Scientific Sessions
- Keynote Address
- State-of-the-Art Lectures
- President's Symposium
- Historical Perspectives Symposium
- Trainee Forum
- Minority Affairs Health Disparities Symposium and Forum
- Minisymposia
Keynote Address
- David J.P. Barker, M.D., Ph.D. (Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA, and University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom), Chronic Disease Begins in the Womb. (http://www.thebarkertheory.org)
State-of-the-Art Lectures
- Kjersti M. Aagaard-Tillery, M.D., Ph.D. (Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA), Comparative Genomics, Epigenomics, and Nutrition in Perinatal Health: Keys to Understanding the Molecular Basis of the Developmental Origins of Adult Disease. (http://www.bcm.edu/obgyn/?pmid=7248)
- Shuk-mei Ho, Ph.D. (University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA), Epigenetic Memories: How Do They Interact with Life Span Events? (http://www.eh.uc.edu/dir_individual_details.asp?qcontactid=702)
- Markus Stoffel, M.D., Ph.D. (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich, Switzerland), MicroRNAs: Biological Functions and Therapeutic Opportunities. (http://www.imsb.ethz.ch/researchgroup/stmarku)
President’s Symposium: Reproductive Policy & the Public Good
- Tom Holder, Founder, Speaking of Research (Alexandra, Virginia, USA), Standing up for Science. (http://speakingofresearch.com/about/founder-biography/).
- Mary Woolley, President, Research!America (Alexandria, Virginia, USA), Breakthrough Advocacy for Research. (http://www.researchamerica.org/mary_woolley)
- John Peterson (Pete) Myers, Ph.D., Founder, CEO, and Publisher of Environmental Health News (Charlottesville, Virginia, USA), Finding Our Voice: The Political Side of Science. (http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/about/jpmyers.html; http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org)
Historical Perspectives Symposium
- Fuller W. Bazer, Ph.D. (Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA), The Embryo Comes Knockin’—Mama’s Response and How to Study It. (http://animalscience.tamu.edu/facultystaff/faculty/bazer.htm)
- John A. McLachlan, Ph.D. (Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA), Environmental Estrogens from the Very Beginning. (http://www.som.tulane.edu/departments/pharmacology/Faculty/mclachlan.html)
Trainee Forum
Beyond the Bench: Exploring Career Opportunities and Striving for Success.
- Joe Tringali (Tringali & Associates, Manchester, New Hampshire)
- Bill Lindstaedt (University of California Office of Career & Professional Development, San Francisco, California)
- Mark Mirando, Ph.D. (USDA, Washington, D.C.);
- Peter Sutovsky, Ph.D. (University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri)
- Olga Bolden-Tiller, Ph.D. (Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, Alabama)
- Marjorie A. Faust, Ph.D. (ABS Global, Inc., Deforest, Wisconsin).
Minority Affairs Health Disparities Symposium and Forum
James R. Gavin III, M.D., Ph.D. (Emory University School of Medicine, Fairburn, Georgia) (http://www.healingourvillage.org/abouthov/drgavin.asp)
Minisymposia
- Maternal Effects on Egg Quality
- Small RNAs in Reproduction and Development
- The SSR / Frontiers in Reproduction (FIR) Symposium
- Current Concepts of Corpus Luteum Regulation and Function
- New Concepts in Sperm Function and Fertility
- The Oviductal Environment and Fertilization and Preimplantation Embryo Development
- DNA Methylation as a Key Epigenetic Regulator During Gametogenesis and Embryogenesis
- Male – Female Communication
- Non-genomic Actions of Steroid Hormones in Regulating Reproduction Function
- Molecular Mechanisms Regulating Endometrial Biology
- Developmental Origins of Adult Health and Disease: From Concept to Human Studies
- Oncofertility—New Approaches to Preserving Reproductive Function in Female Cancer Patients
- Sex Determination—Unraveling the Pathways
- Sertoli Cells: Novel Functions of an Old Cell
- Kisspeptin Signaling in the Regulation of the HPG Axis
Maternal Effects on Egg Quality
Chair: Richard J. Tasca, Ph.D. (NIH/NICHD, Rockville, Maryland, USA).
- Kelle H. Moley, M.D. (Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA), Too Much of a Sweet Thing―Maternal Diabetes and Oocyte Quality.
