In this issue:
President's Note
ASCEPT 2010 ASM
Farewell Peter Nigel Black FRACP
News from other organisations
Forthcoming Conferences
Positions Vacant
January E-Newsletter
of the Australasian Society of Clinical and Experimental Pharmacologists and Toxicologists
Welcome to the January ASCEPT eNewsletter.
If any would like to contribute any items to the eNews, please send it along to Meetings First for consideration.
Roselyn Rose'Meyer
ASCEPT Newsletter Editor
President's Note
Welcome back to the brand new year and hope that it proves a very valuable year for you all. I hope that most of you had an opportunity to recharge the batteries away from the desk/lab/etc.
Your elected Council will be progressing the implementation of the Strategic Plan in coming months and will keep you posted with progress throughout the year, including aspects where we might seek you assistance. As those at the AGM 2009 will recall, there will be several elements that require a Constitutional change and will aim at getting these before the 2010 AGM for you approval. Thanks to members who have shared their thoughts too, I really do appreciated this.
I hope that members have submitted abstracts for the WorldPharm Congress in Denmark in July. The advertised deadline was 15 January, as per the reminder email last week. However, the website doesn’t appear to have ‘closed’ for abstract submission when I last checked, so may be worth investigating if still interested?
Ray Morris
ASCEPT 2010 ASM
Mark this in your diaries now!
28 Nov - 1 Dec 2010
The Sebel & Citigate Albert Park
Melbourne
Further information coming soon!
Farewell Peter Nigel Black FRACP
Professor Peter Black was an outstanding teacher and researcher at The University of Auckland and General Physician at Auckland City Hospital. Having completed a ward round on Sunday 10th January 2010 he died suddenly later at home. Peter was the greatly loved husband of Bernadette Salmon FRACP, paediatrician, and proud father of Claire.
Peter held a myriad of roles across the university and hospital, nationally and internationally. Although he had an international reputation in respiratory pharmacology research, Peter remained a passionately committed to general medicine, quality use of medicines, and medical education.
After completing his MBChB in 1980 at the University of Auckland and FRACP in 1985, Peter spent the next three years at the Department of Clinical Pharmacology, The Hammersmith Hospital, London, under the mentorship of Professor Sir Colin Dollery, one of the founding fathers of the discipline of Clinical Pharmacology. On his return to New Zealand in 1990, Peter was appointed Tutor Specialist, then consultant General Physician at Auckland Hospital, and Senior Lecturer, The University of Auckland.
Clinically, Peter had few equals, proving an encyclopaedia of medical knowledge for his colleagues, and a dedicated doctor to a wide range of patients, including those with complex airways disease. He loved nothing better than to debate diagnoses and patient management, and was increasingly interested in clinical reasoning. Areas for administrative improvement received his swift and full attention with Peter often the first to offer practical solutions.
To his trainees and students, he was a true mentor, and 'walked the walk' of clinical excellence. He had incredibly high expectations of all of them, only exceeded by the standards he set for himself. For all his mentees, he was a staunch advocate, providing advice and support throughout their paths to senior positions.
In the important area of medicines’ safety, Peter developed an integrated theme of clinical pharmacology, prescribing and therapeutics within the MBChB programme, complementing this with leadership of regional strategies to improve prescribing.
Peter’s research was remarkable in its breadth and depth, covering the complete spectrum from basic research, through to translational and clinical research in its many forms, including Cochrane systematic reviews and clinical trials. He had collaborations with many international groups, recently establishing the Australasian COPD Research Network with TSANZ colleagues. His current projects include the role of fibroblasts in COPD, and diet in airways diseases. The author of over 80 publications, one of his proudest moments came when he was promoted to Professor in 2009, delivering his inaugural lecture in October to a packed lecture theatre.
