Society outline and history
The Japanese Society of Imunotoxocilogy (JSIT) evolved out of the“Immunotoxicology Study Group” which consisted with researchers interested inthis research field.The group was formed in June 1994.The JSIT was established as
an academic society in April 2001.The JSIT has over 260 members and is aninterdisciplinary society composed of researchers from the medical, pharmaceutical,and agricultural sciences.It is unique internationally as a single academic society forimmunotoxicological forms of research.Although the original subjects ofimmunotoxicological research were immunodeficiency, allergy and autoimmunitycaused by chemicals, medico-pharmaceutical substances and dietary constituents,
the scope of research broadened with recent increases in various allergies andinfectious diseases, around which social issues have sometimes developed, as wellas with new knowledge of the participation of the immunotoxicological mechanisms
involved in various chronic and common diseases. Because of the necessity for
immunotoxicological research related to these diseases, the JSIT is now taking aleading role in this research field.
Today, the field of toxicology has again been recognized as science concerned withthe safety of health and life.Immunotoxicological research, which includes theeffects of various chemical substances, such as medico-pharmaceutical materials,
food ingredients and numerous environmental factors, on immune system and theeffects on health of an immune-system exposed to these chemical substances, havebecome involved in the field of toxicology.The importance of immunotoxicologicalresearch beyond the field of toxicology has been recognized, because ofreassessment of immunological experiments directed toward the post-genome era,and because of the threat of recent emerging and reemerging infections, multiple
chemical sensitivity, and the safety of biomedicines and genetically-modified foods.
The research subjects of this Society, the JSIT, have greatly expanded from thebasic, applied and clinical research regarding health and immunity, to risk
assessment or the regulation of chemical substances, because the members of oursociety come from universities, enterprises and administrative agencies.
Recently, the scope of research has tended to widen, because immunotoxicologicalresearch has been carried out in various scientific fields.This situation may lead ourSociety, the JSIT, to take initiative as a core society in the sub-fields ofimmunotoxicological research.Moving in such a direction, we have held annual
meetings with the cooperation and co-hosting of related academic societies, suchas the Japanese Society of Toxicology, the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan, and theJapan Society of Occupational Health.

During last decade, our Society has not only achieved recognition for
immunotoxicology in Japan and has advanced immunotoxicological research levels,
but has also contributed to the making of guidelines for immunotoxicologicalexperimental methodologies corresponding to those of the International Conference
on Harmonization of Technical Requirements for the Registration of Pharmaceuticals
for Human Use (ICH). In addition, our Society members have been actively involvedin the ICH. However, there are still many issues related to the immunotoxicity,which should be analyzed more precisely. The JSIT now needs to take the initiativein addressing various immunotoxicological problems as a moving force inimmunotoxicological research.For the above-mentioned reasons, the JSIT has amission not only present individual research and exchanges, but also to be which
distributes important social and academic information, and one in which people canget fresh stimulation and motivation for research. Our Society, the JSIT, in beeing
counted on for a huge contribution to the accelerated advancement of basic sciences
and science for safety of life, and the health and welfare needs of civilization via
thorough scientific inquiry with regard to the relationship between immunity andhealth.