ASCEPT December E-news 2009
In this issue:
President's Welcome
WorldPharma2010
IUTOX Fellowships
News from other organisations
Forthcoming Conferences
DecemberE-Newsletter
of the Australasian Society of Clinical and Experimental Pharmacologists and Toxicologists
Welcome to theDecember ASCEPT eNewsletter.
If any would like to contribute any items to eNews, please send it along to Meetings First for consideration.
Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a safe and happy New Year!
Roselyn Rose'Meyer
ASCEPT Newsletter Editor
President's Welcome
It is an enormous pleasure to commence duty as President, although it is with some trepidation in the knowledge of the challenges ahead. But I am confident that your Council will work diligently in the best interests of the ASCEPT membership. When I attended my first ASCEPT in 1978 as a grant-funded research assistant (and have only missed the 1983 meeting since) I could never have imagined that I would be preparing for such a role one day. However, having had the pleasure of chairing the Denis Wade J&J Young Investigators session, and co-judged poster sessions, I believe the future for ASCEPT is bright.
As expressed at the recent AGM, we are all greatly indebted to Prof Kathie Knights for her passion and professionalism as our President 2008-9. Kathie has been particularly generous in guiding me, and I have warned her that I will be seeking her advice regularly as she now moves into the Immediate-past President role on Council given her depth of experience in ASCEPT business over many years. You are a very hard act to follow, Kathie!
It was wonderful to see so many old familiar, as well as fresh new, faces at the Annual Scientific Meeting in Sydney recently. We all congratulate Margaret Morris (no relation, in case you were wondering?) and her organizing team for their hard work and commitment to delivering another memorable conference for all the right reasons. Also, thank you to the Meetings First team, including the new young faces during the conference, who also delivered this success. There are MANY members who make major contributions to ASCEPT conferences, but I would particularly honour Rob Vandenberg who has chaired the Scientific Advisory Committee (responsible for the scientific program) for many years and has now handed over the role to Carl Kirkpatrick for 2010 and beyond. From all members, WELL DONE, Rob. Members would have noted that we scored significant successes with the media at this Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) (TV, print, radio) thanks to our PR advisor, Fran Hagon. So this was a major upregulation that puts our Society in the public eye as the voice for matters pharmacological in Australasia, a position that we strive to represent, of course.
Members would have seen and read the Strategic Plan for 2010-2015 in the AGM papers, as established by Kathie. This Plan evolved following long discussion and work of several focus group (as detailed in Kathies letter to members accompanying the Plan) considering aspects of the future of our Society. This team gave itself a goal of recommending to members a small in number set of action items that could be delivered, rather than an exhaustive wish-list that may not be achievable. So it is with this philosophy that the consolidated recommendations were presented to, and supported at, the AGM. One aspect of this work was a survey monkey of members views about the ASM. So thanks to all members who responded. This vehicle was considered a successful means of gauging wider members views. Hence we may well engage you again as we move on to the detail of implementing the Plan. My personal view is that I want the membership to be kept informed with progress with this exciting Plan, so that we all move forward together in a united way to deliver an even brighter future for our Society. Obviously, I appreciate that there will always be passionate views across the diversity of our membership (a particular strength of ASCEPT!), so I cannot promise that every decision will necessarily make every member happy, that would be unrealistic; however, I can promise that ALL decisions will be well considered by your elected representatives on Council, plus other focus groups that I expect Council will form, so as to place ASCEPT in a stronger position (professionally and financially) into the future. Some of these recommendations will require changes to the Constitution, so Council will aim to have those ready to present to you at the AGM in Melbourne, Dec 2010.
A key new initiative that members should be aware of is the responsibility handed from the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) to specialty societies, such as ASCEPT, for clinical training of specialist physicians, in our case Clinical Pharmacologists. Hence Council has established a Specialty Training Committee (STC), chaired by Evan Begg (Christchurch, NZ), who will implement this key training responsibility together with RACP. We have been acknowledged as the first society to establish a joint Australia and New Zealand STC. This Committee held its first face-to-face meeting following the AGM in Sydney.
I look forward to communicating further in future issues about the progress and plans for the coming years, as well as the ongoing exciting business of our wonderful Society.
