Federation of European Toxicologists

& European Societies of Toxicology Aristidis M TSATSAKIS

M.Sc. chem., Ph.D. chem. , D.Sc. biol, E.R.T. toxicol

Member EUROTOX Executive Committee Chair Communication Subcommittee

Director of the Department of Forensic Sciences & of Toxicology

Medical School, University of CRETE, HERAKLION President Hellenic Society of Toxicology

Why is Toxicology an essential part of a safe society?

• Toxicology is based on traditional sciences dealing with

poisons, food and water safety, natural remedies

• Pharmacology and Pathology are its inseparable partners

• Modern Toxicology is an extensive and intensive discipline: it

is objective rather than subjective

• Technology based: Bioanalysis is a key facet

Toxicology lacks structure: There is no toxicological society in over 100 countries

(Ali Karakaya Past President IUTOX, April 2006)Why does a toxicologist need a toxicology society? Answer:

-Education - Continuing Education - Problem Sharing – Influence -

International Societies

IUTOXEUROTOXASIATOX

SoTASTS

Is International support enough or should it be Regional?

Can EUROTOX help you? ERT

how EUROTOX might help

1. EUROTOX has a major priority, to offer

education to toxicologists in Europe.

Although distance learning may enable

this to be extended in other continents

2. EUROTOX offers to recognise scientists

who are contributing to human, animal

and environmental safety, by awarding

ERT

What is ERT? European Registered Toxicologist

Toxicologists are self-regulated at

present, on a voluntary basis (since 1993)This brings us into line with other

professionals … physicians, pharmacists, engineers …………

Although there is no legal necessity for registration at present, 1358 Individuals are listed and acknowledged by EUROTOX, as of August 2009

Who needs Toxicological Expertise? Public and Government

Legislators: need to locate and access experts

• must define toxicology in a regional context• must identify roles and profiles of scientists whether working

in the field or teaching• must define the knowledge base, the ongoing development and

experience of individuals

ERT confirms the ongoing professional status and credibility of individual scientists

ERT is acknowledged across Europe and since 2000, due to the initiative of IUTOX, across the World

Why register? Purpose of ERT

EUROTOX has brought about

• the harmonisation of educational differences• sharing of practical experiences • common visions of roles of diverse scientists in Europe, since

1994 (www.eurotox.com)

We believe that Harmonisation on a regional basis, across national boundaries and different languages, is an indispensable step towards the global recognition of Registered Toxicologists

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Who is EUROTOX?

EUROTOX is the Federation of European Toxicologists & European Societies of Toxicology Federation

Created in 1989 as a recognition of the need for a single, coherent voice to represent toxicology in Europe.

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History

European Society of Toxicology

Federation of European Societies of Toxicology

Society of individual members

Federation of national societies

+

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Organization

Executive Committees (10 members) Sub committees

Scientific ProgramEducationRegistrationCommunicationCorporate Program

Speciality Sections ImmunotoxicologyRisk AssessmentMolecular ToxicologyCarcinogenesis

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EUROTOX Today

30 Member Societies which account for more than 7000 members across Europe

More than 200 Individual Members from around the world

Delegates meet once a year during the Business Council held at the annual EUROTOX congress

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Member Societies

AUSTRIA DENMARK HUNGARY MACEDONIA SLOVENIA

BELGIUM ESTONIA IRELAND POLAND SPANISH

UK FINLAND ITALY PORTUGAL SWEDEN

BULGARY FRANCE LATVIA ROMANIA CH

CROATIA GERMANY NORWAY RUSSIA TURKEY

CZECH REP

GREECE NL SLOVAKIA UKRAINE

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Our Mission

Advance human, environmental and animal health by being the leading voice of toxicology in Europe through:

Annual Congress & Awards: forum to disseminate and recognize scientific innovationEuropean Register of Toxicologists (ERT) to

promote toxicology standardsEducation: basic and advanced coursesCorporate Program: stronger liason with

industry and scientific partnersBetter communication with members and

scientific partners

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Annual Congress

Every year, EUROTOX holds an annual scientific congress

where toxicologists with different experiences

in academic, regulatory and industry gather in a single location

to obtain the most recent key findings and innovative ideas.

