RESTON, VA, VA., Feb. 24, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nobel Laureate Sir John B. Gurdon, DPhil, DSc, FRS, will kick off the largest gathering of toxicologists in the world when he delivers a lecture on the origins and future of pluripotency and cellular reprogramming in Phoenix, Ariz., in March.
More than 7,000 toxicologists and other scientists are expected to attend the 53rd Society of Toxicology (SOT) Annual Meeting and ToxExpo March 23-27, where they will present and discuss scientific research in 167 scientific sessions. Highlights include
sessions on:
- Hydraulic fracturing and whether or not there are associated worker health issues.
- Improving the safety of dietary supplements and natural health products.
- The use of nanomaterials in food and food contact product.
- The effects of fetal exposure to certain chemicals on the development and health of children.
- Whether or not biofuels are more or less toxic than conventional fuels.
- Understanding the implications of breastfed infant exposure to persistent organic pollutants.
- The connections between chemical exposure, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, obesity, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome.
The meeting, being held at the Phoenix Convention Center, also features ToxExpo, the toxicology industry's leading event for science and education. ToxExpo will bring together 350 exhibitors, including eminent laboratories, manufacturers, suppliers, researchers, and more and will also be the location for the presentation of almost 2,900 scientific abstracts throughout the course of the meeting.
In addition to Dr. Gurdon's opening plenary lecture, special talks will be given by invited guests and 2014 SOT Award winners, including:
- John D. Scott, PhD, FRS, who will give the keynote Medical Research Council lecture on guiding signals through anchored enzyme complexes and the implication for disease.
- Jay I. Goodman, PhD, whose award lecture will highlight how toxicological research plays a crucial role in enabling the use chemicals to enhance the quality of people's lives.
- Vishal S. Vaidya, PhD, whose award lecture will delve into kidney injury biomarkers.
- Richard E. Peterson, PhD, whose award lecture will detail dioxin's effect on reproductive health and the environment.
- Timothy D. Phillips, PhD, ATS, whose award lecture will reveal how an ancient medicine can mitigate aflatoxin exposures.
- NIEHS Director Linda S. Birnbaum, PhD, DABT, ATS, who will discuss the agency's scientific priorities and funding opportunities.
Members of the media are invited to register for the meeting, free of charge.
About SOT
Founded in 1961, the Society of Toxicology (SOT) is a professional and scholarly organization of more than 7,700 scientists from academic institutions, government, and industry representing the great variety of individuals who practice toxicology in the US and abroad. SOT is committed to creating a safer and healthier world by advancing the science of toxicology. The Society promotes the acquisition and utilization of knowledge in toxicology, aids in the protection of public health, and has a strong commitment to education in toxicology and to the recruitment of students and new members into the profession. For more information about SOT and toxicology, visit the Society online at www.toxicology.org, follow us on Twitter @SOToxicology, and like us on Facebook.
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