SOT 2012 General Information

San Francisco, California—Join Your SOT Colleagues in This Beautiful and Extraordinary City.

Why Attend the Annual Meeting?

The Society of Toxicology (SOT) 51st Annual Meeting is the largest toxicology meeting and exhibition in the world, with an expected attendance of more than 7,500 scientists from academia, government, and industry from various countries around the globe. From the Plenary Opening Lecture and featured lectures to the wide range of scientific sessions and Continuing Education courses, the Annual Meeting offers an unparalleled depth of analysis and relevant toxicological issues. From basic to advanced topical issues, the thematic approach provides each attendee an opportunity to learn about emerging fields. Whether you are speaking in or chairing a session, honoring a colleague as the recipient of an SOT award, or collaborating with your peers at an SOT event, this meeting has something for every attendee. Plenary speakers include Dr. Leroy Hood (Institute for Systems Biology, Seattle, WA) and Witold Filipowicz (Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland)

You Will Want to Attend Because…

Cutting-Edge Science and Innovative Perspectives

The SOT Annual Meeting provides the most complete and in-depth coverage of toxicology. The SOT Scientific Program Committee is charged with creating a thought-provoking and dynamic program that captures all the latest scientific advances that have occurred during the past 12 months. The Committee reviews more than 2,700 abstracts to come up with a final program that is highly relevant, multidimensional, and comprehensive in scope.

Depth of Analysis and Perspectives

The SOT Annual Meeting is the most comprehensive forum to highlight premier scientific presentations that span the discipline of toxicology. From the essential knowledge to the latest advances, our scientific sessions, including platform sessions, poster presentations, and plenary talks, provide access to the important information that you must know. You will share your research, develop new perspectives, and explore collaboration with your colleagues.

For the 2012 Annual Meeting, five scientific themes and two CE target areas allow you to gain depth of analysis on these important topical areas.

Five scientific themes:

• Aberrant Gene Expression in Toxicity and Disease—Epigenetics and MicroRNAs
• Characterizing Toxic Modes of Action and Pathways to Toxicity
• Clinical Toxicology from Bedside to the Bench and Back
• Influence of Global Climate Change on Environmental Health Issues
• Regulatory Science: Bridging the Gap between Discovery and Product Availability

The Continuing Education courses highlight two additional target areas:

• Drug Metabolism
• Noncoding RNAs and Their Role in Biology and Toxicology

Untold Networking Opportunities

The five days that attendees participate in Annual Meeting, SOT offers a wide range of networking opportunities for everyone. In a congenial and welcoming atmosphere, Annual Meeting attendees can join in deliberations about the latest scientific research, meet old friends during the receptions and luncheons, and make new friends while you visit the ToxExpo or attend one of the many scientific sessions throughout the week.

A Global Audience

The Annual Meeting and ToxExpo attract not only a broad attendance from the US, but also from the global community with nearly 20 percent international attendees. Scientists from as far away as Australia, China, and Egypt come to the United States to participate in this event, exchanging lessons learned, sharing scientific findings, and novel approaches with other toxicologists.

Value

The SOT Annual Meeting is cost-effective, with low registration fees, minimal travel to San Francisco, California, for many, inexpensive high-quality Continuing Education courses, and exposure to the very latest advances in science. International attendees benefit from the good exchange rate.

Why Attend ToxExpo?

An Exhibition Extraordinaire

ToxExpo is the profession’s largest trade show of its kind anywhere. Attendees and exhibitors from around the globe gather to exchange ideas and debut cutting-edge products, services, and technologies. Toxicologists and industry professionals have the unparalleled opportunity to gain first-hand knowledge on the latest advances from more than 360 exhibitors during this unique three-day exhibition.

The following are the exhibit hours for the 2012 ToxExpo in San Francisco, California:

Monday	9:00 AM–4:30 PM
Tuesday	8:30 AM–4:30 PM
Wednesday	8:30 AM–4:30 PM

ToxExpo Time!—In addition to the standard Exhibit Hall hours and poster presentation times, one hour of dedicated ToxExpo Time has been allotted in the scientific program for attendees to visit with exhibitors. ToxExpo Time will take place on Wednesday, March 14, from 1:00 pm–2:00 pm.

$500 Daily Prize Drawing!

Drawings to take place on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday in the Exhibit Halls A–C. $500 American Express Gift card awarded each day. Drop your business cards in the ToxExpo prize drawing boxes found in all Diamond Level Sponsor booths.

