As this issue of the Newsletter goes to press, final arrangements are being made for SRNT's annual meeting next month in Prague. I can't imagine a more attractive or (considering smoking rates in Eastern Europe) more appropriate site for this first annual meeting to be held outside of North America. Consistent with the goal of expanding and globalizing our organization, we expect a large and geographically diverse group of participants. The geographical diversity will reflect the location, obviously, but it will result as well from some conscious planning. Specifically, the global tobacco research pre-conference meeting will attract participants from around the world, and it will be helped in doing so by an allocation of Society funds for conference travel scholarships for participants from low- and middle-income countries. Expansion of SRNT's international membership and involvement has been a goal of several Society presidents, with Past President Harry Lando, organizer of the pre-conference meeting, playing the most significant role in moving this objective toward fruition. I feel privileged to preside at this moment in SRNT's history when our international aspirations are so apparent.

An important manifestation of this new commitment to a more global presence will be the ascendancy of David Balfour to the presidency of SRNT at the end of the Prague meeting. Former chair of SRNT-Europe and the pre-clinical theme lecturer at last year's meeting, Dr. Balfour will become SRNT's first president from outside North America. He will preside over a Board of Directors that is expected to include, for the first time, representation from outside of both Europe and North America.

Dr. Balfour will inherit a vibrant organization. Our fiscal situation is strong, permitting such endeavors as expansion of our conference travel scholarships. The membership is committed to our mission, with many members devoting considerable time and energy to realizing both ongoing and ad hoc goals. Emblematic of the latter has been the hard work of the Policy Committee, under Brion Fox's thoughtful leadership, which has frequently addressed policy issues this year, drawing on nicotine and tobacco science. In the realm of ongoing endeavors, the core activity of the Society _ the annual meeting _ has lined up a truly stellar group of theme lectures, symposia, and other scientific papers. We are deeply indebted to Program Committee Chair David Drobes, Co-Chairs Suzanne Colby and Robert West, and their committee colleagues for their generosity and devotion in giving so much of their time and energy to this extraordinarily demanding task. And lest we forget the complicated logistics of a sizable meeting, our thanks go, too, to Sheila Kirschbaum and her colleagues for their consistently professional efforts on behalf of the Society.

With SRNT's growth and new ambitions, and with the complexities of the politico-scientific world we inhabit, come new and persistent challenges. Harry Lando's ad hoc conflict-of-interest

committee found it virtually impossible to develop a set of specific policies that would address all of the circumstances that might arise and do so in a manner that would satisfy the vast majority of Society members. The complexity of how we deal with tobacco industry sponsorship of research pervaded the committee's deliberations, and has reached the national stage as well. (See "Is Tobacco Research Turning Over a New Leaf?" in the January 7 issue of Science. The column features the research of SRNT members Jed Rose and Stephen Rennard, as well as comments by other members.)

The beginning of Dr. Balfour's term as president will mark the end of mine. It has been a genuine honor and privilege to serve in this capacity. SRNT is my intellectual home. Its membership consists of the colleagues whose work I most deeply respect. I have enjoyed the opportunity to work with and learn from so many dedicated individuals whose scientific interests simultaneously overlap with and diverge from my own.

Above I have acknowledged many of the colleagues whose hard work has made my job so easy this year. Three others deserve explicit recognition as well. Nancy Rigotti, Immediate Past-President, greatly eased my rapid transition from not-quite president-elect to president.

Particularly in the early-going, but also throughout the year, her guidance has been generously available and invariably wise. I must thank, too, Karen Saules, whose assumption of the job of Newsletter Editor has appeared seamless. Finally, a special thanks to Executive Director Bruce Wheeler. I entered this job feeling a bit shell-shocked, since I had anticipated a year of on-the-job training that was not to be. That turned to something verging on terror shortly thereafter when our former Executive Director suddenly announced her resignation. The notion that I would have to break in a new ED lent vivid meaning to the expression "the blind leading the blind." Fortunately, a brief period of overlap for the former and new EDs, the support of our management team's owner, Susan Rees, and the experience and competence _ and, frankly, the delicious sense of humor _ of the new ED made the transition surprisingly easy. The President and Board of Directors provide an organization with vision and direction. It is the Executive Director and his staff, however, who make the trains run on time (and who ensure that the costs of running them are covered). SRNT is blessed that Bruce Wheeler and his excellent staff are behind the wheel.

I look forward to seeing you in Prague.