Progress 06/15/17 to 06/14/18
Outputs
Target Audience:The Society for the Study of Reproduction (SSR) holds an annual scientific meeting attended by ~900 basic and clinical researchers, teachers, and undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral trainees, from universities, medical schools, research institutes, and clinics in the U.S. and more than 30 other countries. The three-fold goal of every meeting is (1) to present state-of-the-art research in the biology underlying and associated with reproductive processes; (2) to provide an environment that encourages scientific dialogue, and (3) to provide a meeting program, setting, and culture that promotes the professional development of trainees and early stage investigators. Each meeting consists of plenary and state-of-the-art lectures by world-class scientists, and concurrent sessions (with 2-4 speakers in each) that focus on subjects of interest to scientists in biomedical, clinical, and animal science, and researchers who concentrate on wildlife and environmental preservation. Oral and poster presentations (typically 50-100 and 500-600, respectively) highlight research contributions by scientists from a range of career stages, most especially trainees. These presentations are selected from submitted abstracts, based on review by the Program Committee. Abstracts submitted for trainee award competitions also are reviewed by the SSR's Awards Committee. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?SSR has a long standing committment to mentoring trainees and providing opportunities to network and discuss career opportunities. The 2017 Annual Conference featured the following opportunities: Trainee Awards A total of 230 trainee abstracts were submitted for consideration for trainee awards.Abstracts were ranked based upon the scores from the program committee reviewers.The Awards Chair assigned 3 reviewers per abstract; reviewer assignmentwas based as much as possible on the expertise of the Awards Committee members.The Awards Chair reviewed the scores, and selected the recipients for the2017 USDA NIFA AFRI Merit Award (listed below): Karl Kerns Sadman Sakib Gregory Burns Michal Zigo Kazuya Kusama Allison Tscherner Yahan Li Amy Desaulniers Chathura Priyadarshana Rulan Bai Brad Daigneault Courtni Sizemore Yong-Hee Kim Mengqi Shi Cheyenne Robinson Rebecca Winters Trainee Forum This year's Trainee forum, "Becoming an Effective Reviewer: A Means to Enhance YourScientificWriting," was held on Thursday July 13, 2017 from 10:30am-12:15pm. The following panelists and topics were featured: • Dr. Sally Perreault Darney (NIEHS; Editor-in-Chief of Environmental Health Perspectives): Manuscript review • Dr. Francesco DeMayo (NIEHS; Editor-in-Chief of Biology of Reproduction): Manuscript review • Dr. Susan Taymans (NICHD; Program Director): Grant review • Dr. Humphrey Yao (NIEHS; longstanding member of study sections): Grant review The Trainee Forum has been extremely well received by the trainees, and 236 trainees registered for this event. Career Consultation Center Regular established members of SSR provided 1-on-1 feedback on CVs, cover letters for manuscript or job (limit 1 page), or general career advice (limit ½ page). The center was open during the poster sessions (from 4:45-6:30pm on Friday the 14th and Saturday the 15th; and 3:30-5:00pm Sunday the 16th). There were 36 15-minute appointmentscoordinated byDr. Pavla Brachova (Kansas University Medical Center). Trainees were asked to provide Pavla with their CV, cover letter,or general career advice description at the time of event registration (for disbursement to theCareer Consultants), and they were asked to bring a hardcopy to their appointment. The Career Consultants who participated were: • Mary Zelinski, Ph.D. • Mary Ann Handel, Ph.D. • Thomas Spencer, Ph.D. • Teresa Woodruff, Ph.D. • Karen Schindler, Ph.D. • Barry Hinton, Ph.D. Trainee-Mentor Luncheon (TML) Ashley George (Rutgers University) coordinated the TML and paired30 mentors with 147 trainees to discuss their career aspirations over lunch and receive advice from established SSR members. This unique intimate gathering allows trainees to get much-needed face time with members who have a long history of research in the reproductive sciences and can advise trainees on next steps in their career. A list of the mentors who participated is below. Yvette Seger,FASEB Clifford Librach, CReATe Fertility Center Azim Surani,University of Cambridge SK Dey, University of Cincinatti Masahito Ikawa, Osaka University Tracy Bale, UPenn Michael Skinner, Washington State Laura Schultz, University of Missouri Gillian Bentley, Durham University Jodi Flaws, University of Illinois Budhan Pukazhenthi, National Zoo Mary B. Zelinski, Oregon Health and Sciences Univ Maria Christina Avellar, University Federal de Sao Paulo Jock Findlay, Hudson Institute of Medical Research Janice Bailey, Université Laval Teresa Woodruff, Northwestern Universty Cecily Bishop, Oregon National Primate Center Carlos Simon, University of Valencia Romana Novak, University of Illinois Joanne Fortune, Cornell University Robert Braun, The Jackson Laboratory Andy Greenfield,MRC Hartwell0 Andrew Sinclair, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute Gail S. Prins,University of Illinois Kate Loveland,Monash University ChristopherGeyer,East Carolina University Paul S. Cooke,University of Florida Jennifer Wood, University of Nebraska Marilyn Renfree, University of Melbourne Amy Navratil,University of Wyoming How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?