Ray
WorldPharma2010
The 16th World Congress of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology (WorldPharma2010), Copenhagen, 17-23 July 2010
As previously announced, this World congress will be held in Copenhagen next year. WorldPharma 2010 will provide in-depth treatment of the hottest topics in basic and clinical pharmacology. There are 18 two or three day focused conferences, 26 plenary lectures, 25 workshops, poster sessions, satellites and more besides. The full programme of 500 invited and confirmed top international speakers may be viewed on www.worldpharma2010.org. Sam Enna, Secretary General of IUPHAR, has described the programme as truly "the most comprehensive and interdisciplinary in the history of IUPHAR congresses".
The deadline for submission of abstracts is 15 January 2010
The homepage is also now open for hotel bookings. Early booking is advised.
The World's pharmacologists will all be meeting in Denmark 17 23 July 2010, using the same congress centre currently used for the Climate Change Conference.
Don't miss out on WorldPharma 2010! We promise you a scientifically rewarding experience as well as the opportunity to savour the atmosphere of Copenhagen.
IUTOX Fellowships
As a reminder, the deadline to apply for Junior and Senior fellowships to attend ICT XII is January 31, 2010. Junior toxicologist fellowships are aimed at individuals at an early stage in their careers. Senior toxicologist fellowships are aimed at those involved in organizational activities in their own national society. The fellowships will assist recipients with their travel and accommodation expenses. The ICT XII organizers will waive the meeting registration fee for up to 40 fellowship recipients. Application and evaluation criteria are indicated below.
Junior Fellowships (750 USD)
Application criteria:
- Young scientist (less than 35 years) who is a member of an IUTOX Member Society, or a Toxicological Society considering membership in IUTOX, or comes from a developing country (supporting letter from the national society or equivalent required).
- Abstract submitted to ICT XII through conference abstract submission process (copy of abstract shall be attached).
- Toxicological education (CV included).
- A statement of motivation for attending ICT XII.
- A statement confirming ability to meet other expenses to attend ICT XII.
Evaluation criteria:
- Abstract quality.
- Home country, preference for students coming from a developing country or a country in transition. Geographical distribution of fellowships will be sought.
- Education.
- Motivation for attending ICT XII.
- Ability to meet other expenses to attend ICT XII.
Senior Fellowships (1000 USD)
Application criteria:
- Delegate from an IUTOX Member Society in a developing country, or representative from a Toxicological Society in a developing country considering membership in IUTOX (supporting letter from the national society with a description of the role the applicant has in the national society is required).
- Abstract submitted to ICT XII through conference abstract submission process (copy of abstract shall be attached).
- Toxicological qualifications (CV included).
Evaluation criteria:
- Support from home society and ability to represent that Society.
- Abstract quality.
- Toxicological qualifications.
- Ability to meet other expenses to attend ICT XII.
All applications must be received at the IUTOX Headquarters by January 31, 2010. Electronic submission is accepted. Awardees will be notified by March 15, 2010. Submit applications to IUTOX Headquarters. Previous ICT and CTDC travel fellowship winners and SOT/AstraZeneca award winners are not eligible to apply. Members new to the field of toxicology may also want to apply for ICT IUTOX Trainee Awards or the ICT IUTOX Early Toxicologist Award. More information on these awards may be found on our website at: http://www.iutox.org/grants.asp.
I urge you to share this information with members of your society, colleagues in your workplace, and other interested parties. Since IUTOX is administering this awards program, candidates may direct their questions and applications to iutoxhq@iutox.org.
Thank you for your assistance in getting the word out about these travel awards. We want to ensure that as many eligible scientists as possible may take advantage of this funding to attend the largest and most prestigious International Congress on Toxicology!
News from other organisations
Federation of Australian Scientific and Technological Societies (FASTS)
1. Introduction 2. GBR and Climate Change -Webcast National Media Briefing 3. When is Science Valid 4. Congratulations(16 November 2009)
FASTS NEWS from the Executive Director's desk [AGM Wrap up; Resources for Members; GBR Climate Change Alliance; Government News; Of Interest....] (11 December 2009)
IUTOX
IUTOX is working on our winter newsletter and was wondering if the Australasian Society of Clinical and Experimental Pharmacologists and Toxicologists has anything they would like to include in our Member Highlights section. This area may include any sort of updates, information, or news from your society that you would like to share with the rest of the IUTOX membership. Examples from past newsletters may be useful as a model: http://www.iutox.org/newsletter_07_09Full.asp#highlights.