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Annual Congress

PAST 2000 UK (London) 2001 Turkey (Istanbul) 2002 Hungary (Budapest) 2003 Italy (Florence) 2004* Finland (Tampere) 2005 Poland (Krakow) 2006* Dubrovnik (Croatia) 2007 NL Amsterdam

* combined congress with IUTOX

FUTURE2008 Greece

(Rhodes)2009 Germany

(Dresden)2010* Spain

(Barcelona)2011 France (Paris)2012 Sweden

(Stockholm)2013 Switzerland

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Awards: MeritRecognizes a distinguished career in

European toxicology.PAST WINNERS

2009 - Alan Boobis (UK)

2008 - Vito Foa (Italy)

2007 - Robert Kroes (Netherlands)

2006 - Jouko Tuomisto (Finland)

2005 - Erik Dybing (Norway)

2004 - Helena Rasková (Czech Rep)

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Awards: Young Scientists

Encourage young toxicologists in key areas:

Drug-oriented toxicological research (supported by EUROTOX

in memory of Gerhard-Zbinden).

Toxicological research into mechanisms and risk assessment

(supported by ECETOC).

Multi-national collaborative research, results of a

collaboration of a minimum of four researchers from different

European countries (supported by SITOX).

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Awards: Honorary Members

Recognizes individuals who have

rendered distinguished service in the

pursuit of EUROTOX’s objectives and

activities fostering toxicology, both

scientifically and educationally, across

Europe.

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Awards: Bo Holmstedt Memorial Fund (BHMF)

Supports scientific and educational activities in toxicology in European countries by financing or co financing research projects, guest lectures or student eduational activities

Travelling Lectureship: support toxicologists in developing countries

Memorial Lecture: recognizes outstanding European toxicologists

Paracelsus Research Seminar: supports CEC Poster Award: Alternative Methods research

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Education: Basic and Advanced Toxicology Course

Financing of courses in collaboration with Member Societies to promote basic training in toxicology and educational resources available to countries of Central and Eastern Europe at minimal cost.

PAST COURSES HELD2007: Slovakia2006: Bulgaria

2004: Plitvice Lakes (Croatia)2004: Ljubljana (Slovania)

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Education: CEC Past Topics

Principles on physiologically based Pharmaco/Toxico-kinetics and Dynamics

Nanotoxicology – An emerging field

More effective Risk Communication

Methods of Toxicological Risk Assessment in Food Safety

Assessment of immunological health in occupational exposed workers

Types of Biomarkers and challenges for new Biomarkers

Genotoxicity and Cell Cycle Control

Clinical Toxicology on its way to evidence based medicine

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Education: Risk Assessment

On going work with DG SANCO to establish guidelines for a EU Risk Assessor program based on common criteria and leading to an advanced accreditation in risk assessment.

In collaboration with institutions in UK, Germany, NL, Italy and Sweden.

Timing: Spring 2010

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Corporate Program

New category of membership open to

academic and corporate non-academic

bodies supporting the goals and mission

of EUROTOX  and active in toxicology.

Addresses the requirements of more

advanced training and information to staff

and professionals.

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Communication

Newly redesigned websitewww.eurotox.com

Establised Secretariat office to handle internal and external communicationsecretariat@eurotox.com

Official Journal: Elsevier Toxicology Letters Special Issues on specific topics of interestRisk Assessment (Fall 2008)Clinical Toxicology (Spring 2009)

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European Register of Toxicologists (ERT)

Established in 1994 by merging three founding

registries

List of individuals accepted by each National

Registry in compliant with the EUROTOX model

Currently the number of affiliated societies

with a national register is 13.