Nothing Reported
What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
SSR's 2017 Annual Meeting, 50 Years of Research: Looking Back and Moving Forward, concomitantly recognized SSR's contributions to society and highlights reproductive biology as the cornerstone of developing fields, such as stem cell biology, epigenetics, and the developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD). Concurrent symposia showcased models and physiology of reproduction; early development and pregnancy; the ovary and female tract; epigenetics, environment, and DOHaD; and the testis and male tract, among other topics. On the day prior to the formal opening of the annual meeting, the SSR hosted an interdisciplinary workshop bridging clinical and basic research in the reproductive sciences and with the objective of fostering collaboration both across and within academia, medicine, and health-related industries. Opportunities for industrial supporters to exhibit their latest products and techniques were provided, thereby encouraging attendees to better understand the advanced applications available in different fields. The scientific program for the 2017 meeting was full ofbreakthrough discoveries and innovative research. Dr. Azim Surani (Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge) delivered the Keynote Address. Dr. Surani studies the pluripotent state of the mammalian germ cell lineage and its establishment during early development, in addition to the mechanisms that regulate initiation of cell-fate decisions. The President's Symposium consisted of talks by the following speakers: Dr. Tracy L. Bale (Perelman School of Medicine)-her work focuses on the molecular mechanisms by which stress factors influence appetite and reward and the effects of maternal stress sensitivity on fetal development and long-term physiological and behavioral responses; Dr. Mark Hanson (Institute of Developmental Sciences, University of Southampton)-his research concerns several aspects of development and health, especially the epigenetic processes that underlie risk of chronic noncommunicable diseases, which may serve as valuable early life biomarkers. The 2017 meeting will introduce new categories of plenary sessions. Historical Perspective Lectures were offered by Dr. Marilyn Renfree (University of Melbourne) and Dr. Asgerally Fazleabas (Michigan State University). Drs. Teresa Woodruff (Feinberg School of Medicine), Kwang-Yul Cha (CHA Health Systems and CHA University), Clifford Librach (CReATe Cord Blood Bank), and Alan Trounson (Monash University and Cartherics Pty Ltd.) participated in a session titled Perspectives from Global Entrepreneurs in Reproductive Biology: Propelling High-Impact Outcomes. Concurrent Focus Sessions combined twohalf-hour invited presentations and at least two fifteen-minute talks, each of which were selected from submitted abstracts. TheProgram Committee chosespeakers topresent their cutting-edge research on a wide range of topics in reproductive biology: •Evolutionary Perspectives on Reproductive Ecology •Epigenetics in the Germline •Epigenetic Control of Developmental Programming •Epigenetics Mediating Transgenerational Impact •Environmental Impact on Reproductive Pathologies •Impact of Maternal Nutrition and Stress on the Offspring •Gamete and Reproductive Conservation •Clinical Issues in Reproduction •Reproductive Neuroendocrinology •Immunobiology of Male Reproductive Function •Recent Breakthroughs in Androgen Control of Puberty and Fertility •Technologies for Reproductive Biology Research •Fertilization: When the Sperm Meets the Egg •Recent Developments in Contraception •Immunobiology of Conception and Pregnancy •Preimplantation Development •Implantation and Placentation •Pregnancy and Parturition •Female Reproductive Pathologies •Regulation of Oogenesis •Control of Ovarian Development •The Follicle Niche in Ovarian Function •Meiosis and DNA Damage •Oocyte Metabolism •Male Reproductive Tract •Sex Determination and Fetal Gonad •Translational Aspects of Testicular Dysfunction •Somatic Cells for Testicular Health •Spermatogonial Stem Cell Regulation •Regulation of Spermatogenesis
Publications
|
Progress 06/15/13 to 06/14/18
Outputs
Target Audience:
Nothing Reported
Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?SSR has a long standing committment to mentoring trainees and providing opportunities to network and discuss career opportunities. The 2017 Annual Conference featured the following opportunities: Trainee Awards A total of 230 trainee abstracts were submitted for consideration for trainee awards. Abstracts were ranked based upon the scores from the program committee reviewers. The Awards Chair assigned 3 reviewers per abstract; reviewer assignment was based as much as possible on the expertise of the Awards Committee members. The Awards Chair reviewed the scores, and selected the recipients for the 2017 USDA NIFA AFRI Merit Award (listed below): Karl Kerns Sadman Sakib Gregory Burns Michal Zigo Kazuya Kusama Allison Tscherner Yahan Li Amy Desaulniers Chathura Priyadarshana Rulan Bai Brad Daigneault Courtni Sizemore Yong-Hee Kim Mengqi Shi Cheyenne Robinson Rebecca Winters Trainee Forum This year's Trainee forum, "Becoming an Effective Reviewer: A Means to Enhance Your ScientificWriting," was held on Thursday July 13, 2017 from 10:30am- 12:15pm. The following panelists and topics were featured: • Dr. Sally Perreault Darney (NIEHS; Editor-in-Chief of Environmental Health Perspectives): Manuscript review • Dr. Francesco DeMayo (NIEHS; Editor-in-Chief of Biology of Reproduction): Manuscript review • Dr. Susan Taymans (NICHD; Program Director): Grant review • Dr. Humphrey Yao (NIEHS; longstanding member of study sections): Grant review The Trainee Forum has been extremely well received by the trainees, and 236 trainees registered for this event. Career Consultation Center Regular established members of SSR provided 1-on-1 feedback on CVs, cover letters for manuscript or job (limit 1 page), or general career advice (limit ½ page). The center was open during the poster sessions (from 4:45-6:30pm on Friday the 14th and Saturday the 15th; and 3:30-5:00pm Sunday the 16th). There were 36 15-minute appointments coordinated by Dr. Pavla Brachova (Kansas University Medical Center). Trainees were asked to provide Pavla with their CV, cover letter, or general career advice description at the time of event registration (for disbursement to the Career Consultants), and they were asked to bring a hardcopy to their appointment. The Career Consultants who participated were: • Mary Zelinski, Ph.D. • Mary Ann Handel, Ph.D. • Thomas Spencer, Ph.D. • Teresa Woodruff, Ph.D. • Karen Schindler, Ph.D. • Barry Hinton, Ph.D. Trainee-Mentor Luncheon (TML) Ashley George (Rutgers University) coordinated the TML and paired 30 mentors with 147 trainees to discuss their career aspirations over lunch and receive advice from established SSR members. This unique intimate gathering allows trainees to get much-needed face time with members who have a long history of research in the reproductive sciences and can advise trainees on next steps in their career. A list of the mentors who participated is below. Yvette Seger, FASEB Clifford Librach, CReATe Fertility Center Azim Surani, University of Cambridge SK Dey, University of Cincinatti Masahito Ikawa, Osaka University Tracy Bale, U Penn Michael Skinner, Washington State Laura Schultz, University of Missouri Gillian Bentley, Durham University Jodi Flaws, University of Illinois Budhan Pukazhenthi, National Zoo Mary B. Zelinski, Oregon Health and Sciences Maria Christina Avellar, University Federal de Sao Paulo Jock Findlay, Hudson Institute of Medical Research Janice Bailey, Université Laval Teresa Woodruff, Northwestern Universty Cecily Bishop, Oregon National Primate Center Carlos Simon, University of Valencia Romana Novak, University of Illinois Joanne Fortune, Cornell University Robert Braun, The Jackson Laboratory Andy Greenfield, MRC Hartwell0 Andrew Sinclair, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute Gail S. Prins, University of Illinois Kate Loveland, Monash University Christopher Geyer, East Carolina University Paul S. Cooke, University of Florida Jennifer Wood, University of Nebraska Marilyn Renfree, University of Melbourne Amy Navratil, University of Wyoming How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?
