The founding of ISSX arose from discussions initiated by Dr. Bruce Migdalof at the 1980 Gordon Conference on Drug Metabolism. Bruce, Fred DiCarlo, John Baer, and Ina Snow who were to become the founders of ISSX, had discussions with many attendees of the conference and confirmed their feelings for the need for an international society devoted to the study of the metabolism of foreign compounds. The organizing committee, chaired by Bruce Migdalof, met later that year and launched ISSX in 1981.

A meeting at the 1980 Gordon Conference.
Pictured left to right- Bob Smith, John Caldwell, Ina Snow, Mitch Cayen, John Baer,
Peter Johnson, Bruce Migdalof.
Bottom row- Fred DiCarlo, Gaylord (Guy) Paulson.