Today more than1200 toxicologists are

recognised as EUROTOX European Registered

Toxicologist (ERT).

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ERT Movement

On-going process to align national registries and reviewing panels to identify requirements and characteristics for the accreditation of toxicologists in the European context

Goals:mutual recognition of registered

toxicologists at a global levelPromote the development of shared

educational and training programmes on a regional basis

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Registration by Country

AUSTRIA17

IRELAND10

SWISS145

NETHERLANDS274

ITALY35

TURKEY10

FINLAND43

NORWAY62

UK281

FRANCE131

POLAND 10

GREECE1

GERMANY152

SPAIN36

Registries based on the EUROTOX Model

There are 13 national registries within Europe, working to a single standard

It is possible to apply for registration in

Dutch English Finnish French German Italian Norwegian Polish Spanish

Turkish

Templates corresponding to the various careers in toxicology have been published (Fowler / Galli)

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ERT RequirementsBasic

EducationPhD

SpecializationToxicolog

y relatedTheoratical

& Practical Trainingmin. 5

yearsContinuing

Education

EUROTOX Model - criteria for ERT - published www.eurotox.com

Affiliation(s) du ou des auteurs / Author(s) Affiliation(s)FOWLER John (1) GALLI Corrado L. (2)

(1) Consultant Veterinary Pathologist, Loughton, Essex, ROYAUME-UNI

(EUROTOX Registration Liaison)(2) Director, Professor, Department of Pharmacological Sciences,

University of Milan, Via Balzaretti 9, 20133 Milan, ITALIE(Past President: EUROTOX)

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Promote harmonisation standards by reviewing the required educational

background, training and experience of typical toxicologists professional roles

ERT Paper

ERT: European Registered Toxicologist

The 13 existing national registries in Europe are constituted in a consistent and similar fashion. Each

offers three facets

advice on how to apply

a registration panel that reviews applications

a process for appeal

ERT: European Registered Toxicologist

ERT is open to qualified toxicologists throughout the world

More than 150 ERT are already located outside Europe and new enquiries are received

daily

Several ERTs are from N America, Asia; and recently, Africa

There are no differences in the

standards of knowledge, experience and risk assessment capability expected

The standards are high but you don’t have to be Einstein to be ERT

The National Registers of Europe Expectations

The National Registers of Europe Review Process

There are no important differences in the process of reviewing toxicologists.

Panel members are experienced toxicologists.

They also review applications in the context of their regional need.

In the EUROTOX area, the challenges are varied, from Artic to North Africa, industrialised, rural

and marine.

Using the ERT Templates for Self-Evaluation

The ERT templates offer a self-evaluation tool for individuals seeking ERT recognition.

To become ERT requires:

• a reasonably high (i.e., not impossibly high) level of knowledge

• technical expertise and

• proven decision taking (risk assessment) ability

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Hypothetical profiles found at various phases of training and experience (from entry level to well established career)

Serve as a tool for self-evaluation of professionals seeking ERT certification

Templates Professional Level

CRISTINA A student targeting a career in toxicology

JAN Presently active in an early career

HILARY In her mid career and in good standing

THEOPHRASTUS Established in a high ranking career

ERT Templates

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Template Current Position

Degree Exp Yrs

# pubs Eligible for

CRISTINA Student MSBS

3-4 3-5 National Register

JAN Researcher PhD 5-10 10-20 ERT

HILARY ExpertTeacherAdvisor

PhD 10-20 40-50 ERT

THEO Risk Assessor

PhD =>20 =>100 ERT

ERT Template Summary

Cristina: illustration of the first ERT Template

age 28-30 years oldqualification Master of Science / BS3-4 years experience in relevant work3–5 publications or significant reportsNot ERT eligible: seeks national registerAdvised to gain further experience and apply for

ERT in 1-2 years time

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“Completing the studies and starting a career in toxicology”

CRISTINA

Degree and Career yrs

MSc in a relevant discipline; currently doing lab experiments for a thesis in a toxicology-related project leading to a PhD

Avg. # pubs or study reports

You have successfully defended your PhD Thesis, concluded your research project and written 3-5 publications in peer reviewed journals

More.... You have determined your programme of courses in consultation with your PhD supervisor and with the Registration Authority of your National Society of Toxicology to receive the title of National Registered Toxicologist at a local level.