Nothing Reported
What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
SSR's 2017 Annual Meeting, 50 Years of Research: Looking Back and Moving Forward, concomitantly recognized SSR's contributions to society and highlights reproductive biology as the cornerstone of developing fields, such as stem cell biology, epigenetics, and the developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD). Concurrent symposia showcased models and physiology of reproduction; early development and pregnancy; the ovary and female tract; epigenetics, environment, and DOHaD; and the testis and male tract, among other topics. On the day prior to the formal opening of the annual meeting, the SSR hosted an interdisciplinary workshop bridging clinical and basic research in the reproductive sciences and with the objective of fostering collaboration both across and within academia, medicine, and health-related industries. Opportunities for industrial supporters to exhibit their latest products and techniques were provided, thereby encouraging attendees to better understand the advanced applications available in different fields. The scientific program for the 2017 meeting was full of breakthrough discoveries and innovative research. Dr. Azim Surani (Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge) delivered the Keynote Address. Dr. Surani studies the pluripotent state of the mammalian germ cell lineage and its establishment during early development, in addition to the mechanisms that regulate initiation of cell-fate decisions. The President's Symposium consisted of talks by the following speakers: Dr. Tracy L. Bale (Perelman School of Medicine)-her work focuses on the molecular mechanisms by which stress factors influence appetite and reward and the effects of maternal stress sensitivity on fetal development and long-term physiological and behavioral responses; Dr. Mark Hanson (Institute of Developmental Sciences, Report Date 06/06/2019 Page 2 of 6 United States Department of Agriculture Progress Report Accession No. 233901 Project No. WISW-2013-00808 University of Southampton)-his research concerns several aspects of development and health, especially the epigenetic processes that underlie risk of chronic noncommunicable diseases, which may serve as valuable early life biomarkers. The 2017 meeting will introduce new categories of plenary sessions. Historical Perspective Lectures were offered by Dr. Marilyn Renfree (University of Melbourne) and Dr. Asgerally Fazleabas (Michigan State University). Drs. Teresa Woodruff (Feinberg School of Medicine), Kwang-Yul Cha (CHA Health Systems and CHA University), Clifford Librach (CReATe Cord Blood Bank), and Alan Trounson (Monash University and Cartherics Pty Ltd.) participated in a session titled Perspectives from Global Entrepreneurs in Reproductive Biology: Propelling High-Impact Outcomes. Concurrent Focus Sessions combined two half-hour invited presentations and at least two fifteen-minute talks, each of which were selected from submitted abstracts. The Program Committee chose speakers to present their cutting-edge research on a wide range of topics in reproductive biology: •Evolutionary Perspectives on Reproductive Ecology •Epigenetics in the Germline •Epigenetic Control of Developmental Programming •Epigenetics Mediating Transgenerational Impact •Environmental Impact on Reproductive Pathologies •Impact of Maternal Nutrition and Stress on the Offspring •Gamete and Reproductive Conservation •Clinical Issues in Reproduction •Reproductive Neuroendocrinology •Immunobiology of Male Reproductive Function •Recent Breakthroughs in Androgen Control of Puberty and Fertility •Technologies for Reproductive Biology Research •Fertilization: When the Sperm Meets the Egg •Recent Developments in Contraception •Immunobiology of Conception and Pregnancy •Preimplantation Development •Implantation and Placentation •Pregnancy and Parturition •Female Reproductive Pathologies •Regulation of Oogenesis •Control of Ovarian Development •The Follicle Niche in Ovarian Function •Meiosis and DNA Damage •Oocyte Metabolism •Male Reproductive Tract •Sex Determination and Fetal Gonad •Translational Aspects of Testicular Dysfunction •Somatic Cells for Testicular Health •Spermatogonial Stem Cell Regulation •Regulation of Spermatogenesis
Publications
|
Progress 06/15/16 to 06/14/17
Outputs
Target Audience:The 2016, 49th Annual Meeting attracted 890 registrants, with more than half of the participants originating from countries outside of the United States. The breakdown of registrants is as follows: Regular and Associate SSR Members: 347; Trainee members: 333; nonmember Trainees: 74; Emeritus SSR members: 8; and nonmembers: 128. Ethnicity, as self-reported by those attending, was as follows: White: 52.1%; Black: 2.1%; Hispanic: 5.3%; Asian/Pacific Islander: 30.7%; Native American or Alaskan Native: 0.2%; did not identify ethnicity: 9.6%. Attendees included 433 males; 431 females; and 26 who did not reveal gender. Registrants represented 33 countries: 574 from the USA; 11 from Far Eastern countries; 57 from Canada; 52 from Japan; 52 from Europe; 38 from Central and South America; 25 from Australia and New Zealand; and 20 from China. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Trainee members of SSR served alongside senior scientists as Co-Chairs of sessions. In monitoring the progress of sessions, the Trainees gained valuable experience interacting with speakers and audiences, and preparing questions for post-presentation discussions. Chairs of the Trainee Affairs Committee (TAC) planned and orchestrated a Trainee Forum. The 2016 Forum addressed Communicating Science to Enhance Your Career, thereby covering the breadth of avenues through which scientists raise their profiles and disseminate their research. Forum speakers spoke on topics ranging from "pitching" papers to the "right" journal to making oneself known on relevant online outlets. In addition, the Chairs of this committee designed and managed a Trainee Affairs exhibit during the conference, and interacted with meeting participants while informing and/or advising them of opportunities for Trainee members of the SSR. A Trainee-Mentor Luncheon (small groups of Trainees matched with seasoned scientists during a catered lunch) was held midway through the meeting. The luncheon was managed by a volunteer Trainee Coordinator, who worked closely with meeting staff to ensure that appropriate matches (Trainee and Mentor) were made and that the facilities met food and space requirements. Luncheon participants engaged, one-on-one, in dialogues with mentors, and discussions ranged from career-building, to research challenges, and developing or establishing valuable collaborations. Trainees also were encouraged to visit the Trainee-organized CV Review Center, where they were able to receive personalized one-on-one feedback on their CVs from SSR members-all of whom were established PIs in the reproductive sciences. Finally, the Trainee Volunteer Service--led by volunteer Trainee Coordinators--recruited 100 volunteers to fill critically important roles at the meeting. These volunteers experienced, first hand, the many functions required to ensure the success of a scientific conference. Key tasks included the following: availability to assist as needed in session rooms; track and report attendance at sessions; help with registration; assist attendants at poster sessions; update informational signs; direct meeting participants to activities; and manage fundraising activities for the Society's Trainee Travel Fund. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Video recordings of major sessions have been posted on the SSR's website at this link: http://www.ssr.org/16Videos. The recordings are accessible to the public and to all members of SSR. The 2016 scientific program was published in print media, and distributed to all meeting registrants. A digital version of the scientific program and submitted abstracts was posted on the SSR 2016 Annual Meeting Website, accessible through the following link: http://www.ssr.org/16Itinerary. A mobile meeting app was created and available for download, prior to and during the 2016 Annual Meeting. It featured links to the schedule, session information, abstracts, maps, and more. An SSR 2016 News and Updates Webpage, composed and edited by the SSR 2016 Local Arrangements Committee, was posted on the 2016 Annual Meeting Website at this link: http://www.ssr.org/16LAC, offering suggestions of things to do in the San Diego vicinity. Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/SSRepro) and Twitter announcements (https://twitter.com/ssrepro) provided continual updates and information for SSR members leading up to and throughout the 2016 Annual Meeting. The SSR 2016 Annual Meeting Website, created in late 2015, was continually updated with information about the program, travel, registration, abstract submission, and much more (http://www.ssr.org/16Meeting). What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?The theme for the subsequent SSR Annual Meeting is 50 Years of Research: Looking Back and Moving Forward, and recognizes SSR's contributions to society and highlights reproductive biology as the cornerstone of developing fields- stem cell biology, epigenetics, developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD), and more. Plenary talks, scheduled in both mornings and afternoons, and prestigious speakers will introduce breakthrough discoveries and innovative research in the Keynote Address, during the President's Symposium, in three Expanding Horizon Keynote Lectures, in an Endocrine Disruptors Session, and as part of a Global Entrepreneurs Session. Every full day of the meeting, each of five concurrent symposia will combine two long (30-minute) invited presentations with two short talks selected from submitted abstracts. The Program Committee will choose speakers who will present cutting-edge research on a wide range of topics relative to reproductive biology. Prior to the Opening Ceremonies of the meeting, four concurrent (90-minute) Poster Flash Talks will take place, each containing 30, 3-minute talks selected from submitted abstracts. Also, a Trainee Forum, entitled Becoming an Effective Reviewer: A Means to Enhance Your Scientific Writing, is planned prior to the Opening Ceremonies. The Forum will be open to all trainee registrants and focused on learning how to properly conduct a peer review of manuscripts and grant applications. Plans are in place for an Emerging Technologies Workshop, which will precede the start of the 2017 meeting. The focus of the workshop will be on the importance of multidisciplinary approaches in translating leading-edge discoveries that improve reproductive health, from the bench to the clinic. SSR's abstract submission site welcomes abstracts reporting new basic, clinical, and/or translational research findings in the field of reproduction. SSR's Program Committee will assign abstracts to either oral or poster presentations. No late-breaking abstracts will be allowed. As with each year, the theme is designed to align tightly with the Society's primary goal of bringing together an international group of scientists to explore and discuss the most recent advances in reproductive sciences, and to learn of other related areas of research. Exchange Lectures, featuring award-winning presenters from the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), the Society for Reproduction and Fertility (SRF), and the recipient of SSR's own 2017 New Investigator Award, are planned. A Diversity Symposium and three poster sessions (each with approximately 200 poster presentations) will again be expected. Talks focused on agriculture and large animals will be integrated throughout the program.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Systems Biology of Reproduction, the title and topic of the 49th Annual Meeting Society of the Study of Reproduction, was held at the Sheraton San Diego & Marina, 16-20 July 2016. The program content and format, plus the meeting venue, confirmed the success of the meeting. The methods described in the Major Goals for this project, and the objectives for this and all SSR annual meetings, offer a provocative program and an innovative format for scientists, clinicians, and trainees. Each day of the 2016 Annual Meeting, the scientific program consisted of plenary sessions; six concurrent sessions, morning and afternoon; and morning poster sessions organized by specific topical emphasis. Concurrent sessions (i.e., "Focus Sessions") consisted of a blend/balance of 30-minute invited lectures, 15-minute presentations from submitted abstracts (as selected by session organizers), and 3-minute poster talks. Trainee presenters benefitted from the greater exposure and presentation of their work-side-by-side with leaders in their fields. Topics at the 2016 Annual Meeting featured folliculogenesis, somatic cells, uterine interactions that contribute to pregnancy, gametogenesis, developmental origins of disease, fertilization, ovarian function, environmental effects on development and reproduction, and many more issues related to male and female reproduction in humans and animals. Eric Vilain, M.D., Ph.D., presented the Keynote Address, and spoke on the scientific and societal implications of