Daily Access All Year

ToxExpo continues throughout the year. Visit ToxExpo.com for all your toxicology-related science information and data as well as information about current exhibitors. The site offers access 24/7, 365 days per year to resource for toxicologists worldwide. ToxExpo is a rich resource for the working scientist, the decision maker, the student—anyone looking for the best products and services that toxicology has to offer.

A Great Opportunity for Exhibitors

We’ve Got the Numbers You Want
We are expecting to attract more than 7,500 scientists and industry professionals to attend SOT’s 51st Annual Meeting and ToxExpo. What better opportunity to…

• meet face-to-face.
• build relationships with new prospects.
• network with other exhibiting companies.

New Faces/New Leads Every Year
Research shows that 55 percent of the professional toxicologists who will attend the 2012 Annual Meeting and ToxExpo did not attend the 2011 Meeting in Washington, DC.

Online Marketplace at ToxExpo.com
ToxExpo exhibitors are listed online year around to increase your visibility and exposure to your target audience. It’s a rich resource for all the services and products toxicologists need throughout the year.

ToxExpo Time!

In addition to the standard Exhibit Hall hours and poster presentation times, one hour of dedicated ToxExpo Time has been allotted in the scientific program for attendees to visit with exhibitors. ToxExpo Time will take place on Wednesday, March 14, from 1:00 pm–2:00 pm.

ToxExpo Attendees Are Engaged in One or More of the Following Areas of Research

Biological Modeling Biomarkers Biotechnology Carcinogenesis Cardiovascular Toxicology Comparative and Veterinary Dermal Toxicology Drug Discovery Toxicology Epigenetics Ethical, Legal, and Social Issues Food Safety Immunotoxicology In Vitro and Alternative Methods Inflammation and Disease Inhalation and Respiratory

Mechanisms Medical Device Metals Mixtures Molecular Biology Nanotoxicology Neurodegenerative Disease Neurotoxicology Occupational and Public Health Ocular Toxicology Regulatory and Safety Evaluation Reproductive and Developmental Toxicology Risk Assessment Stem Cells Toxicologic and Exploratory Pathology

For more information on exhibiting at the largest toxicology trade show in the world, please visit ToxExpo.com, or contact Liz Kasabian at 703.438.3115 ext. 1454.

Climate

San Francisco has a mild climate. The typical temperature range for March is an average low of 51° F/10° C and an average high of 64° F/17° C. For an up-to-date, detailed weather forecast, visit the National Weather Service Forecast Office website.

Moscone Convention Center

The SOT 51st Annual Meeting and ToxExpo 2012 will be held at the Moscone Convention Center. Located at the edge of the city’s dynamic South of Market district, the Moscone Convention Center is just four blocks from Union Square, the city’s vibrant shopping district, and the Powell Street cable car to Nob Hill, Chinatown, and Fisherman’s Wharf. Bay Area Rapid Transit System (BART) and Muni Metro stations are within two blocks of the Moscone Convention Center. There also are over 100 restaurants within a seven-block radius.

With a $56 million dollar renovation underway since 2010 and expected completion in July 2012, the Center is getting new fixtures and fittings, digital displays, Wi-Fi throughout, wall-sized images of 36 San Francisco neighborhoods, and information desks to better assist attendees with information about San Francisco.

Recording, Photography, and Cell Phone Policies

Each year, we welcome more than 7,500 attendees to the Society of Toxicology’s Annual Meeting and ToxExpo. With almost 3,000 presentations, this meeting is the largest international forum for toxicological research.

The Society does not permit photography or the electronic capture of scientific sessions in meeting rooms or the Exhibit Hall without the consent of the session chair and the presenter(s)/author(s). This policy also includes photographing colleagues against the backdrop of scientific posters on display without the express consent of the presenting author(s).

• Photographing exhibit booths is prohibited.
• Electronic capture of scientific sessions by any method is prohibited.
• All cell phones and electronic devices must be put on mute while attending scientific sessions.

The policies adopted above will be enforced by the Society. Those individuals who do not comply will be asked to leave the session or Exhibit Hall floor. If you have any questions regarding these policies, please contact the SOT Headquarters Office.

First Aid and Security

If an emergency should occur while at the Moscone Convention Center, proceed directly to the nearest house phone, located throughout the facility and located in most meeting rooms, and dial 511 for security. You will be connected directly to the 24-hr manned security department at the Convention Center. From your cell phone, dial 415.974.4021 which will connect directly to security.

A First Aid room will be located near Room 106 and accessible from the corridor, inside the hall and from the loading dock.

The First Aid Administrator will be on duty:

Sunday	7:00 AM–8:00 PM
Monday	7:00 AM–6:00 PM
Tuesday	7:00 AM–6:00 PM
Wednesday	7:00 AM–6:00 PM
Thursday	7:00 AM–5:00 PM

Please note that in accordance with regulations, the First Aid Administrator is not permitted to dispense any medication.

