The Society of Toxicology (SOT) is a professional and scholarly organization of scientists from academic institutions, government, and industry representing the great variety of scientists who practice toxicology in the US and abroad. The Society’s mission is to create a safer and healthier world by advancing the science and increasing the impact of toxicology.
Michigan State University has a long history of leadership with the SOT, and that leadership continues with the recent election of Dr. Patricia Ganey as vice president-elect of the society. Professor in the Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, College of Veterinary Medicine, her election to this office will lead to her serving as vice president and then as president of the society.
The current outgoing president of the SOT is Dr. Norbert Kaminski, professor in the Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology and director of MSU’s Center for Integrative Toxicology. He holds a joint appointment with MSU’s Colleges of Veterinary Medicine and Human Medicine.
During Kaminski’s tenure, a partnership was formed between the US Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition and SOT. The organizations are collaborating on providing a series of sessions called the “SOT FDA Colloquia on Emerging Toxicological Science Challenges in Food and Ingredient Safety.” The first session focused on partially hydrogenated oils (PHO), including the chemistry and biochemistry of PHO, as well as the clinical effects of PHO, often referred to as “trans fats.”
The SOT’s approximately 7,500 members represent the broad spectrum of sciences that toxicology encompasses. That includes mature disciplines such as pharmacology, biology, chemistry, microbiology, molecular biology, pathology, pharmacy and veterinary sciences, as well as emerging disciplines such as genomics and computational biology.
“The SOT and its membership have much to contribute as leaders in global efforts to improve human and environmental health,” Ganey said.
Past MSU SOT Presidents
Norbert E. Kaminski
SOT President, 2014-2015
Director, Institute for Integrative Toxicology
Michigan State University
Michael P. Holsapple
President, 2010-2011
Adjunct faculty member, MSU
Kendall B. Wallace
President, 205-206
Former doctoral trainee
Jay L. Goodman
President, 1996-1997
Professor, Pharmacology and Toxicology
James S. Bus
President, 1996-1997
Former doctoral trainee
James E. Gibson
President, 1988-1989
Former faculty member
Jerry B. Hook
President 1987-1988
Founding director, CIT
Perry J. Gehring
President, 1980-1981
Former faculty member