sexual development disorders and differentiation. State-of-the-Art Lectures were delivered by Scott Fahrenkrug, Ph.D. ("Editing Reproduction") and Eric Betzig, Ph.D. ("High Spatiotemporal Resolution Imaging and Its Implications for Reproductive Biology"). Trey Ideker, Ph.D., Elaine Ostrander, Ph.D., Yoel Sadovsky, Ph.D., and Catherine Dulac, Ph.D., participated in the President's Symposium. These talks focused on protein networks and the integration of mutations and variants, the influence of canine genetics on personalized medicine, molecular signaling at the maternal-placental-fetal communication interface, and molecular architecture of social behavior circuits in the mouse brain. Morning poster sessions provided the opportunity for poster-viewing combined with networking between meeting participants and invited speakers. As in 2015, poster presenters were invited to develop and post audio-recorded versions of their research, whereupon meeting attendees could download the presentations and listen to them at any time during the conference and/or engage in discussions with presenters during or after the meeting. The SSR's post-annual meeting survey revealed overwhelmingly positive feedback for the 2016 program content, framework, and pace. The vast majority of respondents indicated that continuation of an integrated structure for concurrent sessions was preferred and provided a better balance of presentation formats and content. Those who completed the survey requested more neuroendocrinology, sessions related to companion animals and endangered species, and consideration of translational research for future SSR meetings. The program organizers of the 2016 meeting also suggested a later abstract-submission deadline and discontinuing the practice of allowing late breaking abstracts. It is hoped that later deadlines for abstracts will hinder an overabundance of late breaking abstracts and last-minute changes to the program. The session organizers also suggested exploring more opportunities for plenary speakers to interact after sessions with members of the audience.
Publications
|
Progress 06/15/15 to 06/14/16
Outputs
Target Audience:The 2015, 48th Annual Meeting drew a broad, international community of researchers, attracting 826 registrants, with approximately half of the participants originated from countries outside of the United States. The breakdown of registrants is as follows: Regular and Associate SSR Members--317, Trainee members--300, nonmember students--128, Emeritus SSR members--5, and nonmembers--76. Ethnicity as indicated by each attendee was as follows: White--54%, Black--2.5%, Hispanic--7.5%, Asian/Pacific Islander--27%, Native American or Alaskan Native--0.1% , did not identify ethnicity--9%. Attendees included 387 males, 418 females, and 21 who did not reveal gender on the registration form. Registrants represented 35 countries: 482 from the USA, 5 from Far Eastern countries, 86 from Canada, 29 from Japan, 70 from Europe, 60 from Central and South America, 24 from Australia and New Zealand, 23 from China, and 47 from Near and Middle Eastern countries. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?By presenting their work side-by-side with leaders in their fields, numerous Trainees gained high-profile visibility within the scientific community during the Trainee Platform Competition and concurrent Focus Sessions. Trainees also served as Co-chairs of these sessions, working alongside experienced scientists to learn how to manage sessions and assist speakers. Through the additional poster sessions and audio-recorded presentations, poster presenters gained increased opportunities for networking with senior researchers. The Trainee-Mentor Luncheon provided Trainees the opportunity for informal conversations with distinguished scientists regarding how to forge successful careers, form critical collaborations, and maintain balance, both personally and professionally. Similarly, Trainees participated in a Heritage Luncheon, engaging in dialogue with veteran members of SSR and listening to historical perspectives about pioneers in the field of reproductive research. In addition, the invited speaker at the 2015 Diversity Lunch Symposium delivered an in-depth talk on the effects of maternal-fetal health, and further encouraged members in the audience to continue discussions following the event. Numerous grants made it possible for many Trainees to attend the meeting and experience a scientific conference first-hand-through the Lalor Foundation, Burroughs Wellcome Fund, Asia-Pacific, and the USDA, which were especially helpful. Two NIH sessions, a mock study section for grant proposal peer review, a policy seminar, and a Trainee Forum (The Science of Granstmanship Around the Globe) provided opportunities to learn more about grant writing. A Science Education Outreach activity, entitled A Day with a Scientist, brought area high school students to the SSR Annual Meeting to experience a scientific conference. These students participated in hands-on experiments, shadowed Ph.D. students attending the meeting, attended poster sessions, and listened to talks about careers in science. SSR's Trainee Affairs Committee, led by Trainees, developed and managed the Trainee Forum, a Trainee Mixer, the Trainee-Mentor Luncheon, a roommate referral and travel grants program, and the recruitment and assignment of Trainee Session Co-chairs. The committee planned and staffed a Trainee Affairs Committee exhibit throughout the meeting, creating a place to network, access career opportunities online, and recruit volunteers to assist with future meetings. Importantly, the Trainee Volunteer Committee, also led by Trainee members, coordinated over 90 volunteers to assist administrative staff and meeting organizers with signage, session rooms, social events, the speaker ready room, poster sessions, audio posters, and the annual SSR Fun Run, providing them with networking opportunities as well as valuable experience staging and managing a scientific conference. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Video recordings of major sessions have been posted on the Biology of Reproduction Website (SSR's scientific journal), accessible to all members of SSR. A scientific program was published in both digital and print media, and distributed to all meeting registrants. The digital version was posted on the SSR 2015 Annual Meeting Website: http://www.ssr.org/sites/ssr.org/files/uploads/attachments/node/315/2015scheduleprogram.pdf. A mobile meeting app was created and available for download, prior to and during the 2015 Annual Meeting. It featured links to the schedule, session information, abstracts, and more. Meeting abstracts, an itinerary builder, author index, and category index were posted online, accessible through links at the following url: http://www.ssr.org/15Itinerary An SSR 2015 News and Updates Blog (http://ssr2015news.blogspot.com/), Facebook announcements (https://www.facebook.com/SSRepro), and Twitter (https://twitter.com/ssrepro) announcements provided continual updates and information to SSR members leading up to and through the 2015 Annual Meeting. The 2015 SSR Local Arrangements Committee provided information leading up to the meeting regarding the island and the people of Puerto Rico (http://ssr2015news.blogspot.com/search/label/LAC). The SSR 2015 Annual Meeting Website was created early in 2015 and was continually updated with information about the program, travel, registration, abstract submission, and more (http://www.ssr.org/15Meeting). What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?The theme for the subsequent SSR Annual Meeting is Systems Biology of Reproduction. Plenary talks are scheduled for the afternoons and will feature prestigious speakers: in the Keynote Address, during a 2-part President's Symposium, and in the State-of-the-Art Lectures , which will cover super-resolution microscopy and gene editing. Building on the model from 2015, there will be six concurrent Focus Sessions, each combining three long (30-minute) invited presentations with short and long talks selected from submitted abstracts, and a number of 2-minute oral poster presentations. The Program Committee will choose speakers who will present cutting-edge research on a wide range of topics related to reproductive biology. Plans are in place for a workshop prior to the start of the 2016 meeting, with a focus on emerging technologies in reproductive biology, intended to explore the analysis of big datasets that bridge clinical and basic research in the area of assisted reproduction. The Program Committee will appoint Focus Session Chairs who will be responsible for inviting and organizing their respective sessions. An abstract submission site will be established early in 2016, with an estimated submission cut-off date of mid-February. This schedule will allow the Program Committee time to assign abstracts to either oral or poster presentations. Late-breaking abstracts are expected to be allowed, with a limited window for submission, closer to the 2016 Annual Meeting. As with each year, the theme will be designed to align tightly with the Society's primary goal of bringing together an international group of scientists to explore and discuss the most recent advances in reproductive sciences, and to learn of other related areas of research. Exchange Lectures, featuring award-winning presenters from the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), the Society for Reproduction and Fertility (SRF), and the recipient of SSR's own 2016 New Investigator Award, are planned. A Diversity Symposium, Trainee Affairs Forum, three poster sessions (each with approximately 200 poster presentations) will again be expected. Talks focused on agriculture and large animals will be integrated throughout the program.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
The SSR 48th Annual Meeting , Evolution of Sex, was held at the Puerto Rico Convention Center in San Juan, Puerto Rico, 18-22 June 2015. Elizabeth Watkins, Ph.D., delivered the Keynote Address. Ina Dobrinski, D.V.M., Ph.D., and David P. Bartel, Ph.D., presented the State-of-the-Art lectures. Two-day President's Symposia featured David C. Page, M.D., Willie J. Swanson, Ph.D., R. Michael Roberts, Ph.D., and Nathaniel Comfort, Ph.D. These world-renowned speakers inspired and stimulated discussion among meeting participants during plenary session question-and-answer segments, and offered new insights regarding the future evolution of reproductive sciences. Specific topics included controversial and cutting-edge techniques in birth control, male germline stem cell manipulation (using large animal model systems), evolution of non-coding RNAs, and societal impacts of our ability to manipulate the human genome and our own evolution. Six daily and concurrent Focus Sessions attracted specialists within specific topic areas, while addressing the diverse interests of SSR members and meeting participants. Each session was composed of 30-minute invited lectures, together with 15-minute presentations from submitted abstracts, as selected by session organizers. Focus Session themes were as follows: reproductive epigenetics; environmental impacts on ovarian development and function; meiosis; assisted reproduction; uterine implantation and placentation; neuroendocrine control of reproduction; germline transmission of epigenetic effects; gonadal signaling; male germ cell biology; oocytes and embryonic development; signaling, placentation, and parturition during pregnancy; sex; clinical considerations of epigenetics; ovarian function and testis biology; oocyte; RNAs in gametogenesis; effects of parental diet on gamete/embryo development; and exchange lectures with the Society for Reproduction and Fertility and the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Morning poster sessions were complimented by evening reprise poster sessions, which provided additional opportunities for poster viewings and for networking between meeting participants and invited speakers. A new audio component was introduced this year, whereby poster presenters were asked to record 5-minute audio presentations of their posters, upload the presentations to websites, and create QR codes that allowed attendees to capture the recordings on their mobile devices for further review of the research being presented. This provided increased access to and exposure for the presenting researchers, and facilitated additional interactions and dialogue. The 2015 program appealed to SSR members and non-members alike, including those in related disciplines such as DOHAD and epigenetics. A post-annual meeting survey revealed highly positive feedback regarding the integration of invited talks with short oral presentations from submitted abstracts, thereby providing a better mix of presentation formats and content. Many attendees expressed difficulty in deciding between sessions, which SSR considers a preferred scenario over responses describing limited or uninspiring structure and content. The ramifications for the 49th Annual Meeting, in 2016, will be to further develop Focus Sessions, which will contain invited talks mixed with platform presentations, one abstract talk selected from submitted abstracts, and a series of 2-minute oral poster presentations.
