- Email: [email protected]
Sabcho Dimitrov (1952–2018) – A dedication
Computational Toxicology 11 (2019) 90
Contents lists available at ScienceDirect
Computational Toxicology journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/comtox
Sabcho Dimitrov (1952–2018) – A dedication a,⁎
b
Ovanes G. Mekenyan , Bob Diderich , Terry W. Schultz a b c
T
c
Laboratory of Mathematical Chemistry (LMC), As. Zlatarov University, Bourgas, Bulgaria Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), ENV/EHS, 2 rue Andre Pascal, 75775 Paris Cedex 16, France The University of Tennessee, College of Veterinary Medicine, 2407 River Drive, Knoxville, TN 37996-4500, USA
A B S T R A C T
With the passing of Dr. Sabcho Dimitrov on 30 May 2018 the structure-activity community lost one of its cherished members. Saby’s career spanned several decades. During that time, he demonstrated leadership and the ability to work with others both within the Laboratory of Mathematic Chemistry (LMC) at his home institution, the As. Zlatarov University, Bourgas, Bulgaria and internationally. He was a crucial contributor to the growth of the OASIS program and later the development of Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) QSAR Toolbox.
Saby was a leading scientist and pioneer of the application of structure-activity approaches to industrial chemicals, especially ones based on transparent mechanistic understanding. He exerted a steadying influence on the day to day operations at LMC. His work on the Toolbox, especially in developing its workflow and format for reporting experimental data, was vital to its success. Perhaps the best demonstration of his expertise is his role as the principal developer of the CATALOGIC system for predicting fate and environmental toxicity of organic materials. Born and raised in Bulgaria, Saby received his PhD in Theoretical Chemistry from As. Zlatarov University in 1994, where he became a member of the faculty and a key contributor to LMC. Saby made good use of Bulgaria’s 1991 democratic constitution to embark on an international career. In 2000 he assumed his key role as an administrator at LMC and in 2012 he was awarded D.Sci. reflecting his life’s contribution to predictive toxicology. He was attracted to the relationships between molecular structure and toxicological-related properties including physico-chemical properties and toxic potency. While first drawn to ecotoxicological issues he later focused on human health endpoints. Saby was one of the first to appreciate, through his work on activityto-activity relationships, the universality of mechanism of chemical reactivity and modes of toxic action across test species and endpoints. Later he championed applying these concepts within the framework of knowledge-based expert systems. The introduction of experimental data within the workflow of the Toolbox lead to his introduction of
⁎
Corresponding author. E-mail address: [email protected] (O.G. Mekenyan).
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.comtox.2019.03.006 Received 22 March 2019; Accepted 25 March 2019 Available online 26 March 2019 2468-1113/ © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
taxonomic and endpoint trees as a standard format for reporting data. Saby’s leadership was key to the expansion of LMC from a cadre of 5 scientists to 40 scientists at the time of his death. It is a tribute to him that this expansion was seamless as he adjusted to the burdens of administering a large and diverse staff. A seminal part of this task was inspiring and guiding junior scientists through the maze of simultaneously accruing projects and deliveries that is a hallmark of LMC. He fostered career development of many young scientists, including the majority of the authors contributing to this special issue of Computational Toxicology. Scientific collaborations with us forged lasting friendships that will be missed with his untimely death. Saby was a devoted family man who enjoyed a shopska salad and a cold beer with friends and colleagues. He will be remembered for his quiet demeanor, dry humor, and logical and critical insight. He leaves behind his wife, two children and two grandchildren. The life and times of Saby Dimitrov witnessed dramatic changes in his home country which had a marked impact on his career. He saw the development of predictive toxicology from a concept based in theoretical chemistry to a technology-driven science. This advancement was due, in part, to Saby’s many contributions. Conflict of interest None declared.
Contents lists available at ScienceDirect
Computational Toxicology journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/comtox
Sabcho Dimitrov (1952–2018) – A dedication a,⁎
b
Ovanes G. Mekenyan , Bob Diderich , Terry W. Schultz a b c
T
c
Laboratory of Mathematical Chemistry (LMC), As. Zlatarov University, Bourgas, Bulgaria Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), ENV/EHS, 2 rue Andre Pascal, 75775 Paris Cedex 16, France The University of Tennessee, College of Veterinary Medicine, 2407 River Drive, Knoxville, TN 37996-4500, USA
A B S T R A C T
With the passing of Dr. Sabcho Dimitrov on 30 May 2018 the structure-activity community lost one of its cherished members. Saby’s career spanned several decades. During that time, he demonstrated leadership and the ability to work with others both within the Laboratory of Mathematic Chemistry (LMC) at his home institution, the As. Zlatarov University, Bourgas, Bulgaria and internationally. He was a crucial contributor to the growth of the OASIS program and later the development of Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) QSAR Toolbox.
Saby was a leading scientist and pioneer of the application of structure-activity approaches to industrial chemicals, especially ones based on transparent mechanistic understanding. He exerted a steadying influence on the day to day operations at LMC. His work on the Toolbox, especially in developing its workflow and format for reporting experimental data, was vital to its success. Perhaps the best demonstration of his expertise is his role as the principal developer of the CATALOGIC system for predicting fate and environmental toxicity of organic materials. Born and raised in Bulgaria, Saby received his PhD in Theoretical Chemistry from As. Zlatarov University in 1994, where he became a member of the faculty and a key contributor to LMC. Saby made good use of Bulgaria’s 1991 democratic constitution to embark on an international career. In 2000 he assumed his key role as an administrator at LMC and in 2012 he was awarded D.Sci. reflecting his life’s contribution to predictive toxicology. He was attracted to the relationships between molecular structure and toxicological-related properties including physico-chemical properties and toxic potency. While first drawn to ecotoxicological issues he later focused on human health endpoints. Saby was one of the first to appreciate, through his work on activityto-activity relationships, the universality of mechanism of chemical reactivity and modes of toxic action across test species and endpoints. Later he championed applying these concepts within the framework of knowledge-based expert systems. The introduction of experimental data within the workflow of the Toolbox lead to his introduction of
⁎
Corresponding author. E-mail address: [email protected] (O.G. Mekenyan).
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.comtox.2019.03.006 Received 22 March 2019; Accepted 25 March 2019 Available online 26 March 2019 2468-1113/ © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
taxonomic and endpoint trees as a standard format for reporting data. Saby’s leadership was key to the expansion of LMC from a cadre of 5 scientists to 40 scientists at the time of his death. It is a tribute to him that this expansion was seamless as he adjusted to the burdens of administering a large and diverse staff. A seminal part of this task was inspiring and guiding junior scientists through the maze of simultaneously accruing projects and deliveries that is a hallmark of LMC. He fostered career development of many young scientists, including the majority of the authors contributing to this special issue of Computational Toxicology. Scientific collaborations with us forged lasting friendships that will be missed with his untimely death. Saby was a devoted family man who enjoyed a shopska salad and a cold beer with friends and colleagues. He will be remembered for his quiet demeanor, dry humor, and logical and critical insight. He leaves behind his wife, two children and two grandchildren. The life and times of Saby Dimitrov witnessed dramatic changes in his home country which had a marked impact on his career. He saw the development of predictive toxicology from a concept based in theoretical chemistry to a technology-driven science. This advancement was due, in part, to Saby’s many contributions. Conflict of interest None declared.