British Society of Toxicology started 1979 (32years ago)

The BTS has its origins in the Toxicology Club (1971-1979)Established to provide a forum for discussion of scientific problems pertaining to toxicology. By 1977 had 200 members, moved to form a Society, happened April 1979 . 1st Chairman Professor WN Aldridge;1st meeting Warwick University topic “in vitro and in vivo models of toxicity”John Barnes Lectures (1979 – ongoing) To honor Dr JM Barnes pioneering work in establishing the scientific basis for Toxicology. He was Director of the MRC Toxicology Unit at Carshalton , Surrey

Norman Aldridge John Barnes William Paton Chairman 79/80 Chairman 82/831980 230 Full members (£10) & 125 Associate members (£5) Working party on Education of Toxicologists 1982 Animal experimentation Bill in UK Parliament to replace 1876 Act1983 Working party to examine realistic alternatives to the LD50

1984 Attacks on BTS members by animal activists1985 Joint meeting Dutch Toxicology Society - Canterbury1986 BTS hosted European Society of Toxicology - Harrogate1987 Working party on assessment of dermal and ocular irritancy Joint meeting Dutch Toxicology Society - Leiden1988 Joint meeting Italian Toxicology Society- Venice1989 Hosted IUTOX ICTV meeting - Brighton 1990 Alternative to LD50 -fixed dose procedure, validation 33 labs and 11 countries to provide a case for EU acceptance

1991 Joint meeting Finnish Toxicology Society -Edinburgh1992 Establish 1st Speciality Section - Human Toxicology 1993 BTS/UKEMS working party on dose setting for in vivo mutagenicity 1994 Register of Toxicologists started. Bequest from Sir William Paton , scholarship historical aspects of toxicology –Paton Lecture

Don Davies Iain Purchase Chairman 86/88 Chairman 90/92 1996 Joint meeting Finnish Toxicology Society – Tampere Working party on human volunteers studies for non-pharmaceuticals1997 Inaugural BTS/ASCEPT exchange (UK-Australia)2000 Toxicology became official BTS journal Joint meeting Europe Society Toxicology – London Membership about 9002001 Society Chairman changed to Society President2003 Joint meeting International Society Neurotoxicology2004 BTS 25th Anniversary2005 Established Fellowship of BTS2006 BTS studentship scheme2008 MRC Integrated Toxicology Training Programme

Allister Vale President 04/06

Lewis SmithPresident 00/02

Alan BoobisChairman 94/96

Gay HawksworthPresident 06/08

Ruth RobertsCurrent President