lecturer: Jia-Sheng Wang, University of Georgia
March 13, 11:00 a.m.
 
Meet the Directors
A Conversation with Linda S. Birnbaum, Mark S. Johnson, and Edward J. Perkins
Chairperson: Leigh Ann Burns Naas, Gilead Sciences Inc..
Panelists: Linda S. Birnbaum, U.S. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences; Mark S. Johnson, U.S. Army Public Health Center; and Edward J. Perkins, U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center
March 13, 11:00 a.m.
 
Toxicological Sciences Featured Session
20 Years of ToxSci: Reflecting on the Past and Envisioning the Future, Including a Tribute to Dr. John Doull
Chairperson: Gary W. Miller, Emory University and ToxSci editor-in-chief
Panelists: Gary W. Miller, Emory University; Curtis D. Klaassen, University of Washington; Lois D. Lehman-McKeeman, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey; David L. Eaton, University of Washington; and Dana C. Dolinoy, University of Michigan School of Public Health
March 13, 11:00 a.m.
 
Plenary Keynote Medical Research Council Lecture
Circadian Clocks: Setting the Tempo of Our Life
Lecturer: Michael Hastings, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, United Kingdom
March 14, 12:30 p.m.
 
Society of Toxicology and Japanese Society of Toxicology Symposium
Environmental Neurodevelopmental Risk
Chairpersons: Leigh Ann Burns Naas, Gilead Sciences Inc., and Jun Kanno, Japan Organization of Occupational Health and Safety
Adverse Effects of Neonicotinoids on Mammalian Brain Development: Possible Risk Factors for Neurodevelopmental Disorders Like Autism or ADHD?
Lecturer: Yoichiro Kuroda, Environmental Neuroscience Information Center, Tokyo (Junko Kimura-Kuroda, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, is a co-author of this research)
Impact of Prenatal Exposure to Phenols and Phthalates on Early Cognitive Development
Lecturer: Susan Schantz, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Neurobehavioral Toxicity at Adult Period Induced by Neonicotinoid Pesticides Exposure at Juvenile Period of Male Mice.
Lecturer: Satoshi Kitajima, National Institute of Health Sciences, Tokyo (Kentaro Tanemura, Tohoku University, is a co-author of this research)
Developmental Exposure to Fine Particle Air Pollution and Neurodevelopmental Disorders.
Lecturer: Deborah Cory-Slechta, University of Rochester Medical Center
March 14, 8:00 a.m.
 
EUROTOX Bo Holmstedt Memorial Lecture
Human Skin Stem Cell-Derived Hepatic Cells and Their Potential Applications in Toxicology
Lecturer: Vera Rogiers, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium
March 14, 11:00 a.m.
 

2018 SOT Notable Awards Recipients
The awardees will be honored during the Awards Ceremony on March 11, 2018.
 
Achievement Award
Dr. Dana C. Dolinoy
University of Michigan School of Public Health
 
Arnold J. Lehman Award
Dr. Linda S. Birnbaum
U.S. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
 
Distinguished Toxicology Scholar Award
Dr. Roger O. McClellan,
Toxicology & Human Health Risk Analysis, Albuquerque, N.M.
 
Education Award
Dr. Judith T. Zelikoff
New York University School of Medicine
 
Enhancement of Animal Welfare Award
Dr. Anna B. Lowit
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
 
Founders Award
Dr. Ruth A. Roberts
ApconiX, Alderley Edge, U.K.
 
Merit Award
Dr. Robert J. Kavlock
Washington, D.C.
 
Public Communications Award
Dr. Maureen R. Gwinn
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
 
Translational Impact Award
Dr. Jia-Sheng Wang
University of Georgia, Athens
 
Undergraduate Educator Award
Dr. Joshua P. Gray
U.S. Coast Guard Academy
 
Toxicological Sciences Paper of the Year Award
Leah M. Norona, Deborah G. Nguyen, David A. Gerber, Sharon C. Presnell and Edward L. LeCluyse
 

Recurring Events and Activities
Committee on Diversity Initiatives Reunion
March 10, 7:30 p.m.
The CDI Reunion is a great opportunity for former students, organizers of the program and volunteers to gather and celebrate 29 years of success in encouraging the next generation of scientists. The program will include the presentation of the 2018 Perry J. Gehring Diversity Student Travel Award. Dessert, coffee and tea will be served. This session will provide an informal opportunity to gain insight about different employment sectors in toxicology through candid discussions in a casual setting. Graduate students and postdocs are encouraged to sign up for this event when they register for the Annual Meeting, as registration will be limited to maximize the opportunity for small group discussion with career representatives.
 