Global Gallery of Toxicology

Societies of toxicology from around the world are invited to participate in the “Global Gallery of Toxicology.” Now in its second year, posters showcasing the formation, key accomplishments, strategic initiatives, and current and future activities of these sister societies will be prominently displayed during the meeting. SOT and these societies aim to increase the reliance of international decision makers on the science of toxicology to advance human health and disease prevention. For more information, please contact Katie Moore by January 5, 2012.

Safety and Security

The possibility of demonstrators is very real given the nature of our conference. Events of this nature range from verbal confrontations, protests, strikes, to riots. We recommend the following procedures in the event of demonstrations:

• Have your name badge available upon entering the Convention Center. Wear your name badge in the Convention Center. When leaving the facility, remove it so as to blend with other people.
• If you see a demonstration or protest beginning, please contact any member of the SOT Annual Meeting staff and they will initiate an SOT response. If you see actions that appear threatening, notify the nearest security officer.
• Do not engage, defend either side, or subdue person(s) in any type of disturbance. Demonstrators are usually trying to attract media attention. Don’t help them!
• SOT representatives will respond to media inquires. Do not participate in interviews or other media responses.
• In the unlikely event that outsiders disrupt a scientific session or other event, SOT security officials have developed a contingency plan. Please follow directions from the chairperson and avoid becoming involved in the situation.

Safety Tips

Walk “smart” when you leave the Convention Center:

• Know your destination and the best way to reach it.
• Travel along sidewalks in lighted areas at night, and don’t walk alone.
• Establish a “buddy” system with another delegate to the convention.
• Share schedules and check up on each other periodically.
• Build your awareness of unknown surroundings by reviewing local information.
• Laptop computers are attractive, easy targets for thieves. Be sure your laptop is in a secure place.
• Jackets with pockets provide a convenient alternative for women to reduce the chance for lost or stolen handbags.

Our first priority is safety. The best way to stay safe is to be aware of your surroundings and to avoid situations where you feel uncomfortable.

Accessibility for Persons with Disabilities

The Moscone Convention Center and most of the SOT hotels are accessible to persons with disabilities. If you require special services, please mark the appropriate box on the Annual Meeting Registration Form.

LSA Interpretation Services
800.305.9673 | www.LSAweb.com
Language Services Associates is a nationwide full service firm providing translators and interpreters in 180 languages.

Wheelchair and Scooter Rentals:

ITC Medical
415.387.7100

Mobility Equipment Inc.
415.564.2098

Scooter Rentals:

Scoot Around
888.441.7575 | www.scootaround.com

If you require more information about accessibility, please contact Heidi Prange at SOT Headquarters: 703.438.3115 ext. 1424.

Child Care

Child-care services will not be provided during the Annual Meeting. Arrangements may be made by contacting the concierge desk at your hotel. To ensure safety, children are not permitted in session rooms, the Exhibit Hall, or the poster area.

Attire

The official attire for the Annual Meeting is business casual. No coat or tie is required! We encourage you to bring comfortable clothing and shoes. Because meeting rooms may seem cold, please bring a sweater or jacket and/or dress in layers.

Badge

Annual Meeting attendees who register by January 27, 2012, will receive badges and registration materials in the mail. Attendees who already have their 2012 Annual Meeting badges do not need to stand in the registration line. If you have registered by the meeting date and have NOT received your badge by mail, or need a replacement badge, go to the “BADGE PICK UP ONLY” registration counter to pick up your badge. You will be asked to show a photo ID.

If you have not registered for the meeting before you arrive in San Francisco, please complete the on-site Registration Form found at the kiosks in the registration area and proceed to the appropriate registration line.

All attendees should stop by the registration area to pick up their registration materials.

Business Center

The Moscone Convention Center Business Center is conveniently located on the lower level adjacent to the entrance of Hall C. The Business Center offers services such as UPS shipping, common office supplies, Internet access, high-quality black and white copying, printing, and uploading documents from a memory stick, or CD.

Moscone Convention Center Business Center
Tel: 415.974.4080
Fax: 415.974.4065
Email: facilityservices@moscone.com

Social Events

The SOT Annual Meeting hosts several social events for student and postdoctoral fellows. For a full listing of events please visit the Social Events section of the Annual Meeting website.

