DABT in India- "The Need for Today and Tomorrow"

Dr. K.S. Rao is Vice President - Corporate Development
Advinus Therapeutics Ltd, 21 & 22 Peenya II Phase, Peenya Industrial Area, Bangalore 560 058
Tele: +91-80-66553120, Fax: +91-80-2839-4015
Email: ks.rao@advinus.com

The Diplomate of American Board of Toxicology (DABT), is a Board Examination started in 1979 by the ABT (American Board of Toxicology) in the United States with the objective of establishing standards for professional competency in the field of toxicology. Over the years this designation has evolved into a benchmark for those working in Toxicology, in particular Preclinical / Regulatory Toxicology. It is respected all over the world both in the academic community, who conduct quality research and provide consultation, and as well as in Industry (Pharma, Biotech, Chemical, Pesticide, CRO and allied industries) at large, who are involved in Preclinical Safety and Risk Assessment.

I was a graduate of the first batch of DABT tests in 1980 in the US and have appreciated the benefits it has had on my career. At the time, the same opportunity was not available to candidates in other parts of the world, in particular Asian countries. Asia (except Japan) has historically been involved in production of generic products which did not need any original research or generation of preclinical safety data. However, in the last decade, several Pharma/Biotech companies, in particular those in China, India and Korea, have started to invest part of their profits from generic products into New Chemical Entities (NCE's). With NCE's comes the need for generation of preclinical safety data under good laboratory practice (GLP). In these countries there exists a lack of adequate GLP facilities with trained and qualified toxicologists who can genderate safety data.

Over the last 5 years many multinational Pharma/Biotech companies have been shifting their research facilities from the Western countries to Asia (India and China in particular). In order for long term success of such investments by multinational companies in the region, it is imperative that the Asian countries provide qualified and trained local talent in preclinical safety and other fields.

After spending 40 years in the US as a regulatory toxicologist/toxicology expert, I have returned to India to offer my expertise to toxicologists in India and other Asian countries. Bringing the DABT examination to India is of my main goals. Due to my familiarity with the DABT system in the US and with the Executive Board of the American Board of Toxicology (ABT), I was able to convince them to offer the DABT examination in Asia.

The American Board of Toxicology (ABT) with considerable deliberation and initial skepticism, decided to begin offering the DABT examination in India in 2009. These examinations are offered once a year, coinciding with the examination date in the US. In the last two years, 24 candidates have passed the DABT examination, all from India. As of now, the full potential of this DABT examination opportunity in India is not being shared by other Asian countries. Many Asian countries aren't aware of this opportunity for accreditation and/or the need for accrediation as new companies and industries move to the region.

Another disconcerting feature of this opportunity is that the majority of the candidates who are appearing and passing the examination are all from Industry. In order to maximize this opportunity, it is very important that the Academic community also participates in the DABT examination. Academics in turn can perpetuate a flow of future candidates from the Universities. In order to encourage the academic community to participate in the DABT examination, I am personally offering to sponsor DABT examination fees for five academic candidates in India each year for the next five years.

I am very optimistic that this effort will benefit the wider spectrum of the society with a long term steady flow of qualified candidates to the field of toxicology at large. This activity is another way the Society of Toxicology of India (STOX) (www.stoxindia.org) supports local candidates to take advantage and prosper in their career.