ASCEPT is the professional and independent Society in Australia and New Zealand for those with expertise in the use and toxicity of medicines and chemicals. ASCEPT is a member-based organisation and membership comprises of clinicians, pharmacologists, pharmacists and scientists.

ASCEPT was founded in 1966 and held its first scientific meeting a year later. Since then, ASCEPT has developed into the peak professional society devoted to advancing excellence in Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology and Toxicology in Australasia. Read about our history here.

ASCEPT is affiliated with the International Union of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology (IUPHAR) and the International Union of Toxicology (IUTOX) and has hosted International Congresses of Pharmacology (in 1987 and 2004) and Toxicology (in 2001 and 2004), the South-East Asian Western Pacific Regional Meeting of Pharmacologists (SEAWP-RMP) in 2007, and will host the World Congress of Pharmacology (WCP) in 2026.

A major focus of the Society is its Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) typically held late November – early December. Whilst the Society values all its members, there is a strong ethos of supporting students and early-mid career researchers, including mentoring, travel grants and a range of prizes at the ASM. It also recognises the career achievements of its outstanding members by awarding prestigious Society prizes including the Rand Medal, the ASCEPT Lecturer and the ASCEPT Achievement Award, all delivered at the ASM. It also looks to strategic opportunities of combining with other like-minded societies to hold joint meetings that are mutually beneficial.

As we look to the future, it is an exciting time for our professions and the Society will continue to grow our national and international reputation through the support of our work.

ASCEPT is committed to achieving equity and inclusion by placing diversity at the forefront of all society agendas, identifying where biases and prejudices may occur, and balancing representation across all society activities in alignment with the diverse composition of the society membership to foster and support an inclusive and culturally competent community of members, and equity across all society activities and interactions.

We welcome your interest in ASCEPT. Please browse our website or contact the Secretariat for more information. Membership is open to persons who are actively engaged in or interested in the pharmacological and toxicological sciences.

ASCEPT is represented by elected Board members. Several ASCEPT members serve on other International and National bodies. ASCEPT is a founding partner of the Australian Medicines Handbook.

View our Strategic Plan and Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Policy.