President’s Newsletter Number 1: January 2022
Dear Colleagues
May I take this opportunity to wish you all a very Happy New Year and I am looking forward to working with you all during 2022. A few things to start the New Year:
Annual Congress
We are approaching the Conference Season and the BTS Annual Congress is taking place at The Hilton Newcastle, Gateshead from the 4th-6th April 2022. I am hoping to see as many of you as possible in Gateshead. The three day programme brings together individuals from academia, industry, the NHS, regulatory and governmental agencies with a shared interest, enthusiasm and passion for the science and practice of toxicology. It offers a great opportunity to meet face to face and network with colleagues, industry representatives, and peers across the spectrum of toxicology.
The Continuous Education Programme (CEP) on Risk Assessment across the sectors will precede the main Congress on the morning of the 4th April and will provide an opportunity to hear experts discuss this area. The latest draft programme can be viewed here: DRAFT PROGRAMME
Registration is now open and the deadline for the Early Bird discounts is Monday 7th March 2022. Please use this link to register for the conference:
The BTS Scientific Subcommittee have asked for abstracts for the oral and poster communications to be submitted asap. The deadline for submission is the 31stJanuary at 09.00 GMT. Abstract Submission Guidelines can be found HERE
Authors will be notified w/c 28th February 2022 that their submitted abstract has been accepted for presentation. Please use this link to submit your abstract.
The BTS will be awarding bursaries for both Early Career Researchers and those currently working for their PhD or other relevant post-graduate degree qualification.
- Post-Doctoral Bursary: Up to four Early Career Bursaries are available for Early Career Researchers who are within 3 years of having attained their PhD or relevant further postgraduate degree.
- Pre-Doctoral Student Bursary: Up to ten student bursaries are available for those undertaking their PhD or other relevant post-graduate degree qualification.
The deadline for BTS Bursary Applications is Monday 31st January 2022
Increasing confidence in New Approach Methodologies for regulatory decision-making. A two-day virtual workshop – 23rd -24th Feb 2022
A virtual workshop on New Approach Methodologies (NAMS) is being organised by the BTS, HSE and NC3Rs. The organisers of this virtual workshop are Drs Fiona Sewell, Susy Brescia and Francisco Inesta-Vaquera. This is part of an ongoing BTS initiative, collaborating with various organisations, to provide a series of workshops in this area. The workshop is relevant for academic, regulatory and industry scientists with an interest in the development and application of NAMs This workshop builds on a theme of events and activities supported by the BTS, including the IGHRC (Interdepartmental Group on Health Risks from Chemicals)/HAS (Health Security Agency)/BTS awareness day in November 2021, and workshops and symposia at the Annual Congress, 4th -6th April 2022. More information, including the draft programme and registration will be available on the NC3Rs website.
Public Communication Statements
In case you missed the flurry of Public Statements published just before the festive break I have provided links to the three new statements:
- Computational Models in Chemical Safety Assessment
- E-Cigarettes and Vaping Infographic
- Decade of Toxicological Trends
I would like to thank the Public Communication Steering Team for all their hard work in keeping the membership abreast of topics of interest. If any member has thoughts on topics they feel would be of interest to BTS members and the general public please send your suggestions to [email protected]
Animals in Safety Science
We are still looking to add testimonials from BTS members describing why and how they use animals in their research. To provide an example of what is required I have provided an example of a testimonial on inhalation toxicology by a government scientist, https://www.thebts.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Inhalation-Toxicology.pdf.
Similar testimonials from those involved in this and other areas of toxicology across different sectors such as industry, academia, regulatory/government institutes, clinical bodies, contract research organisations, and/or non-commercial research institutes would be much appreciated. This will help us better fulfil our commitments as a signatory on the Understanding Animals in Research Concordat (https://concordatopenness.org.uk/) and showcase the excellent work performed by BTS members. Dr Emma Marczylo is coordinating this initiative on behalf of the Society and would be keen to hear from our members. If you are interested in providing a testimonial on the use of Animals in Safety Science, please contact: [email protected] or [email protected].
Toxicology Research Journal
I would also like to take this opportunity to remind our members that Toxicology Research, published by Oxford University Press (OUP), is the official journal of the Society. Toxicology Research publishes high quality, cutting edge research that is innovative and has international impact. The journal encourages articles that cover biological, chemical, clinical, or environmental health aspects of the toxic response and the mechanisms involved. More information can be found at: https://academic.oup.com/toxres/pages/About
EUROTOX
Some news updates from EUROTOX which this year will be collaborating with International Union of Toxicology (IUTOX) in the organisation of the International Congress of Toxicology (ICT) taking place in Maastricht, 18th -21st September 2022. EUROTOX also look forward to reactivating the organisation of their toxicology courses, and for the EUROTOX Faculty to engage in education and training of toxicologists across Europe. EUROTOX is also pleased to announce that their annual call for scientific proposals is back, as they start to plan for EUROTOX2023 Ljubljana which is scheduled from 10th -13th September 2023. Further information can be found here: https://www.eurotox.com/
Fellowship of the BTS (FBTS)
In September I asked members for nominations for Fellowship of the BTS (FBTS). The Executive Committee will now be considering the recommendations made by the Fellowship Committee for FBTS at their meeting on 26th January 2022. I will announce those successful in being nominated to FBTS in my next Newsletter.
Vacancies- Food Standard Agency Committees
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) are inviting applications from science experts to join their independent Scientific Advisory Committees (SACs). The work of the Scientific Advisory Committees is highly valued by the Government as it is fundamental to ensure excellent safety standards and effective, proportionate regulation of food and feed in the UK. The FSA are looking for 18 new experts to further strengthen the expertise in our Scientific Advisory Committees, ensuring that the UK’s regulation for food and feed safety continues to be informed by the best independent and most recent scientific advice. The overall time commitment will depend on the extent of members’ participation in the groups’ meetings and FSA’s strategic needs, but a minimum commitment is expected to be around 10 days a year, including attendance at six meetings. The FSA are committed to promoting and encouraging equality, diversity, and inclusion amongst their scientific committees and welcome applications from all sections of the community. The FSA are particularly eager to address under-representation on advisory committees of women, people from ethnic minorities and people with disabilities. All appointments are based on merit and the principles of independent assessment, openness, and transparency of process. To find out more about the recruitment campaign, please visit: Join our Scientific Advisory Committees The closing date for applications to the Science Council is 30 January 2022 and for the Scientific Advisory Committees is 13 February 2022.
Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI)
Over the next quarter of this year the Executive Committee will be reviewing the current Strategic Vision for the BTS together with its Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Strategy. We look forward to welcoming Professor Winston Morgan, University of East London, as a co-opted member to the Executive Committee and working with him on this area of EDI.
Members’ Directory
One request I would like to make is to ask those members that have not yet set up their details on the Members’ Directory if they were willing to do so. This is only accessible to members of the Society. It allows for individual members to look up contact details of any member listed. A great way to network. The link is https://www.thebts.org/membership/directory/
Do please stay in touch with the Society and if you would like to contact me, please do so via [email protected]
Your sincerely
Professor Shirley Price, President of the BTS