Receipt of the Program and The Toxicologist

1. SOT Members in the US and Canada will receive the printed Program and The Toxicologist on CD ROM (with Itinerary Planner) prior to the meeting, as will US and Canadian non-members who pre-register by January 27, 2012.
2. Non-members in the US who register after January 21 will receive the Program and The Toxicologist on CD ROM (with Itinerary Planner) at the registration area on-site.
3. In 2012, registrants will receive the Annual Meeting abstracts in The Toxicologist on CD-ROM as part of the Annual Meeting registration fee. Annual Meeting attendees may purchase a printed version of The Toxicologist 2012 for $20 per copy. You may preorder on the registration form and pick up a copy on-site or wait to purchase a copy on-site (available until supplies last). The Toxicologist is available for download free of charge.
4. The Annual Meeting Itinerary Planner is available on the SOT website January–April.
5. There will be computer kiosks set up in the Exhibit Hall to search The Toxicologist on CD ROM at the Annual Meeting.

Annual Meeting Sponsorship

Meeting Sponsorship

The Society would like to invite your organization to be a sponsor of the 2012 Annual Meeting. SOT appreciates the generous contributions of sponsors that make the SOT Annual Meeting possible. Sponsor names are prominently displayed on the Annual Meeting website, as well as in print materials that are distributed before and during the Annual Meeting. Sponsorship is also recognized through signage displayed around the Convention Center during the Annual Meeting.

There are four levels of sponsorship available: Diamond ($10,000 or more), Platinum ($5,000–$9,999), Gold ($2,500–$4,999), and Silver ($1,000–$2,499).

View the Annual Meeting Sponsorship Opportunities for more detailed information, or contact Liz Kasabian at 703.438.3115 ext. 1454.

2012 Annual Meeting Sponsors

ToxExposure Sponsorship

The goal of ToxExpo’s management team is to make sure that you make the most of your presence at the exhibition. ToxExpo is the largest event of its kind and being part of the show is only half of the solution. Marketing plans need to be well-thought out with a strategy that includes pre- and postmeeting promotions for you to reach your return on investment and drive attendees out of the aisles and into your booth.

You will find an entire menu of sponsorship opportunities designed to assist your organization in establishing a leadership position in the 2012 exhibition.

To help you get the most out of your marketing dollars, contact Liz Kasabian at 703.438.3115 ext. 1454.

Career Resource and Development Services

The Society is committed to providing SOT members with a unique and effective way to locate a position that matches your skills and training. To help you reach this objective, the Society provides the Career Resource and Development (CRAD) online Job Bank and on-site Job Bank Center. These services along with others, are offered free of charge to all SOT members.

SOT’s online Job Bank makes it easy for candidates and employers alike to access the CRAD service. Registrations are continuously processed and valid for six months. Once registered, candidates may search the listing of available jobs and employers may browse candidate profiles. During the registration period, users can update their listings or search the database as often as they wish. Communication with a desired employer or candidate can even be made via email messages created within the system.

The CRAD service is an important part of the Annual Meeting, providing a coordinated service for information regarding career opportunities and qualified candidates. Please do your job and candidate searches before you arrive at the meeting. Access to the Job Bank in the Convention Center will be limited to the availability of 3–4 computers at the meeting. Employers and candidates will have access to computers, but computer use will be restricted to short searches for updates or new information.

Although preregistration is encouraged, registrations will be accepted at the Annual Meeting. All users with current registrations at the time of the Annual Meeting will be permitted to use the service.

For additional information contact Kelly Martin at 703.438.3115 ext. 1660.

Chat with an Expert

Date and time varies by group (Meet at the Bulletin Board in Registration Area)

This event is an informal gathering of a small group of students and a Toxicology Expert. Sign up via the Chat with an Expert section of the SOT website. The groups are matched by research interests and the Expert for each group identifies a time and place to assemble. Details for the group meeting will be sent advance of meeting.

Food Services

Coffee Breaks
The exhibiting companies are pleased to sponsor complimentary coffee in the Exhibit Halls A–C between 9:00 am–10:00 am Monday through Wednesday. See Exhibit Halls A–C signage for locations.

Concessions
Concession stands are available in the Exhibit Halls A–C Monday 9:00 am–4:30 pm and Tuesday and Wednesday from 8:30 am–4:30 pm. Breakfast and lunch items will be available for purchase, as well as coffee, soda, bottled water, and snacks. Seating is available in the Concession areas in the Exhibit Halls A–C. See the ToxExpo Floor Plans for locations

Restaurants
View the full Restaurant Listing for San Francisco, California.

Internet Access at the Convention Center

SOT knows the importance of staying connected to your daily activities while attending the Annual Meeting and provides several ways for you to access the Internet while at the Moscone Convention Center.

Computers with Internet Access/Email Center
SOT will provide computers you can use to access the Internet. These computers are available to attendees in the Email Center located in the registration area.

