Barbara Kaplan Named Vice President-Elect of SOT
April 1, 2026
The IIT would like to offer our congratulations to Dr. Barbara Kaplan, former IIT-affiliated faculty member, who was recently elected vice president-elect for the Society of Toxicology. Her election to this office at the SOT will lead to her serving as vice president and then as president of the society.
Dr. Kaplan earned her B.S. in Environmental Toxicology from the University of California Davis before coming to MSU to earn her Ph.D. in Pharmacology and Toxicology where she was mentored by Dr. Norbert Kaminski. After conducting postdoctoral research in tumor immunology at the University of Chicago, she returned to Michigan State University as a Research Assistant Professor and IIT-affiliated faculty member. She is now a Professor in the Center for Environmental Health Sciences and Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences at Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine. Her research focuses on the effects and mechanisms by which drugs and chemicals alter immunity, with particular emphasis on aryl hydrocarbon receptor ligands and cannabinoid compounds.
Dr. Kaplan teaches immunology to veterinary students and pharmacology and toxicology to undergraduate and graduate students at Mississippi State University. She has been active in mentoring PhD students, DVM/PhD students, and undergraduate students, and she serves as Director of the NIH-funded Summer Research Experience program for veterinary students at Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine. The research focus of her lab is deciphering the effects and mechanisms by which drugs or chemicals affect the immune system. She has two major projects. The first project, which is funded by the National Institutes of Health, is investigating environmental chemicals on antibody-triggered signaling in innate immune cells. The second project focuses on understanding how chemicals from marijuana and hemp affect immune function.
The MSU IIT is proud to announce Dr. Kaplan’s appointment as she continues a rich tradition of SOT presidents associated with our institution. She will be the eleventh IIT-affiliated SOT president to hold office.
Other past SOT presidents include:
James P. Luyendyk
President from 2026-2027
Current IIT-affiliated faculty member
Patricia E. Ganey
President from 2017-2018
Emeritus faculty member
Norbert E. Kaminski
President from 2014-2015
Current IIT Director
Michael P. Holsapple
President from 2010-2011
Adjunct faculty member at MSU & former CRIS Director
Kendall B. Wallace
President from 2005 - 2006
Former doctoral trainee
Jay I. Goodman
President from 1999 – 2000
Emeritus faculty member
James S. Bus
President from 1996 – 1997
Former doctoral trainee
James E. Gibson
President from 1988 – 1989
Former faculty member
Jerry B. Hook
President from 1987 – 1988
Founding director of the CIT
Perry J. Gehring
President from 1980 – 1981
Former faculty member
Congratulations to Dr. Luyendyk on this prestigious accomplishment!