At the time of his death, Peter was a member of the SAC Clinical Pharmacology, and Director of Advanced Training, Auckland region - a unique role he developed to improve coordination of training pathways, especially for those dual training in general medicine and a subspecialty. He had served as Chair of the NZ SAC in General Medicine from 1996-2000, as a Director of Physician Training, a member of the RACP Therapeutics Advisory Committee, and as an FRACP Part 1 clinical examiner. He was an active member of TSANZ, IMSANZ, ASCEPT, ASCIA and other respiratory societies.
Peter’s sudden and untimely death has shocked everyone. He will be greatly missed by his many colleagues, patients, junior staff and students. While the magnitude of the loss of such a talented and productive clinical academic at the peak of his career is yet to be fully appreciated, he is recognised for his exceptional contributions to health care, research and medical education in the region.
Prepared by Dr Phillippa Poole, with the assistance of Dr John Kolbe, Dr James Paxton, and Dr Zoe Raos, Chair of the College Trainees’ Committee.
News from other organisations
British Pharmacological Society
Pharmacology Matters e-Bulletin (January 2010)
Forthcoming Conferences
Therapeutic Drug Monitoring SES
Friday 12 March 2010
Brisbane
Click here to download flyer
This meeting will bring together laboratory biochemists, chemical pathologists, clinical pharmacologists and pharmacists to present on different aspects of TDM. After a brief introduction to the underlying principles of TDM, a range of current topics will be presented by experts in their respective fields. Aspects of TDM from specimen collection through to dose individualisation in patients will be included.
Those involved in TDM come from a range of professional backgrounds. This meeting will provide an excellent opportunity to hear from, and meet others from a range of professional perspectives. It will benefit those who consider themselves novices in the area through to those who have high levels of expertise. An opportunity exists for further informal interaction during the proposed dinner in the evening.
12th International Congress of Toxicology
19 - 23 July 2010
Barcelona, Spain
http://gestion.pacifico-meetings.com/www/iutox2010/information.html
I am delighted to extend you an invitation to attend the 12th International Congress of Toxicology in beautiful Barcelona, Spain from July 19 – 23, 2010. The Spanish Association of Toxicology (AETOX) and EUROTOX have put together an excellent program featuring seven CE courses, 29 symposia, and numerous special lectures, including the always engaging EUROTOX – SOT Debate. IUTOX will also convene its General Assembly where IUTOX member societies will vote for the 2010-2013 IUTOX Executive Council and also select the venues for the 2015 CTDC 9 and the 2016 ICTXIV meetings.
The deadline for early registration fee for ICT XII (XII International Congress of Toxicology) is next January 31.
We expect an attendance of more than 1.200 delegates with around 180 invited speakers performing 30 symposia, debate and plenary lectures.
The congress is still open to receive abstract for communications in ALL fields of Toxicology. We inform you that the abstract online form will be opened also until next January 31.
IUTOX is committed to providing travel awards to deserving junior and senior scientists, and has many awards available for this meeting. Please click on the link provided for a full description of each opportunity. Most deadlines are January 31. http://www.iutox.org/grants.asp#ICT
Barcelona is situated on the Mediterranean coast in Northeastern Spain and is easily accessible to Europe and the rest of the world by land, sea and air. Barcelona is known for its culinary delights, fantastic art and its high quality venues, hotel facilities and public transport. We hope you will take the opportunity to attend this very special and important toxicology meeting, which occurs only once every three years.
Positions Vacant
Looking for a new job? Listed below is a position currently vacant that you may be eligible to apply for. Please click on the link for jobs you're interested in.
Postdoctoral Research Fellow (Calcium signalling in cancer)
University of Queensland
School of Pharmacy
http://www.seek.com.au/users/apply/index.ascx?Sequence=47&PageNumber=1&jobid=16551315
The next e-news will be sent out on Friday 19 February 2010. If there is information you would like to include, please email it to ascept@meetingsfirst.com.au by Monday 15 February 2010.
Roselyn Rose'Meyer
ASCEPT Newsletter Editor
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