Free Wireless Internet Access
Free wireless Internet access is available through open “Wi-Fi Zones” in designated areas in the Exhibit Halls A–C that are clearly marked for laptop and handheld users.

Free wireless Internet is available in the common areas including the South Lobby, North/South Concourse, and Esplanade Ballroom Foyer. The network name is “moscone-free-wifi.” You will need to open a web browser and click the login button to be authenticated with the network. This free service is capable of supporting up to 50 users in each public space. Moscone Convention Center does not offer Internet for purchase by the attendee.

Lost and Found

Lost and found articles may be taken to the SOT Headquarters Office, Room 222, of the Moscone Convention Center. Any items left in the SOT Headquarters Office after 11:30 am, Thursday, March 15 will be taken back to SOT Headquarters Office. If you do not remove your poster at the end of your session, you will find it on the “Poster Retrieval Tables” located at either end of the Exhibit Halls A–C, between the 100 & 200 Poster sections on the left side of the hall, and between the 500 & 600 poster sections on the right side of the hall. Any posters left behind at 4:30 pm on Wednesday will be taken to SOT Headquarters Office, Room 222, Thursday morning, March 15. All posters not claimed in the SOT Headquarters Office and/or the Gateway Ballroom by 1:00 pm on Thursday, March 15 will be recycled.

Luggage/Coat Check

For your convenience, a luggage/coat check will be available in the Moscone Convention Center. The luggage/coat check will be open Sunday, March 11 through Thursday, March 15. There will be a fee of $3 per item checked. Laptops, cameras, and other electronics will not be accepted.

Hours of operation:

Sunday	8:00 AM–8:00 PM
Monday	7:00 AM–6:00 PM
Tuesday	7:00 AM–6:00 PM
Wednesday	7:00 AM–6:00 PM
Thursday	7:00 AM–12:00 Noon

Coat/luggage check hours are subject to change.

Media Support Services

The Society of Toxicology (SOT) welcomes accredited representatives of Media Organizations. Journalist receive complimentary credentials for all meeting sessions as well as media kits. Interviews can be arranged with Council, members, and speakers. A press room will be available for reporters. For more information on how to register for the Annual Meeting, visit the Just for the Media section of the website. For more information about the program and room location, please contact:

Martha Lindauer
SOT Headquarters: 703.438.3115

Photography Policy and Session Etiquette for Attendees

Each year, we welcome more than 7,500 attendees to the Society of Toxicology’s Annual Meeting and ToxExpo. The contributions of our presenters make this meeting the largest international forum for toxicological research.

As such, there are measures in place to make this an exciting and enjoyable experience for everyone. During your participation in a session it is important that you mute all cell phones and other electronic devices. If you need to connect with your office, please step out into the hall to complete your call, or send emails and texts. The back-lighting on many devices serves as a distraction in a dimmed room.

Please note that the Society does not permit photography or the electronic capture of scientific sessions in meeting rooms, or the Exhibit Hall. This policy also includes photographing colleagues against the backdrop of scientific posters on display without the express consent of the presenting author(s).

Also, we note that many attendees wish to expose their children to the unique field of study known as toxicology. However, children under the age of 15 are not allowed in sessions or on the Exhibit Hall floor, unless consent is given by the organizing chairpersons or the Exhibits Manager.

The policies adopted above will be enforced by the Society. Those individuals who do not comply will be asked to leave the session, or Exhibit Hall floor. If you have any questions regarding these policies, please contact the SOT Headquarters Office.

Speaker Ready Room

The Speaker Ready Room will be located in Room 220. SOT will provide all confirmed presenters in scientific sessions login credentials to access the submission site to preload your presentations. All presentations should be preloaded in advance of the meeting, but not less than 30 minutes prior to the start of the sessions if loaded in the Speaker Ready Room. Presenters will not be able to upload a presentation in the session room.

Speaker Ready Room hours:

Saturday	4:00 PM–7:00 PM
Sunday	7:00 AM–5:30 PM
Monday	7:00 AM–5:00 PM
Tuesday	7:00 AM–4:30 PM
Wednesday	7:00 AM–4:30 PM
Thursday	7:00 AM–11:30 AM

SOT Headquarters Office

The SOT Headquarters Office is located in the Moscone Convention Center, Room 222.

SOT Headquarters Office hours:

Saturday	4:00 PM–7:00 PM
Sunday	7:00 AM–5:30 PM
Monday	7:00 AM–5:00 PM
Tuesday	7:00 AM–4:30 PM
Wednesday	7:00 AM–4:30 PM
Thursday	7:00 AM–11:30 AM