Please let me know whether or not you would interested in submitting an article. I would need to receive the article as a word document by January 8th, 2010. If you are not interested in contributing please let me know that as well so that I may contact another society to see if they are interested. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.
BPS Pharmacology Matters e-Bulletin
December 2009
Australian Society for Medical Research (ASMR)
It is with great pleasure that I introduce myself as the incoming President of ASMR. I consider it a real privilege to lead this prodigious Society over the coming months as it continues with its vital role of public, political and scientific advocacy. My thanks go to the immediate Past-President, Sarah Meachem and the outgoing Directors, Andrew Brown, Martin Delatycki, Andrew Laslett and Fabienne Mackay for all their hard work and dedication over the past year.
ASMR Federal Budget Campaign
Due to the episodic and unpredictable nature of Federal funding to our sector, we are once again faced with the very real possibility of NHMRC funding being cut in the 2010 Federal Budget next May. This will be nothing short of a disaster with grant and fellowship success rates set to plummet to almost unsustainable levels. Meanwhile, the future health of our nation faces enormous challenges from an ageing population and the potential impact of climate change on health challenges that can only be met by a strong, vibrant and flexible health and medical research sector, underpinned by solid and realistic funding. ASMR has commenced its campaign to get this message across to both sides of government, you can still make a difference and I urge you all to fully participate in the process. Please write and visit your local MP, write to the PM, the Health Minster and the Treasurer sending a strong and clear message of the vital role played by HMR in the future health of the nation and the critical importance of maintaining the NHMRC budget in 2010. Details of the campaign including key messages, template letters and email/contact addresses of MPs are all available on the ASMR website (www.asmr.org.au) under Political advocacy.
ASMR National Scientific Conference
The ASMR NSC Neurogenetics on the Apple Isle held in Hobart from November 15-17 was a huge success and my congratulations go to the Convenor, Martin Delatycki and the Scientific Program Committee chaired by Nigel Laing, for putting together such a high calibre meeting. Our recent initiative to hold themed NSCs while still maintaining the breadth of the scientific focus is clearly working well, and we are now calling for proposals for the ASMR NSC in 2011 and 2012. Please email your ideas to Cath West in the Executive Office.
ASMR Annual Report 2009
Finally, pleaseclick here to download the ASMR Annual Report 2009 containing the Presidents report and audited financial statements for the past year.
I am very much looking forward to representing you all over what promises to be a very busy but hopefully rewarding year for ASMR.
Kind regards
Alison Butt, PhD
Research Australia
"Research Matters" Summer 2009
Forthcoming Conferences
"Pharmacology International" & WorldPharma2010
As the President of IUPHAR, it is my privilege to invite you and your members to attend WorldPharma2010 (WP2010), the first World Congress of Pharmacology to combine basic and clinical pharmacology into 18 focused conferences. The December 2009 issue of "Pharmacology International" brings you the speakers, sessions, workshops, and details that you'll need to join your colleagues in Copenhagen from July 17th to 23rd, 2010. I respectfully request you to please forward this e-mail to all of your members as it contains important information regarding WP2010.
Highlights:
Thank you for supporting the International Union of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology. We look forward to seeing you in Copenhagen this summer!
IUTOX 2010
19 - 23 July 2010
Barcelona, Spain
www.iutox2010.org
We have the pleasure to inform you, that we are the technical secretariat of the IUTOX 2010 congress, the Conference will be held in July, 19 - 23, 2010 at the Fira Barcelona, Spain.
This conference is the International Union of Toxicology Conference (IUTOX) organized by the Spanish Association of Toxicology (AETOX) in cooperation with the Federation of European Toxicologist and European Societies of Toxicology EUROTOX).
We expect attendance this year of 1.200 delegates and around 100 speakers.
We inform you that the abstract online form is opened; you can submit an abstract until the 31st January.
You can find all the information in the web page. www.iutox2010.org
Do not hesitate to contact us if you have any queries,
Yours faithfully,
Technical Secretariat
IUTOX 2010 Congress
iutox2010@pacifico-meetings.com
www.iutox2010.org
The next e-news will be sent out on Friday 22 January 2010. If there is information you would like to include, please email it to athina@meetingsfirst.com.au by Monday 18 January 2010.
Roselyn Rose'Meyer
ASCEPT Newsletter Editor