Guest Blog: Reflecting on the 2024 Society of Toxicology of Canada Symposium, by Ria Falvo, Director, Reporting
Ria Falvo, Director of Reporting, and Rina Massarelli, Associate Director of Safety Reporting, in Toronto, Ontario, for the 2024 STC Symposium.
Almost a decade ago, I attended the Society of Toxicology of Canada (STC) Symposium for the first time. It introduced me to a treasure: a room brimming with passionate, vibrant scientists sharing their energy and ideas, and bursting with inspiration. The STC is an intimate gathering of scientists with a fervor to acquire and apply knowledge in toxicology. A non-profit organization, STC was founded in 1965 with 15 scientists from Montréal-based pharmaceutical companies. It owned the societal name of the Canadian Association for Research on Drug Safety. Today, the STC holds 193 members from academia, industry, and government.
What We Eat, What We Breathe, Where We Live
The STC’s Scientific Program Committee selects the theme for the annual symposium. This year’s consensus was “What We Eat, What We Breathe, Where We Live.” The meeting reflected on daily exposures and the boundless toxicology research to investigate the consequences of exposures across dietary, inhalation, and environmental factors through a forensic lens.
The sessions traversed imbalanced intake of micronutrients and the bioactivity of sucralose; environmental impacts of vaping and cannabis, PFAS, and 6PPD-quinone exposure; the xenobiotic oxidation and toxic effects; and forensics of psychoactive substances.
Building Bridges in Toxicology Research
Together with Rina Massarelli, Associate Director of Safety Assessment Reporting at Altasciences, I attended the 2023 and 2024 meetings. At the 2024 meeting, I had the honor and pleasure of being a Scientific Program Committee industry member. It was such an enriching experience to connect with the invited speakers and learn about their work, as well as meet graduate students at their poster presentations. Their passion and curiosity to expand the boundaries of toxicology research illuminated the room.
As experts in early-phase drug development, from discovery through Phase II clinical research, we at Altasciences can share with STC members our accumulated knowledge and experience, and provide mentorship for future toxicologists. By participating in STC and other similar symposia, we continue to contribute to scientific advancements, leading us to a healthier world. And it’s this thought that leaves me excited for next year’s meeting.
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About the author
Ria Falvo, BSc, DABT
Ria Falvo joined Altasciences in July 2022 as Director of Reporting (Safety Assessment), leading initiatives to streamline preclinical reporting processes, working closely with scientific and operations management to oversee report content, timelines, and the training of study directors in report writing.
Before joining Altasciences, Ria received a Bachelor of Science from McGill University’s Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology in 1998, and became a Diplomate of the American Board of Toxicology in October 2016.
In her previous positions, Ria held leadership roles in toxicology reporting, where she managed GLP and non-GLP studies spanning acute to long-term assessments. Her work encompassed areas such as general toxicology, musculoskeletal studies, and immunotoxicology, utilizing a variety of administration routes, including oral, dermal, intravenous, and subcutaneous. She also contributed extensively to quality assurance and study design processes, fostering collaboration and consistency across teams.
Ria is currently an industry member of the STC’s Scientific Program Committee and will serve in this role until 2026, after which she will transition to Committee Chair until 2027.
