Abstract
This special issue of Toxicologic Pathology is a compilation of the content presented at the 2025 Joint Congress of the British Society of Toxicologic Pathology (BSTP) and European Society of Toxicologic Pathology (ESTP). Although the two societies have collaborated closely over the years, this congress, the 40th of the BSTP and the 22nd of the ESTP, was only the second time a joint BSTP/ESTP annual meeting had been held. The chosen venue was Manchester, a diverse and modern city located in Northwest England, with excellent transport connections which were needed to facilitate the arrival of 196 attendees from as far away as Australia, China, Japan, and the United States, as well as from all across Europe.
The congress was preceded by an ESTP Expert Workshop on adversity and human relevance of effects to the female reproductive tract, for which we were joined by colleagues from the concurrent Conference of the European Teratology Society, and an International Academy of Toxicologic Pathology (IATP) symposium on Pathology Working Groups. The results of the ESTP Expert Workshop are planned for publication at a later date; however, a synopsis of the IATP symposium is included in this special issue.
Being a joint meeting, we also had a panoply of awards to recognize the distinguished work presented, including the IATP Maronpot Guest Lecture Award presented to Ronnie Chamanza, the ESTP Science Award presented to Ute Bach, the BSTP Chirukandath Gopinath Lecture Award presented to John Foster, the ESTP publication award presented to Charlotte Lempp, and the Société Française de Pathologie Toxicologique (SFPT) poster award presented to Svenja Hartung. Congratulations again to all!
The topics covered by the congress, entitled ‘Carcinogenicity in the 21st century’, spanned the origins of carcinogenicity testing thorough to a review of the current position, before looking forward in time to new technologies and developments as well as the future role of the pathologist in carcinogenicity assessment. There were also two keynote lectures, first Dr Samuel Cohen who opened the congress with his presentation ‘The Two-Year Bioassay: What We Have Learned’, which nicely set the stage and high standard for the rest of the week. The second keynote lecture, opening day 2, was presented by Dr Sven Rottenberg who expertly navigated the ‘Molecular Mechanisms of Genome Instability in Carcinogenesis’.
The congress consisted of five main sessions: Carcinogenesis and Best Practice; New Approach Methodologies; New Modalities and Carcinogenicity Assessment; Data Interpretation; and Carcinogenicity Risk Assessment. Each session involved a combination of engaging podium presentations, case studies, and/or round table group discussions. The lead organizer for each session has prepared a synopsis of the content presented, and in addition, we have six mini reviews prepared by congress speakers on the topics they presented. We hope this special issue of Toxicologic Pathology serves as a reminder for those who attended the meeting, an insight into the congress for those who were unable to join us, and a useful reference for all.
The contribution from the scientific organizing committee in the preparation and conduct of the congress, and all authors, reviewers, editors, and production staff who made this special issue possible, is greatly appreciated.