Publications
|
Progress 06/15/14 to 06/14/15
Outputs
Target Audience:The 2014 Annual Meeting attracted 767 registrants: regular and associate SSR members numbered 299, trainee members - 260, nonmember students - 74, emeritus SSR members - 9, and nonmembers - 125. Ethnicity as indicated by each attendee was as follows: White - 53%; Black - 2%; Hispanic - 6%; Asian/Pacific Islander - 29%; Native American or Alaskan Native - 0%; did not identify ethnicity - 10%. The attendees included 393 males, 338 females, and 36 whose gender was not identified. Registrants represented 27 countries; of those, 522 registrants were from the USA, 23 from Japan, 58 from Canada, 32 from Europe, 40 from Korea, 36 from Central and South America, 23 from Australia and New Zealand, 11 from Near and Middle Eastern countries, and 22 from Far Eastern countries. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The SSR 2014 Annual Meeting provided an intensive schedule of educational oral and poster sessions over a 3.5-day period. Specifically: twenty-four concurrent module sessions provided a breadth of information regarding research in major topic areas; twenty-two platform sessions afforded Trainees and Junior Researchers the opportunity to present their findings to established scientists, mentors, and peers; and three poster sessions, with a total of 380 research posters, encouraged participants to exchange questions and answers with colleagues regarding their research. Participants heard from renowned speakers in major sessions, including a Keynote Address that emphasized the critical need for contraceptive education and services intervention worldwide; a President's Symposium featuring experts in male and female contraception, followed by a Roundtable Discussion by five leading experts in the field; an AgResearch Plenary Lecture focussed on bovine reproductive physiology and reproductive technologies that will contribute to feeding a growing world population; a Historical Perspectives Lecture presented an overview of lessons learned from the historic cloning of Dolly the sheep that provide new opportunities for the study of degenerative diseases; and a State-of-the-Art Lecture described how sequencing technology is powering genome analyses of humans and animal species. Meeting participants were invited to attend a Diversity Symposium Lecture that described an association between phthalates (semi-volatile organic compounds used to increase the flexibility of plastics, which are present in water supplies) and instances of preterm births, as well as early, abnormal breast development in prepubertal females, for at-risk populations. A Trainee Forum, open to all interested Trainees and early-career scientists, was composed of a diverse panel of speakers who discussed the challenges scientists face in maintaining a work-life balance. A Trainee-Mentor Luncheon matched small groups of Trainees with well-known scientists, providing an opportunity to engage in direct, informal conversation and to discuss careers and research. Continuing Medical Education credits were available to all participants. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Prior to and during the SSR Annual Meeting, organizers disseminated press releases that featured the scientific research being presented at the meeting. Extensive media coverage was arranged through the the Communications Office at Michigan State University, in collaboration with Richett Media, in Grand Rapids. Television interviews between local media representatives and SSR speakers provided information regarding reproductive research that would be of interest to the general public. Video recordings of major sessions have been posted on the Biology of Reproduction Website (SSR's scientific journal), accessible to all members of SSR. A scientific program was published in both a print and digital version, distributed to all meeting registrants. The digital version was posted on the SSR 2014 Annual Meeting Website: http://www.ssr.org/sites/ssr.org/files/uploads/attachments/node/10/14program.pdf. A meeting app was created and available for download, prior to and during the 2014 Annual Meeting, with links to the schedule, session information, abstracts, and much more. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?The theme for the subsequent SSR Annual Meeting is Evolution of Sex, and will feature major Plenary Sessions, poster sessions, and--for the first time--a series of concurrent Focus Sessions, an evolution of the Module format used in recent years. The President and Program Co-Chairs will work collaboratively to identify a series of thematically coherent sessions that will have broad appeal to researchers outside of the Society, as well as to SSR members. The theme is intended to tightly align the annual meeting's primary goal of bringing together an international group of scientists to learn the most recent advances in the reproductive sciences, while at the same time appealing to other related areas of research. The program organizers, consisting of the President, Program Co-Chairs, and carefully selected Focus Session Chairs, will identify and invite the best scientists in the world to present in the following major topic areas: epigenetics, sex determination, gonadal signaling, gonad development, eiosis, stem cells, oocyte biology, oocyte and embryology technology, fertilization and preimplantation development, the role of ncRNA in fertility, implantation and placenta, pregnancy, nutrition as it relates to reproduction, pituitary, environment, and the ovary. Other major sessions will include an Exchange Lecture, featuring award-winning presenters from the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), the Society for Reproduction and Fertility (SRF), and SSR's own 2015 New Investigator Awardee; a Diversity Symposium, a Trainee Affairs Forum, and three poster sessions, each with approximately 200 poster presentations expected. Talks with a focus on agriculture will be incorporated throughout the program.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
The meeting's program, Fertility: A Global Challenge, provided meeting participants with a forum in which they reflected on the many global and diverse backgrounds represented in the reproductive biology research community. Discussions in plenary, module, and platform sessions educated participants on the real-world issues in which reproductive science plays a major role, including the effects of the environment on reproduction in wildlife species, domesticated animals, and humans; the pressing need to regulate population growth; and the development and future of contraception. Participants learned about state-of-the-art approaches for research across the Phyla through round table discussions, and through spirited dialogue between the audiences and presenters. Concurrent sessions at the 2014 SSR Annual Meeting, each with three to four invited speakers, distributed information among the four major topic areas of reproductive biology: gametes, gonads, hormones, and reproductive tracts. Twenty-four platform sessions provided Trainee presenters the opportunity to discuss their research with senior scientists. Together with the Trainee Platform Competition, and daily poster sessions, these emerging scientists practiced and further developed their skills in communication and presentation, which will help them advance on their career paths. The Ag-Research Lecture, featuring USDA-NIFA-sponsored speaker, Dr. Milo Wiltbank (University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin), revealed the genomics of early hominids and provided insights into the evolution of Homo sapiens. Additionally, Sir Ian Wilmut (University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK) provided a background into the historic relevance of cloning and presented recent progress in nuclear transfer and its global implications. Together, invited speakers, presenters, and meeting participants stimulated new research ideas for globally critical topics of contraception, population control, and how to improve reproductive efficiencies in agricultural species.
