Special Interest Groups

Connect with your community: ASCEPT Special Interest Groups

ASCEPT members have many diverse interests and so have formed Special Interest Groups (SIGs) to acknowledge these strengths, to enhance the cohesion of the Society and to promote and advance the study and application of pharmacology and toxicology in its broadest context. Currently, there are SIGs in the areas listed below.

Access to the ASCEPT SIGs is available only to financial ASCEPT members. If you are a current financial member and require access please contact the ASCEPT Executive Officer at ascept@ascept.org

Cardiovascular
Dr Melissa Reichelt & Anida Velagic (Co-Chairs)
The Cardiovascular SIG (formed in 2008) aims to foster collaboration and exchange of ideas across all areas of cardiovascular research.
Clinical Pharmacology
Assoc Professor Jonathan Brett (Chair) & Dr Nicholas Farinola (Deputy Chair)
Clinical Pharmacology involves all aspects of safe, effective and rational use of medicines in humans (individual, group, or population levels).
Drug Discovery
Assoc Professor Michelle Halls (Chair) & Dr Carl White (Deputy Chair)
This forum provides an opportunity for the exchange of ideas and sharing of issues of concern. Please use it to ask questions, highlight initiatives or events, or propose ideas for future Forum events.
Drug Disposition and Response
Dr Cornelia Landersdorfer & Dr Robyn Meech (Co-Chairs)
Drug Disposition and Response involves the distribution, metabolism and excretion of drug and the relationship between drug concentrations and effects.
Education Forum
Assoc Professor Tina Hinton (Chair) & Assoc Professor Lynette Fernandes (Immediate Past Chair)
A conduit for the sharing of ideas and resources between those involved in pharmacology education, with the overall aim of ensuring that all students of pharmacology receive a quality education that prepares them for their future careers.
Gastrointestinal-urogenital
Professor Russ Chess-Williams & Dr Sab Ventura (Co-Chairs)
The Urogenital/Gastrointestinal SIG promotes research in the field of urogenital and gastrointestinal pharmacology and disseminate findings to Australian researchers while encouraging early career researchers with opportunities to present their work.
Innovation and Industry
Professor Kevin Pfleger (Chair) & Professor Daniel Hoyer (Deputy Chair)
The Innovation and Industry SIG is open to all experimental through to clinical pharmacologists and toxicologists, as well as those from industry in its broadest sense, who have an interest and/or role in moving innovations along the pathway towards generating medical products or services to benefit patients. Including and engaging with industry, from biotech start-ups through to large pharma, is critical to the success of these endeavours.
Neuropharmacology
Dr Luke Grundy Assoc Professor Wendy Imlach (Co-Chairs)
The Neuro- & Behavioural Pharmacology SIG aims to promote Neuro- and Behavioural Pharmacology research both within ASCEPT and the greater scientific community including similarly aligned societies such as APS and ANS. There is a depth of high quality, internationally competitive Neuro- & Behavioural Pharmacology research within Australia and this SIG provides a forum for researchers and teachers to communicate, forge collaborations and further advance this field. This is a vital asset to support and encourage young investigators in their career development thereby nurturing our future leaders in Neuro- & Behavioural Pharmacology. ASCEPT provides an ideal platform to promote and advance the study of Neuro- & Behavioural Pharmacology and this endeavour promotes mutual benefit to ASCEPT and researchers alike.
New Zealand Forum
Dr Katie Burns (Chair)
To provide an annual forum to promote and disseminate pharmacology & toxicology research, clinical practice and education within New Zealand and beyond.

Registrations and abstract submissions are now open for the 2024 ASCEPT NZ Forum Annual Scientific Meeting, please visit this link for more information

ASCEPT NZ Forum Committee: Dr Katie Burns (Chair), A/Prof Matt Doogue (Secretary), Dr Jacqui Hannam (Treasurer), Prof Michelle Glass (member), and Dr Jack Flanagan (member), A/Prof Hesh Al-Sallami (Past Chair).
Pharmacoepidemiology
Dr Edwin Tan (Chair) & Dr Mouna Sawan (Deputy Chair)
The role of the Pharmacoepidemiology SIG is to promote and support pharmacoepidemiological research and collaboration within ASCEPT members.
Pharmacogenomics
Dr Nuala Helsby (Chair) & Professor Andrew Somogyi (Immediate Past Chair)
The Pharmacogenomics SIG addresses molecular mechanisms, clinical impact and public health implications of genomics affecting drug response and adverse effects.
Respiratory and Inflammation
Dr Simone De Luca (Chair) & Dr Chantal Donovan (Deputy Chair)
The Respiratory & Inflammation SIG aims to facilitate cutting edge research in the areas of respiratory and inflammatory diseases.
Student Forum
Saba Naghipour (Chair) & Sadia Alvi (Deputy Chair)
Toxicology
Dr Ian Musgrave (Chair) & Professor Garth Maker (Deputy Chair)
Open to all who have an interest in toxicology. Including but not limited to drugs, medicines and consumer product toxicity, pesticides and agrichemicals, nanomaterials, occupational chemicals and industrial pollutants, naturally occurring toxic chemicals and poisons, poisoning management and clinical toxicity.