- Kevin Sinclair, Ph.D. (University of Nottingham, Nottingham, England, United Kingdom), Developmental Origins of Health and Disease: B-Vitamins and DNA Methylation Programming in the Oocyte and Pre-Implantation Embryo.
- Tom Fleming, Ph.D. (University of Southampton, Southampton, England, United Kingdom), Maternal Dietary Effects on Rodent Egg/Embryo Developmental Potential and Long-Term Health.
Small RNAs in Reproduction and Development
Chair: Norman B. Hecht, Ph.D. (University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA).
- Robert Blelloch, M.D., Ph.D. (University of California, San Francisco, California, USA), Small RNA Regulation of Embryonic Stem Cells.
- Eric C. Lai, Ph.D. (Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA), Small Regulatory RNAs in Drosophila.
- Norman B. Hecht, Ph.D. (University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA), Novel Small RNAs of Male Germ Cells.
The SSR / Frontiers in Reproduction (FIR) Symposium
Chair: Jerome F. Strauss III, M.D., Ph.D. (Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA).
- Emre Seli, M.D. (Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA), Translational Regulation of Gene Expression During Oocyte and Early Embryo Development.
- Rocio M. Rivera, Ph.D. (University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA), Epigenetic Effects of Manipulating Mouse Oocytes and Preimplantation Embryos.
- Elena Zambrano, Ph.D. (National Institute of Medical Sciences and Nutrition, Mexico City, Mexico), Living with the Past: Developmental Origins of Health and Disease.
Current Concepts of Corpus Luteum Regulation and Function (in honor of Gordon Niswender)
Chair: P. Landis Keyes, Ph.D. (University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA).
- Geula Gibori, Ph.D. (University of Illinois, Chicago, Illinois, USA), The Large Luteal Cell-derived 17Beta-Hydroxysterioid Dehydrogenase: An Enzyme with a Split Personality.
- Milo C. Wiltbank, Ph.D. (University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA), Cheating Death: Why Early Bovine and Porcine CL Do Not Regress after Prostaglandin F2alpha.
- Richard L. Stouffer, Ph.D. (Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, Oregon, USA), Endocrine and Local Control of the Primate Corpus Luteum.
New Concepts in Sperm Function and Fertility
Chair: Janice L. Bailey, Ph.D. (Laval University, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada).
- George L. Gerton, Ph.D. (University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA), Adenine Nucleotides and Sperm Motility.
- Pierre Leclerc, Ph.D. ( Laval University, Ste-Foy, Quebec, Canada), Putative Roles of Tyrosine Kinase in Sperm Functions.
- Gillian Stanfield, Ph.D. (University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA), Regulation of Sperm Motility in C. elegans.
The Oviductal Environment and Fertilization and Preimplantation Embryo Development
Chair: Jay M. Baltz, Ph.D. (Ottawa Health Research Insitute and University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada).
- Henry J. Leese, Ph.D. (University of York, York, England, United Kingdom), The Oviductal Environment and Early Embryo Development: A Question of Supply and Demand.
- Kai-Fai Lee, Ph.D. (University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China), Oviductal Embryotrophic Factors on Preimplantation Embryo Development.
- Carmen J. Williams, M.D., Ph.D. (NIEHS, NIH, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA), Long-Term Impact of Neonatal Genistein Exposure on Adult Oviductal Function in the Mouse.
DNA Methylation as a Key Epigenetic Regulator During Gametogenesis and Embryogenesis
Chair: Bernard Robaire, Ph.D. (McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada).
- Jacquetta Trasler, M.D., Ph.D. (McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada), Setting Epigenetic Programs in the Early Germline—Role of DNA Methyltransferases and Folate Pathway Enzymes.
- Myriam Hemberger, Ph.D. (The Babraham Institute, Cambridge, England, United Kingdom), Epigenetic Mechanisms of Cell Lineage Commitment in Early Development.
- John R. McCarrey, Ph.D. (University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA), Gene-Specific Demethylation Predisposes Tissue-Specific Transcription During Gametogenesis.
Male – Female Communication
Chair: Janice P. Evans, Ph.D. (Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA).
- Susan S. Suarez, Ph.D. (Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA), Female Control: Sperm Movement and Storage in the Oviduct.
