International Society on Toxinology

International Society on Toxinology (IST) is a global society of scientists and clinicians working for the advancement of venoms, poisons and toxins. It was founded in 1962 with an aim to advance knowledge on venoms, poisons and toxins of animal, plant and microbial origin.[1]

Origin

Pioneer research
Main article: Francesco Redi

In 1664 an Italian polymath Francesco Redi wrote his first monumental work Osservazioni intorno alle vipere (Observations about the Viper) in which he first elucidated the scientific basis of snakebite and venom of the viper.[2] He showed that the venom is produced from the fang, it is not poisonous when swallowed, and dangerous only when it enters the bloodstream.[3] He even showed how to stop or slow down the venom action in the blood by tight ligature before the wound. This work is heralded as the foundation of toxinology and the beginning of experimental toxicology.[4]

Foundation

In 1962 a group of scientists and clinicians who have made significant contributions to toxinology joined forces to establish a working society. The Society had its first international meeting in 1966 in Atlantic City, USA. Findlay E. Russell was the first president of the Society.[1][5]

Organisation and Membership

The Society aims to advance knowledge on the properties of toxins and antitoxins and to bring together scholars interested in the field. Full membership is open to those who have published meritorious original investigations in toxinology, while persons who do not qualify for membership but are interested in the field of toxinology are eligible for associate membership. There is also student membership. World Congresses of the Society and Symposia of the IST-Sections (European, Pan-American, Asia-Pacific) are regularly organised to promote communication and exchange of results in toxinology research. The officers of the Society, the President and Secretary-Treasurer, are assisted by a Council and they all are elected by the members.[1]

Award
Main article: Redi Award

IST sponsors the Redi Award to honour scientists who have contributed distinguished work in the field of toxinology. This is the most prestigious award in the world in toxinology. The award is given at each World Congress of IST (generally held every three years) since 1967.[3][6]

Initiative

At the Asia-Pacific Section Congress in Vietnam in December 2008, a proposal by Prof David Warrell (recipient of the Redi Award 2012) that The Global Snakebite Initiative be formally endorsed as an official initiative of the IST was passed, and confirmed unanimously at the IST World Congress in Recife, Brazil, in March 2009. The Global Snakebite Initiative is the follow-up of the World Health Organization programme on snakebite as one of the Neglected Tropical Diseases.[7]

Publication

Toxicon is the official journal of the Society, started in 1963, and is now published monthly by Elsevier.[8][9]

References
  1. Mebs D (2012). "History of the International Society on Toxinology - A personal view". Toxicon. 69: 21–8. doi:10.1016/j.toxicon.2012.11.021. PMID 23237723.
  2. Francesco Redi (1988). Knoefel PK (ed.). Francesco Redi on Vipers. Leiden, the Netherlands: E.J. Brill. pp. 11–17. ISBN 9004089489. Retrieved 2013-04-18.
  3. Habermehl GG (1994). "Francesco Redi—life and work". Toxicon. 32 (4): 411–417. doi:10.1016/0041-0101(94)90292-5. PMID 8052995.
  4. Hayes AN, Gilbert SG (2009). "Historical milestones and discoveries that shaped the toxicology sciences". EXS. Experientia Supplementum. 99 (1): 1–35. doi:10.1007/978-3-7643-8336-7_1. ISBN 978-3-7643-8335-0. PMID 19157056.
  5. Russell FE (1987). "History of the International Society on Toxinology and Toxicon. I. The formative years, 1954–1965". Toxicon. 25 (1): 3–21. doi:10.1016/0041-0101(87)90148-6. PMID 3551198.
  6. International Society on Toxinology. "IST Redi Awards". Archived from the original on 2013-10-04. Retrieved 2013-04-18.
  7. WHO. "Neglected tropical diseases: Snakebite". Archived from the original on November 2, 2009. Retrieved 2013-04-18.
  8. Rosenberg P (1987). "Happy 25th birthday Toxicon". Toxicon. 25 (1): 1–2. doi:10.1016/0041-0101(87)90147-4.
  9. NCBI NLM Catalogue. "Toxicon". Retrieved 2013-04-18.
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