The European Society of Toxicologic Pathology (ESTP) offers every second year an award for a thesis in toxicological pathology.

Winners in 2016:

1. Dr. Helen Booler
   honored with EUR 2,000 in recognition of her thesis entitled "Pathogenetic Mechanisms in the Dystroglycanopathies".
   
   This thesis is an interesting contribution to the research on pathogenesis of dystroglycanopathies.
   
   In her work Dr. Booler has investigated the contribution of specific genetic defects to the pathogenesis of brain defects in secondary dystroglycanopathies. Three genetically modified mouse models for dystroglycanopathy, Fukutin-related protein knock down (FKRP^KD), Protein O-linked mannose N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase 1 (Pomgnt1) null mice, and Like-acetylglucosaminyltransferase (Large^myd) mice, were examined using a variety of techniques ranging from molecular biology to microCT, cell culture, histology and immunohistochemistry.
   
   This thesis is an important contribution to the elucidation of the pathogenesis of dystroglycanopathies and points to potential therapeutic targets.
   
   Reference:
   Helen Booler, Pathogenetic Mechanisms in the Dystroglycanopathies 2015.
   
   
2. Dr. Sara Francesca Santagostino
   honored with EUR 1,500 in recognition of her thesis entitled "Aquatic pollution and biological monitoring of the marine environment: toxicology, histopathology and ecological risk of selected fish species".
   
   In her work Dr. Santagostino has investigated predator fish in two different hydrological settings for the accumulation of persistent organochlorine and inorganic pollutants and possibly associated histopathological lesions. A combination of analytical chemistry, histopathology scoring and statistical modelling was used to find associations of levels of pollutants and observed histopathological findings.
   
   This thesis is of great value to biomonitoring of the marine environment and to public health.
   
   Reference:
   Sara Francesca Santagostino, Aquatic pollution and biological monitoring of the marine environment: toxicology, histopathology and ecological risk of selected fish species 2016.
   
   
3. Dr. Jana Keller
   honored with EUR 1,000 in recognition of her thesis entitled "Biokinetics and inhalation toxicity of cerium dioxide and barium sulfate nanoparticles after 1, 4, 13 and 52 weeks of exposure".
   
   In her work Dr. Keller has investigated the kinetics and inhalation toxicology of cerium dioxide and barium sulfate nanoparticles in short-term (1 and 4 week) studies and as interim results of a long-term (2 year) study in Wistar rats.
   
   This thesis was an important contribution to the initiation of a regulatory long-term study of nanoparticles performed by the German government and BASF as part of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) sponsorship program and the European Union Project NANoREG.
   
   Reference:
   Jana Keller, Biokinetics and inhalation toxicity of cerium dioxide and barium sulfate nanoparticles after 1, 4, 13 and 52 weeks of exposure, 2015
   
   

Barcelona, September 22, 2016