This is to confirm that due to the high numbers of delegates registered for the Endocrine Disruptors conference, we have made the decision to move to a larger venue.
 
For information about the new venue please visit:  HERE

The debate on the safety evaluation of chemicals for human health and the environment has received increasing attention in the recent past. For example, in response to the concern that certain environmental chemicals could be interfering with the endocrine system of humans and wildlife, regulations have been promulgated by various regulatory bodies around the world to target the evaluation of these types of effects with the final goal to prevent adverse effects on human health and the environment.

According to Annex XV of Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH)) in Europe, an Annex XV dossier has to be prepared for compounds that are carcinogenic, mutagenic, reproductively toxic, respiratory sensitizers, persistent / bioaccumulative /toxic (PBT) or of equivalent concern. While equivalent concern is somewhat unspecified, chemicals that could interact with the endocrine system would fall into that category.

Since an Annex XV dossier or a positive finding from the EDSP will have far reaching consequences including use restrictions up to a total ban, the assessment of endocrine activity needs to be based on solid science starting from reliable, robust, validated and internationally harmonised screening tests up to and including an agreed upon assessment of the available data considering a weight of evidence approach.

Following on from the highly successful inaugural 2011 conference which took place in Switzerland, Endocrine Disruptors 2012 is a two-day conference organised by iSmithers, and sister companies Springborn Smithers and Smithers Viscient, aimed at addressing key topics related to the evaluation of adverse effects on the endocrine system and corresponding regulatory requirements. This event will bring together experts from academia, government, and industry from around the globe to focus on current and future trends in testing, interpretation and evaluation of test results and how this relates to or influences regulatory activities.

Endocrine Disruptors 2012 is a two-day conference organised by iSmithers, and sister companies Springborn Smithers and Smithers Viscient, aimed at addressing key topics related to the evaluation of adverse effects on the endocrine system and corresponding regulatory requirements. This event will bring together experts from academia, government, and industry from around the globe to focus on current and future trends in testing, interpretation and evaluation of test results and how this relates to or influences regulatory activities.

Specific topics will include:

• A general overview of the endocrine system in humans and wildlife and its perturbations from adverse effects
• The history of the recommendations or requirements for endocrine testing and outcome of results
• Test guideline requirements, positive and negative controls, and relevance and reliability considerations
• Smart testing strategies and the use of weight of evidence approaches. Interpretation of results in the context of risk assessment
• Latest developments in anti-androgen research and testing       
• Case studies

The conference will be of interest to individuals working in the following areas:

• Toxicology and Ecotoxicology
• Research and Development
• Regulatory Affairs
• Contract Research Organisations (CROs)

• Ronald C Biever, Smithers Viscient, USA
• Ass Prof Sepideh Arbabi Bidgoli, Islamic Azad University, Tehran - Iran
• Prof Cathrin Brisken, National Center of Competence for Molecular Oncology, Switzerland
• Giles Chappell, McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP, Belgium
• Dr Nathalie Delrue, OECD, Environment Directorate, France
• Prof Béatrice Desvergne, University of Lausanne, Switzerland
• Dr James Deyo, Eastman Chemical Company, USA
• Dr Evanthia Diamanti-Kandarakis, Medical School University of Athens, Greece
• Dr Tamara Galloway, University of Exeter, UK
• Dr Ariane Giacobino, Department of Genetic Medicine, Geneva University, Switzerland
• François Brion, University of Rennes, France
• Prof David Melzer, University of Exeter, UK
• Diana Míguez, Technological Laboratory of Uruguay, Uruguay
• Dr Stéphanie Nadzialek, Albemarle Europe, SPRL, Belgium
• Mike Neale, LKC Switzerland Ltd, Switzerland
• Dr Ariane Paoloni-Giacobino, Swiss Center for Applied Human Toxicology, Switzerland
• Dr Daniela Schuster, Universität Innsbruck, Austria
• Dr Colleen Toole, CeeTox, USA
• Josefina Vargas, FABER Foundation, Lausanne, Switzerland