Publications
|
Progress 06/15/13 to 06/14/14
Outputs
Target Audience: The 2013 Annual Meeting attracted 1,239 registrants; Regular and Associate SSR Members numbered--421, Trainee Members--443, Nonmember Students--153, Emeritus SSR Members--10, and Nonmembers--212. Ethnicity as indicated by each attendee was as follows: White--48%, Black--2%, Hispanic--6%, Asian/Pacific Islander--27%, Native American or Alaskan Native--0%, did not identify ethnicity--17%. The attendees included 561 males, 496 females, and 182 who did not reveal gender on the registration form. Registrants represented 37 countries; of those, 581 were from the USA, 82 from Japan, 281 from Canada, 80 from Europe, 56 from Korea, 81 from Central and South America, 34 from Australia and New Zealand, 8 from Near and Middle Eastern countries, and 36 from Far Eastern countries. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? The SSR 2013 Annual Meeting provided an intensive schedule of educational oral and poster sessions over a 3.5-day period. Participants heard from renowned speakers in major sessions, including a Keynote Address covering the topic of therapeutics, RNAs, and reproductive global health; a President's Symposium featuring a physicist, engineer, and mathematician, who assessed factors related to follicle microenvironment, fertilization, and identifying factors that lead to embryonic loss; and a State-of-the-Art Lecture presenting research on the outcomes of immune responses to infection and vaccination. Twenty concurrent module sessions covering major topic areas, twenty-five platform sessions, and three poster sessions with a total of 682 research posters were presented. Meeting participants were able to participate in a Diversity Symposium Lecture that discussed the affects of environmental contaminants on endocrine disruption. A Trainee Forum, open to all interested Trainees and early-career scientists, was composed of a panel of speakers who discussed transitioning from postdoctoral positions into independent careers. A Trainee-Mentor Luncheon matched small groups of Trainees with well-known scientists, providing an opportunity to engage in direct, informal conversation and to discuss careers, research, and maintaining balance between their professional and personal lives. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Before and during the SSR Annual Meeting, meeting organizers disseminated press releases that highlighted key research being presented. A pressroom was established at the Palais de Congres in Montreal, where reporters interviewed scientists and broadcast reports of interest to the scientific community and the public. Agriculture Today, Canadian Newswire, and Reuters, among many other media outlets, generated views and online dialogue of news releases from the meeting. Video recordings of the major plenary sessions have been posted on the Biology of Reproduction Website (SSR's scientific journal), accessible to all members of SSR. A scientific program including meeting abstracts was published, a print version was distributed to meeting participants, and a digital version was posted on the SSR 2013 Annual Meeting Website: http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/bor/SSR-46th-meeting/index.php. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? The theme for the subsequent SSR Annual Meeting is Fertility: A Global Challenge, which will seek to address the global issues of fertility in human beings, domesticated and agricultural animals, and wildlife species--how environmental changes and world-wide population growth affect fertility. A diverse group of speakers will address multiple challenges in their research, such as improving pregnancy rates in dairy cattle, using human cells to study the molecular mechanisms that cause disease, identifying drugs that reduce debilitating symptoms, treating infertility, and understanding the effects of lifestyle on reproductive outcomes. One module will be designated an NIH-USDA Agricultural/Large Animal Species session, to highlight recipients of NIH-USDA collaborative research grants.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Monitoring and managing global population, fostering human and animal reproductive wellbeing and function, protecting the health of offspring, and understanding the effects of human interaction with the environment on all species are the topics that concern members of the Society for the Study of Reproduction (SSR). The SSR Annual Meeting provided a forum where an international community of reproductive biologists, veterinarians, medical doctors, veterinarians, and industry professionals, together with doctoral and postdoctoral trainees, addressed the relevancy of their research to these important topics. Collaboratively, meeting participants assessed the challenges faced by all members of this field and by society as a whole, discussed methods and approaches for solving unanswered questions, and shared important discoveries to encourage innovative discussions that will shape future outcomes. The SSR Annual Meeting provided an intensive, 3.5-day conference consisting of scientific sessions, workshops, and networking opportunities designed to encourage the advancement of scientific knowledge; protect and preserve human and animal health; attract researchers, clinicians, and trainees from all over the world; and provided training for doctoral and postdoctoral Trainees in the field - the next generation of researchers. Together and individually, participants left the SSR meeting with (1) new scientific methods and techniques that could be applied to research and medical practice, and be disseminated to the world through publications; (2) a better understanding of new policies that improved their ability to receive federal research funding; (3) improved communication skills; and (4) more effective decision-making ability. These outcomes, in turn, will help forge a path toward better quality productivity in agricultural animals, improved fertility and birth control for humans and animals, and a healthier, safer environment.
Publications
|
|