Safety Pharmacology Society

Safety pharmacology has become an integral part of the safety testing of new drugs. The Safety Pharmacology Society (SPS) has, since its inception in 2000, been the leading scientific forum bringing together basic and industrial scientists with the goal of optimizing the way in which this important work is done. Effective early safety testing will be imperative in bringing new treatments to market that are not only effective, but safe in a wide, diverse patient population.

This past year has been a difficult one for many of our colleagues as companies merge or downsize and the pressure and difficulties in bringing new compounds to the market ever increases. We have each shared the pressures of these changes and yet the talent and integrity of the Safety Pharmacologist continues. We work harder and longer to bring safe compounds to clinical trials. We share what we know with others with just a “Thank You” as our payment. This integrity and endurance reaches into the successful growth of the Safety Pharmacology Society (SPS). While many societies suffered financially in 2009, SPS remained financially stable. This success year after year (10 years in September!) is due to the strength and dedication of our members. I thank every one of you who continue to support (financially and scientifically) the Safety Pharmacology Society.

This year The Board of Directors and many SPS members have dedicated time and effort to provide educational webinars to our members and colleagues in an effort to share our expertise within the Safety Pharmacology Society. We have several new processes in place this year for developing our networking capabilities, educational outreach (including Universities) as well as bringing forward a proposal that could provide a certification program for Safety Pharmacology training. We also have a Strategic Plan in development to assist the growth and success of SPS over the next five to ten years. These efforts support the SPS mission “to support education exchange and innovation in the field of Safety Pharmacology”.

While attending SOT, I found a significant increase in cardiovascular sessions and posters compared to a decade ago. SOT has created a Cardiovascular Toxicology Specialty Session (CVT SS) that has requested our assistance in the 2011 CVT SS program. Members of SPS are working hard to create a Safety Pharmacology session for 2011. Universities are beginning to request speakers to broaden the education of their students about Safety Pharmacology. Thus, our outreach program for education is blooming beyond the SPS annual meeting boundaries. However, to continue to be the leading experts in this field we need to stay connected (network), share ideas (Speak Blog) and support SPS financially by maintaining membership and encourage others to join as well as attending the Annual meetings when possible.

The Program Committee has worked hard to prepare an exciting and challenging program for all to enjoy. In addition, HESI will be presenting an afternoon session addressing relevant topics for Safety Pharmacologists. You will have to “check it out” for yourself on the 2010 SPS Annual Meeting website!!! On behalf of the SPS Officers and Board of Directors, we would like to invite you and your colleagues to attend our 10th Annual Meeting September 20–23, 2010, at the Seaport World Trade Center in the beautiful city of Boston, Massachusetts.

I look forward to working with my SPS colleagues throughout the year. Please contact me with any ideas or comments you may have.

Sincerely,
Dr. Kristy D. Bruse
SPS President 2010
Kristy.Bruse@gmail.com