Live Updates from the Society of Toxicology 50th Anniversary

March 10, 2011 — 10:52 PM
As Elvis leaves the building, protege dials in

As the conference winds down, the buzzing of cell-phones fills the air as friends and colleagues dial each other to say their " good- byes" for the year. In the midst of all the activity,  stands a noteworthy poster presented by Elvis Cuevas, NCTR revealing the "Effects of Radiofrequency Radiation Exposure from mobile phones on brain microvessel endothelial cells"

The ongoing collaborative effort between the NTP, NCTR and FDA will soon determine any deleterious effects of cell phone radiation.

Picture " Left to Right: Michael Wyde, Elvis Cuevas, Syed Ali

March 10, 2011 — 12:23 PM
President's Reception

Quite the party last night at the SOT President's Reception. Kudos to SOT president Michael Holsapple for putting together a great event.

Linda is shown here with fellow 6:30am Tuesday conference presenter, Dr. Bill Farland.

March 10, 2011 — 10:08 AM
Sad to see you go!

Today's the last day of the meeting, and I think once again that SOT has outdone itself! I am so happy to see friends, colleagues, and new research. I think the best part of the meeting is the networking and learning new areas of toxicology. These aspects really help us as program administrators to learn more about what our grantees are doing. 'Til next year in San Francisco!

March 9, 2011 — 9:06 PM
A Passion for Mixtures

Wow! Mike De Vito really spiced up the Mixture Specialty Section reception with his impassioned address to the crowd about the importance of responding to our Request for Information.  Way to get people motivated, Mike!

March 9, 2011 — 3:35 PM
Nanotoxicology: "A little less conversation ... a lot more action"

So, I'm taking a short break here from sessions and chatting to folks at the SOT. Reflecting back on the past three days, I have to say this has been a great meeting.

Maybe it's because I focused my efforts this time on seeing where the field of nanotoxicoology is, but I have to say, I am truly impressed by the advances being made in this emergent area. In 2004, SOT had the first (and there was only one) session on nanoparticles. Now, look how things have changed.

It's not only the amount of work being done by NIEHS grantees, federal partners and others from around the world, and not just the quality of the characterization being routinely included in studies. It's that all this information is really starting to come together in a cohesive manner to develop structure activity relationships, albeit for specific classes of materials. There is also high quality hazard data from multiple groups on carbon nanotubes now, clearly showing low dose effects in vivo that is being used to allow informed decisions about possible risks.

Yes, a lot of work remains to be done on what the most appropriate dose metrics are and for which nanomaterials (the topic of a session later today), but we are certainly far beyond the point where we were just a few years ago when we said, "we don't know anything about these materials."

“A little less conversation, a lot more action” ... indeed!!