This is the first step to become

an ERT!

Jan: illustration of the second ERT Template

Field worker - researcher MS, PhD-level5–10 years experience10–20 publications / reports ERT eligibleApply now!

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“Grounding as a self-sustaining toxicologist”

JAN

Degree You are in a biomedical or environmental science and you have an interest in human health and welfare or in environmental integrity. You may have obtained a PhD in your chosen field

Years in Career

For the last 5-10 years you have been involved in practical studies working on aspects of chemical interactions with biological systems, either in Academia, Governmental or private institutions (for instance performing toxicological studies in the pharmaceutical industry, or working in information technology, in a hospital or in other analytically-based laboratories)

Avg. # pubs or study reports

You have contributed to several (at least 10-20, depending on the complexity) publications or confidential (proprietary) technical reports, suitable for submission to regulatory agencies. You may have publications (ideally 5 or more) in refereed scientific journals

More.... You are continuing your education by attending National or International meetings, symposia or training courses whenever possible

You are ready to be an ERT!

Hilary: illustration of the third ERT Template

Teacher / advisor / governmentPhD level with 10–20 years experience40–50 publications / reports ERT eligibleApply now!

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“Self-sustaining toxicologist ready for international recognition”

HILARY

Degree You have a PhD or equivalent experience. You may have completed a Post-Doctoral training at a major University department, governmental or private laboratory associated with your original or related degree. You regularly partake of opportunuties for Continuing Professional Development

Years in Career During the last 10-15 years and you have been working as an experimental toxicologist in aspects related to human health and welfare or for environmental integrity.

Avg. # pubs or study reports

You have several publications (e.g. over 50), perhaps 10-20 in refereed Journals and/or you have a substantial number of confidential study reports (50 or more, on varied topics) for which you were the main author.

More.... You apply for and receive substantial grants for research, or are responsible for significant resources and are involved in making decisions about research projects for your employer; You have specific fields of interest pertaining to toxicology in which you undertake basic and/or applied research; you may regularly or spordically teach in the field of toxicology

You should be an ERT!

Theophrastus: illustration of the third ERT Template

Risk Assessor PhD, ≥20 years experience≥100 publications / reports ERT - eligibleApply now!

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“Governing opinion and resources in the field of

toxicology”THEOPHRASTUS PARACELSUS

Degree You may have completed your PhD in addition to your degree

Years in Career

You are a senior person, spending significant time in aspects of Risk Assessment, and perhaps in regulatory advisory roles within your organisation/country/abroad. You started out 20-25 years ago.

Avg. # pubs or study reports

In Academia or Government, typically you may have 125 papers in refereed Journals, 2 or more textbooks; also perhaps you are in an editorial role; you have written or signed off many (at least 100) multidisciplinary study reports in the industry

More.... You serve on national or international governmental advisory boards for agencies regulating toxic substances, and food safety issues

Why aren’t you an ERT!

