The Spring ISSX Regional meetings in Bangkok and Lisbon are concluded and the Executive Committee evaluated the meetings during our June Committee Teleconference.  In spite of the World economy issues, political unrest in Thailand, and the Swine flu, we decided to hold the 3rd Asian Pacific Regional ISSX meeting and the outcome scientifically was very good.  Bill Smith, John Miners and I, along with several other Council members, attended that meeting.  The venue at the Imperial Queen’s Park Hotel was relatively inexpensive and very elegant.  There were 329 participants at the meeting and the meeting rooms comfortable and impeccably arranged.  One special facet of the meeting was the large number of undergraduate and graduate students who attended from throughout Southeast Asia.  Had the Swine flu not plagued us there may have been even more from more northern climes of Asia.  The speakers provided considerable information on various nutriceuticals as well as the other aspects of xenobiotic metabolism.  A Thailand themed dinner which included elephants and Thai dancers rounded out the wonderful meeting.  Our thanks go to Pornpen Pramyothin, Vipaporn Panapisal and Rungpetch Sakulbumrungsil from Chulalongkorn University, Thailand; Malyn Chulasiri from Mahidol University; and John Miners from Flinders University and Flinders Medical Centre for leading this meeting. 

In Lisbon, Michael Coughtrie and Gabrielle Hawksworth oversaw the 11th European Regional ISSX Meeting held at the Sheraton Lisbon Hotel & Spa.  The meeting venue was likewise pleasant, but perhaps a bit tight.  The high cost of the Lisbon Convention Center and hotel costs near it necessitated the meeting being held at the Sheraton Lisboa Hotel.  There were 421 in attendance at our European meeting. The meeting concluded with a wonderful evening social event on the Tagus River was held.

The 2009 ISSX Scientific Achievement Award was presented in Bangkok to Philip Board, Canberra University and the 2009 Young Investigator Award was presented to Hiroyuki Kusuhara, Tokyo University.  The 2009 European New Investigator Award was presented in Lisbon to Dean Naisbitt, Liverpool University.  Congratulations go to those excellent scientific members of the Society!

Coming in October is the 16th North American Regional meeting in Baltimore on October 18-22.  Ken Korzekwa and his Meeting Organization Committee, working with the ISSX Office, have a great meeting on tap.  The details are included in the Summer Newsletter, which you received as an electronic document.  (It is also available on the Web site www.issx.org). 

Speaking of the Newsletter, we request and encourage members to provide short articles or letters for the newsletter to inform others about your research developments, viewpoints on matters of interest to the community, upcoming international, national and regional meetings, etc.   You may submit such information to information@issx.org and we will include it in the coming newsletters.  This was a great suggestion from the Publications Committee chaired by Katalin Monostory.  We especially would like information on coming or past meeting highlights, as well as any research or educational aspects of the business of ISSX members.

With the world economic conditions, we have noted fewer individuals from industry being able to come to meetings, especially those outside the North American continent.  Since ISSX has always focused its attention toward activities that enhance academe-industry interactions and communication, the Executive Committee and past officers have been about creating an additional meeting format called ISSX Workshops on a trial basis.  The first will be held in Indianapolis, IN April 11 – 13, 2010 and is entitled Genetic Polymorphisms in Drug Disposition.  Steve Wrighton is leading this workshop and has included Urs Meyer, President-elect of ISSX, Erin Schuetz, Steve Leeder, Richard Kim and Ken Thummel on the Meeting Organization Committee.  This workshop will bring world leaders in human genetic polymorphism to Indianapolis as well as our many members working in this important area.  This time was chosen so that it would not impact the International Meeting in Istanbul to be held September 4-8, 2010.  A Short Course on pharmacogenomics will be held the first day and two consecutive sessions will be held the following days.  This workshop format, if successful, is envisioned to be implemented in the three geographic areas of ISSX in coming years when a Regional meeting is not held.   Stay tuned for the successes this exciting addition of valuable service to the membership will provide.

You should have recently received the invitation to vote for new members of Council and Nominating Committee, as well as the President-elect (Secretary) and Treasurer-elect.  Contact the ISSX office if you did not receive the email with the voting instructions.  The new Governance structure will be initiated, starting with a leadership transition meeting and strategic planning exercise at the Baltimore meeting.  This will begin a complex four year effort to blend the Executive Committee and the Council into one governing group.  Quarterly teleconferences and Council meetings at our October meetings or International meeting will bring these two groups together to govern the Society.  Individuals who are running for office or council positions should plan on attending the Transition meeting at Baltimore.

On a sad note, we inform the membership of the tragic death of Thomas Friedberg from Dundee University.  An obituary will be printed in the upcoming issue of Drug Metabolism and Disposition, thanks to Jack Hinson and Informa Health Care.

Hoping you are having a very productive summer!  Come see us in Baltimore!

Russ Prough
President
The International Society for the Study of Xenobiotics