Exp Toxic Pathol 1992; 44: 2 Gustav Fischer Verlag J ena Information

Gesellschaft fiir Toxikologische Pathologie

Information for our members and readers of this journal

Dear Colleagues,

Our "Gesellschaft fUr Toxikologische Pathologie" was founded in 1986 and now has about 150 members, mainly from Gennany, Switzerland and Austria, but also from other Euro­pean countries, Africa, America and Asia. Our constitution sets the following objectives:

". .. to contribute to the prevention of hannful effects to humans, which could result from the prescribed use of active or supplementary compounds, or from noxious influences at the workplace or in the enviroment;

... to promote the scientific aspects of toxicologic pathol­ogy, aid research on morphologically manifest, spontaneous or toxic lesions, and further enhance the importance of toxicologic pathology as an independent, specialized field."

Our annual seminars, drawing more than 100 participants, have so far been the prime means of achieving these goals. The last meeting in Giessen on September 27 and 28, 1991, included sessions with slide presentations on 24 different pathologic lesions of special interest in the field of toxicologic pathology (25 study sets had been sent to members 3 months earlier). In addition, a guest lecture was held on proliferative liver lesions in rodents by Prof. Bannasch, Heidelberg, and another guest lecture on principles and application of in-situ hybridization by Prof. Hofler, Mlinchen.

With such programs we wish to broaden the knowledge and diagnostic skills of our members, to provide scientific back­ground for diagnostic interpretation of lesions in toxicologic pathology and to offer new techniques for the solution of diagnostic problems at the molecular level in our field of research. Our next annual seminar is scheduled for October 30 and 31, 1992, in Berlin.

Papers on relevant topics are presented by our members at a joint session on toxicologic pathology, organized in conjunction with the European Society of Veterinary Pathology at its annual meeting, which this year will take place in Graz on June 9.

Our young society has been very interested in the establish­ment of a journal in our field in Central Europe and in becoming associated with such a journal. We appreciate that this journal has now been named "Expetimental and Toxicologic Pathol-

2 Exp Toxic Pathol 44 (1992) I

ogy" to reflect our participation. This journal offers ou: mem­bers the needed forum for their publications. In our society we anticipate that publications in toxicologic pathology will gain in importance and benefit in Europe and thus become more com­mon, as is already the case in the USA and Japan. Our members are urged to publish their papers, preferably in "our" journal. In addition to standard articles, our society wishes to boost review articles on special topics in toxicologic pathology written by our members; your proposals would be a welcome addition to our initiatives. Negotiations are presently underway with the editors and the publisher on a special short fonn and series of communi­cations, especially suited for the publication of induced lesions. Such joint activities should make our journal one of the leaders in the field.

By increasingly devoting its attention to toxicologic pathol­ogy, our journal will become more attractive to people working in this profession and should be on your desk and in your library. Thus, our members are also encouraged to support their journal with their advertisements and subscriptions - why not start in 1992?

In addition to its present scope of activities, the future holds more tasks for our young society. To mention one example, our members have requested the establishment of a "Certification in Toxicologic Pathology". A commitee has already been fonned to prepare the basis and establish rules for this difficult and time-consuming endeavour, which will benefit everyone work­ing in this field. Therefore, we ask you to support our activities with participation and input, by becoming a member of the "Gesellschaft flir Toxikologische Pathologie". We shall strive to assist you in your professional careers.

Sincerely yours,

Eberhard Karbe Dr. med. vet. habil., Ph. D. Chainnan

Address: Institut fUr Toxikologische Pathologie Phanna-Forschungszentrum BAYERAG D- W -5600 Wuppertal Gennany