Meaning and expectation of ERT

• Possession of ERT is indicative of a certain (high) calibre of scientist

• ERT does not describe the precise aptitude and experience of the individual

• Only the curriculum vitae can fully describe the precise aptitude and experience of the individual

ERT: The present status

The ERTs are available to act as Authorised Signatories, when required by legislation

ERTs are available if trade barriers are imposed, for example, requiring a Registered Toxicologist as signatory

ERTs are available to fulfil the role of "Board Certified“ expert, helping government

FOR MORE INFO... go to… www.registered toxicologist.com

ERT: The immediate priorities

Industrial development has resulted in an increased

release of chemicals and other agents as

contaminants into the environment

Legislation and practical expertise is required to

limit damage to the environment

Remediation is already required in many areas, to

reduce the risk of adverse effects on human health

ERT: how to get on the listwww.eurotox.com

• Join an approved National Register

• National Register advises EUROTOX

• Listing is maintained by EUROTOX; the name of the scientist, national register and date of registration are recorded

• Need for re-registration is advised

• Registration is valid for 5 years only

ERT: what you need to get on the list

A detailed and well-structured CV is the basis of registration and re-registration

ERT review is based on a very extensive CV, with supporting evidence,

demonstrating that the ERT candidate has the required knowledge base, is mainly working in toxicology and undertaking risk assessment

References are needed to provide evidence of the above and of ongoing

professional development

ERT: to stay on the list – you need continuing professional development

CPD - continuing professional development –

implies

an increasing knowledge base

regular exposure to real toxicological problems

risk assessment opportunities

CPD is expected to continue throughout the

career of all professionals and is an important

part of ERT

ERT: to stay on the list – you must be working in toxicology

Re-registration is required at least every five years

Registered person must remain ‘in good standing’ with the National Register

ERT is essentially a practical recognition so ERT listing will lapse on retirement

ERT: not getting on the list due to poor advice or poor preparation

Failure to get ERT for such reasons implies poor preparation and advice at the preliminary application stage

Provided the published criteria are met, this should never occur

An ERT candidate should seek advice and / or mentorship at an early stage

ERT: not getting on the list need for a mentor

First choose the National Register you intend to apply to

Panel members are often willing to advise,

and the national register link person (listed on www.eurotox.com)

should be approached in the first place

ERT: not getting on the list inadequate practical skills

This can easily occur. For example, if your job does not have the necessary scope or offer enough opportunity

This can happen when the job is restricted to a single discipline/ or type of work

ERT: not getting on the list due to not spending enough time

working in toxicology

This also happens in a job that is part time or where enough challenging work does not exist.

This can happen to a consultant/ advisor/ manager,

if little work is available, if the work is unduly repetitive and mundane or if managerial

responsibilities take up too much time.

ERT: not getting on the list because the application is

incomplete, with insufficient detail

This very frequently occurs. It is important to follow the guidance given by the register.

A lot of time has been spent designing the application forms.

The information in the application is the only information available to the reviewing panel.

If the application is successful, this is what will be archived.

ERT: not getting on the list not fully supported by sponsors

This very frequently occurs. It is always the responsibility of the applicant to choose appropriate sponsors

The sponsor(s) must be chosen to address both the productivity and quality of the work of the applicant

Once again remember, this is the only information available to the reviewing panel, and will be archived

ERT: not staying on the list ERT listing is allowed to lapse

This can happen for many reasons; including

annual fees to the National Register unpaid

there has been a change of work pattern, perhaps due to retirement or resignation

failure to re-register every 5 years

EUROTOX will remove the name fromthe ERT listing in such cases

ERT: Re-registration refused, CPD record inadequate

Every effort is made to allow scientists to stay registered –

reminders are issued and days of grace are allowed.

In the event that reapplication is not made or CPD evidence is deemed

inadequate, ERT listing will be withdrawn.

ERT: going to appealadequacy of the knowledge base

Sometimes when applications are received from little known areas,

where university standards are not well documented and mentors are scarce,

a candidate may be invited to take a formal examination of knowledge (such as DABT) and resubmit their application.

ERT: going to appeal adequacy of quantity or quality of

output

Authorship of peer-reviewed publications is an index of productivity and quality.

Applicants in commerce and regulatory roles may submit reviews and reports.

Confidentiality is not an issue: reports can be referred to by title and quality can be established by reference to third parties (manager re: productivity, or ‘customer’ re: quality)

Thank You