- Mariana F. Wolfner, Ph.D. (Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA), Battle and Ballet: Molecular Interplay Between the Sexes in Drosophila.
- Rafael Fissore, D.V.M, Ph.D. ( University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA), Activating the Egg: A Tale of Two Molecules.
Non-genomic Actions of Steroid Hormones in Regulating Reproduction Function
Chair: Stephen Hammes, M.D., Ph.D. (University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochest, New York, USA).
- Martin J. Kelly, Ph.D. (Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA), Rapid Estrogen Signaling in Hypothalamic Neurons.
- William H. Walker, Ph.D. (University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA), Non-Classical Testosterone Signaling in Sertoli Cells and the Regulation of Male Fertility.
- Richard J. Santen, M.D. (University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA), ER Alpha Signals Via a Linear IGF-1-R/EFG-R Pathway in Breast Cancer.
Molecular Mechanisms Regulating Endometrial Biology
Chair: Francesco J. DeMayo, Ph.D. (Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA).
- J. Julie Kim, Ph.D. (Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA), Progesterone Action in Endometrial Cancer and Uterine Leiomyomas.
- Wendy Jefferson, Ph.D. (NIEHS, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA), Developmental Exposure to Estrogens and Uterine Disease Later in Life.
- Shannon M. Hawkins, M.D., Ph.D. (Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA), MicroRNAs in Endometriosis.
Developmental Origins of Adult Health and Disease: From Concept to Human Studies
Chair: Sally D. Perreault, Ph.D. (US EPA, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA).
- Dana Dolinoy, Ph.D. (University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA), Epigenetic Gene Regulation: Linking Early Development Environment to Adult Disease.
- John M. Rogers, Ph.D. (US EPA, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA), Long-Term Effects of Maternal Undernutrition or Toxicant Exposure on Adult Health of Offspring in Rodents.
- Kenneth C. Schoendorf, M.D., M.P.H. (National Children's Study, NICHD, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA), The National Children's Study: A Life Course Study for Early Origins of Disease.
Oncofertility—New Approaches to Preserving Reproductive Function in Female Cancer Patients
Chair: Richard L. Stouffer, Ph.D. (Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, Oregon, USA).
- David F. Albertini, Ph.D. (Kansas University Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA), Oocyte Cryopreservation: Resolving Conflict Between the Cell Cycle and Cytoskeleton.
- Renee A. Reijo Pera, Ph.D. (Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA) Differentiation of Human Germ Cells from Human Embryonic and Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells.
- Teresa K. Woodruff, Ph.D. ( Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA), Oncofertility: Fertility Preservation for Cancer Patients.
Sex Determination—Unraveling the Pathways
Chair: Michael D. Griswold, Ph.D. (Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA).
- Blanche Capel, Ph.D. (Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA), Patterning the Gonad.
- Josephine Bowles, Ph.D. (University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia), Sex Fate Determination in the Germ Line.
- Eric Vilain, M.D., Ph.D. (University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA), Disorder of Sex Development: Of Mice and Men.
Sertoli Cells: Novel Functions of an Old Cell
Chair: Kwan Hee Kim, Ph.D. (Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA).
- Leslie L. Heckert, Ph.D. (University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA), Fshr and Transcriptional Regulation in Sertoli Cells.
- William Wright, Ph.D. (Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA), Stage-Specific Gene Expression by Sertoli Cells: New Insights Obtained by Dissecting the Cathepsin L Promoter.
- Miles F. Wilkinson, Ph.D. (University of California at San Diego, San Diego, California, USA), Rhox5: A New Model of Transcriptional Control.
Kisspeptin Signaling in the Regulation of the HPG Axis (Mahesh Neuroendocrine Minisymposium)
Chair: Tony M. Plant, Ph.D. (University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA).
- Robert L. Goodman, Ph.D. (West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA), Kisspeptin Neurons: Possible Mediators of Internal and External Signals Regulating GnRH Secretion.
- William H. Colledge, Ph.D. (University of Cambridge, Cambridge, England, United Kingdom), Kisspeptin Signaling in Rodents: Insights from Knock-Out Mice.
- Robert P. Millar, Ph.D. (MRC Human Reproductive Sciences Unit, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom), Dissection of Kisspeptin’s Role in the Neuroendocrine Regulation of Gonadotropin Using Antagonists.