The SPS will be in its tenth year of existence in 2009 and safety pharmacology as a defined scientific enterprise is also about a decade old. Have we made an impact on the safety of drug development? How is safety pharmacology data viewed by our management in the pharmaceutical industry; are we giving good value for their investments? How are our data being received by regulators? Do we contribute effectively to the safety of early clinical trials? Is our data being taken seriously and is it thought to be predictive by the authorities?

The program committee for the 2009 annual meeting to be held in September in Strasbourg, France is contemplating organizing some programming that will examine this type of question. It should however not only give Safety Pharmacology a ten year “report card” but also look into the future for areas of improvement or expansion.

We’d love to get your input and ideas to give some content to these important questions to help guide us in identifying critical themes and finding appropriate speakers to address them. We may attempt either a panel discussion format or perhaps a debate setting, but regardless of how it turns out, we would appreciate your contribution!

Do you have questions or comments about various topics in Safety Pharmacology, but did not know how to get feedback?  Or share ideas with other safety pharmacologists?  What can you do to get a timely answer to your question, or issue?  The new  Safety Pharmacology Society blog (aka SPeak) may be an ideal way to post your question, and get comments from members of the safety pharmacology community.

Have you blogged before?  If not, do not be afraid!  “Blog” is an abbreviation for “web log” or “weblog”, which is a term to describe a website that maintains or chronicles information.  How many safety pharmacology blogs are there?  That is unknown, but SPeak is the official blog established by the Safety Pharmacology Society for the benefit of its members.

So, do you have a question, topic or issue that needs to be discussed?  Consider posting your item (aka content) to this blog, and take advantage of the collective wisdom and experience of the membership.  We could all learn something.

If you have participated in a blog previously, especially a science-based forum, please post a comment and share your experience.

What makes a blog successful?  Good content and participation….so, SPeak UP!!