title: The Diplomate in Safety Pharmacology (DSP) certification scheme.
abstract: As with other professional disciplines there is a growing need from within industry as well as global regulatory authorities for implementation of a certification process in order to assure that appropriate expertise is developed and quality standards are identified for professionals involved in the practice of Safety Pharmacology (SP). In order to meet this need, the Safety Pharmacology Society (SPS) has developed the Diplomate in Safety Pharmacology (DSP) certification process. There are many benefits to certification including authentication of the discipline within the overall pharmaceutical community and with regulatory authorities. It also encourages participation in SPS activities by other professionals (toxicologists, clinicians, academics) who wish to broaden their professional expertise. It provides an opportunity for candidates to strengthen their fundamental scientific knowledge, and stimulates the sharing of data, methods and model development in the form of publications and presentations on relevant topics in SP. Accreditation in SP occurs after candidates successfully complete a written certification examination conducted at the annual SPS meeting. The DSP exam consists primarily of material pertinent to the conduct of SP vital function core battery studies (i.e., cardiovascular, respiratory and central nervous systems), supplemental SP studies (i.e., renal/urinary, gastrointestinal, immunology, and hematology), Regulatory Guidelines (ICH Guidelines) as well as relevant cross-functional knowledge (e.g., physiology, pharmacology, toxicology, biochemistry, pathology, pharmacokinetics, dosing formulation, analytical methods, and statistics). Maintenance of the DSP certification results from the accrual of credits which are gained from a range of educational and scientific contributions. Eligibility requirements include a combination of at least a bachelor degree in science and two years of relevant professional SP experience and one poster presentation on a SP topic as first author at a recognized major scientific meeting.
authors.affiliation: CiToxLAB North America, 445 Armand-Frappier Boul., Laval, QC H7V 4B3, Canada; Safety Pharmacology Society, 1821 Michael Faraday Drive, Reston, VA 20190, USA. Electronic address: AUTHIERS@ca.citoxlab.com.
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Authier
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Division, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, Rayne Institutez, King's College London, London SE17EH, UK.
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Curtis
authors.affiliation: Safety Pharmacology Society, 1821 Michael Faraday Drive, Reston, VA 20190, USA; Incyte Corporation, 1801 Augustine Cut-Off Wilmington, DE 19803, USA.
authors.forename: Maxim
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Soloviev
authors.affiliation: Safety Pharmacology Society, 1821 Michael Faraday Drive, Reston, VA 20190, USA; AstraZeneca R&D, Alderley Park, Cheshire SK10 4TG, UK.
authors.forename: Will S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Redfern
authors.affiliation: Safety Pharmacology Society, 1821 Michael Faraday Drive, Reston, VA 20190, USA; COVANCE Laboratories, Inc., Greenfield, IN 46140, USA.
authors.forename: Mary Jeanne
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Kallman
authors.affiliation: Safety Pharmacology Society, 1821 Michael Faraday Drive, Reston, VA 20190, USA; QTest Labs, 6456 Fiesta Drive, Columbus, OH 43235, USA.
authors.forename: Robert L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Hamlin
authors.affiliation: Safety Pharmacology Society, 1821 Michael Faraday Drive, Reston, VA 20190, USA; Eli Lilly & Company, Indianapolis, IN 46225, USA.
authors.forename: Derek J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Leishman
authors.affiliation: Safety Pharmacology Society, 1821 Michael Faraday Drive, Reston, VA 20190, USA; UCB BioPharma SPRL, Non Clinical Development, Chemin du Foriest, B-1420 Braine-l'Alleud, Belgium.
authors.forename: Jean-Pierre
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Valentin
authors.affiliation: Safety Pharmacology Society, 1821 Michael Faraday Drive, Reston, VA 20190, USA; Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, US Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD 20993, USA.
authors.forename: John E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Koerner
authors.affiliation: Safety Pharmacology Society, 1821 Michael Faraday Drive, Reston, VA 20190, USA; Amgen, Inc., One Amgen Center Drive, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320, USA.
authors.forename: Hugo M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Vargas
authors.affiliation: Safety Pharmacology Society, 1821 Michael Faraday Drive, Reston, VA 20190, USA; XenoMetrics LLC, PO Box 401, Stilwell, KS 66085, USA.
authors.forename: Alfred
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Botchway
authors.affiliation: Safety Pharmacology Society, 1821 Michael Faraday Drive, Reston, VA 20190, USA.
authors.forename: Krystle
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Correll
authors.affiliation: Safety Pharmacology Society, 1821 Michael Faraday Drive, Reston, VA 20190, USA; Janssen Pharmaceuticals LLC, 1000 Route 202 South, Raritan, NJ 08869, USA.
authors.forename: Michael K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Pugsley
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002568:Certification; D004345:Drug Industry / Q000592:standards; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; D006801:Humans; D010600:Pharmacology / Q000592:standards*; D011361:Professional Competence; D012958:Societies, Scientific / Q000458:organization & administration
keywords: Cardiovascular; Central nervous systems; Certification; Core battery; Diplomate in Safety Pharmacology (DSP); ICH M3; ICH S7A; ICH S7B; Respiratory; Safety pharmacology (SP)