Awards Ceremony Music
March 11, 4:45 p.m.
Performed by Randy Cordero
Randy Cordero, also known as “El Garrobo,” is a flamenco guitarist based in San Antonio. He studied the art of flamenco both in Spain and in the United States. His musical style is a blend of traditional Jerez-style flamenco with some contemporary influences.
 
Welcome Reception
March 11, 6:30 p.m.
The Welcome Reception is an opportunity to renew friendships and to make new acquaintances. Please join the society in this kick-off of the Annual Meeting and ToxExpo.
 
25 Year (or more) Member Reception
March 11, 7:00 p.m.
If you have been a member of SOT for 25 years or more, please join your colleagues in recognition and celebration of your contributions to the society. Be sure to wear your membership anniversary pin.
 
SOT Annual Business Meeting
March 13, 4:45 p.m.
SOT Members are invited and encouraged to attend the SOT 57th Annual Business Meeting. The agenda includes discussion of plans for next year, a financial summary and a review of the 2017–2018 accomplishments.
 
Tox ShowDown
March 13, 7:30 p.m.
Chairperson: Phil Wexler, U.S National Institutes of Health/National Library of Medicine
This is the seventh year of the Tox ShowDown, a toxicological quiz game. Three teams of three contestants each—the Endocrine Disruptors, the Free Radicals and the Toxic Metabolites—battle each other to answer questions wholly, partially or remotely related to toxicology. Topics cover the gamut, including the role of toxicology in history, current events, arts, culture and society, not to mention science. As always, there will be prizes for all participants and audience door prizes.
 

Continuing Education
2018 Courses
  • CRISPR-Cas9 for Toxicologists
  • The What, When and How of Using Data from Alternative Testing Methods in Chemical Safety Assessments
  • An Introduction to the Basics of Immunotoxicity Testing
  • Assessment of Peri- and Prepubertal Development and Reproductive Toxicity
  • Biotherapeutic Development: What’s Behind the Curtain?
  • In Vitro Testing: Tales from the Real World
  • Physiologically-Based Pharmacokinetic Modeling to Support Modernized Chemical Safety Assessment
  • Developmental Neurotoxicity Testing: Current Practices and Latest Advancements
  • Consumer Products Safety Assessment: Progress in the Use of Alternatives to Animal Models
  • Evaluation of Leachable Substances from Materials with Applications in Food and Pharmaceuticals: Science- and Risk-Based Approaches
  • Lead Optimization of Therapeutic Small Molecules: From Drug Target to Clinical Candidate Selection—Strategies and Decision Making
  • NGS-Based Technologies Enable Biomarker Development and Discovery in Toxicology
  • Uncertainty Characterization in 21st-Century Toxicology: Current Practice and and Practical Methods Supporting Regulatory Risk Assessment
  • Xenobiotic Pharmacokinetics during Pregnancy and Lactation
 

Past Presidents’ 5K Fun Run
Hemisfair Park
March 13, 2018
7 am
 
Join the past presidents of SOT at an 8th annual 5k Fun Run/Walk around San Antonio’s beautiful Hemisfair Park, which is open to everyone. According to SOT’s website, “This event is a great opportunity to meet friends and make new acquaintances in a casual environment. Whether you’re in it for some friendly competition or would rather take a leisurely stroll, this event’s emphasis is on camaraderie and brings together runners and walkers of all levels and paces.” The Fun Run/Walk is sponsored by IDEXX BioResearch.
 

Future Annual Meetings
 
2019    March 10-14    Baltimore
2020    March 15-19    Anaheim, Calif.
2021    March 14-18    Orlando, Fla.
2022    March 27-31    San Diego
2023    March 19-23    Nashville, Tenn.

Mel J. Yeates

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