#SSR2014: Poster Numbers For Some Abstracts Have Shifted Slightly

Please check the online itinerary or the meeting app for your correct poster number (search by your name or title), or check the lists on the cocktail tables in the main poster aisle, registration, or preregistration to confirm your abstract number.

If you have already put your poster up, the SSR office has moved it to its correct location on your behalf.

#SSR2014 Announcements & Updates: WiFi, CME, Opening Reception, Awards, Support, and More

Pick up your pre-registration packet, or register on-site, for #SSR2014 starting today, 19 July from 9:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.  in the Grand Gallery at DeVos Place Convention Center, Grand Rapids, Michigan!

WiFi

Free wireless internet is available in the guest rooms for all SSR participants staying at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel. Free WiFi will be provided throughout the Annual Meeting at DeVos Place for all meeting attendees, courtesy of the Michigan Milk Producers Association.

Log-in to “Devos” network, open a browser, and then enter:

USER NAME: SSR2014

PASSWORD: fertilizethis

Social Media

Use #SSR2014 when posting about the meeting on your preferred social media platform.

Schedule Change

Session chairs, co-chairs, and session volunteers will meet in Steelcase Ballroom D, DeVos Place, Saturday 2:30-3:30 p.m.

CME

Those attendees who would like to receive Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits at this year’s meeting may pick up packets at the on-site registration desk.

Opening Reception Drink Tickets

All registrants can attend the Opening Reception and will receive two complimentary drink tickets for beer, wine, or soda. Additional drink tickets, if desired, are available for $5 and MUST be purchased from registration BEFORE the reception. No cash sales will be allowed at the reception; complimentary fruit punch, water, and coffee will be available and require no drink ticket.

Opening Reception Shuttle

The shuttle to the Opening Reception will depart from the Amway Grand Plaza Lyon Street side entrance, between the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel and DeVos Place Convention Center.

Awards Presentations

Please attend the 2014 Awards Presentation and congratulate the 2014 SSR Awardees. Please note that the order of presentation will be as follows:

·         SSR New Investigator Award (Supported by the Virendra B. Mahesh New Investigator Fund): Kanako Hayashi, PhD (Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Illinois, USA); Introduction: Jodi A. Flaws PhD (University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois, USA).

·         Distinguished Service Award (Supported by Michigan State University, Department of Animal Science): Mary B. Zelinski, PhD (Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, Oregon, USA); Introduction: Diane Duffy (Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, Virginia, USA).

·         SSR Trainee Mentoring Award (Supported by Michigan State University, College of Human Medicine): Bruce D. Murphy, PhD (University of Montreal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec, Canada); Introduction: Rajesha Duggavathi, BVSc, MVSc, PhD (McGill University, Ste-Anne de Bellevue, Quebec, Canada).

·         SSR Research Award (Supported by Michigan State University, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology): Peter J. Hansen, PhD (University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA); Introduction: William W. Thatcher, PhD (University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA).

·         Carl G. Hartman Award (Supported by a grant from Cook Medical): William W. Thatcher, PhD (University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA); Introduction: Peter J. Hansen PhD (University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA).

Annual Meeting Support Correction

University of Michigan: the Department of Environmental Health Sciences-Lead Center was incorrectly listed. The correct affiliation is “EHS Core Center on Lifestage Exposures and Adult Disease.” This center has given specific program support for the presentation of Eric Nilsson, PhD (Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA), “Environmentally Induced Epigenetic Transgenerational Inheritance of Ovarian Disease,” Module Session I-C, on Sunday, 20 July.

Viewing Schedule/Abstracts

·         SSR Website Schedule of Events: https://www.ssr.org/14Schedule

·         SSR Guidebook app with schedule and abstracts: http://www.ssr.org/14ItineraryApp#guidebook-app

·         SSR Annual Meeting Abstracts search: http://precis.preciscentral.com/utils/ip/FindPresentation.asp?EventId=5dd9db5e&bhjs=1&bhqs=1

Trainee Forum Announcement and Title Changes

Trainee Forum Announcement and Title Changes

All eight Trainee Forum speakers have now been announced:

Trainee Forum: Maintaining the Work–Life Balance. Organized by the Trainee Affairs Committee.

• Speakers:
• Janice L. Bailey, Ph.D. (Laval University, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada).
• Janice P. Evans, Ph.D. (Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA).
• Greg FitzHarris, Ph.D. (University College London, London, UK).
• Karla Hutt, Ph.D. (Monash Institute of Medical Research–Prince Henry's Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, Victoria, Australia).
• Martin M. Matzuk, M.D., Ph.D. (Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA).
• Jon Oatley, Ph.D. (Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA).
• Marc-Andre Sirard, D.V.M., Ph.D. (Laval University, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada).
• Mary B. Zelinski, Ph.D. (Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, Oregon, USA).

For more information and to sign up for this event, go to https://www.ssr.org/14Trainees#trainee-forum

Titles have been provided or updated for the following scientific sessions:

President’s Symposium

• Jeffrey T. Jensen, M.D. (Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA). "The Future of Female Contraception: New Targets, More Choice."
• John K. Amory, M.D. (University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA). "Novel ALDH1A2 Inhibitors for Male Contraception."

Module A. Mechanisms of Fertility/Infertility; Session II. Germ Cell Development and Function

• James A. MacLean II, Ph.D. (Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Illinois, USA). "Somatic RHOX Homeobox Factors Support Male Fertility."

Module A. Mechanisms of Fertility/Infertility; Session VI. Placentation and Parturition

• Kathleen M. Caron, Ph.D. (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA). "Fetal Signals that Contribute to Maternal Adaptation to Pregnancy."

Module B. Translation of Basic Science to Real-World Practice; Session I. Humans/Nonhuman Primate Models

• Jun Wang, Ph.D. (Beijing Genomics Institute, Beijing, China). "A New Era of Noninvasive Prenatal Testing: Cell Free DNA and Fetal Cell Sequencing."

Module B. Translation of Basic Science to Real-World Practice; Session IV. Wildlife, Feral Species, Companion Animals

• Katarina Jewgenow, Ph.D. (Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany). "The Miracle of Lynx Reproduction—Histological and Hormonal Life Span of CL in Felids."

Module D. Ovarian Workshop; Session I. Fertility Preservation

• Karla Hutt, Ph.D. (Monash Institute of Medical Research–Prince Henry's Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, Victoria, Australia). "Emerging Approaches to Preserve Fertility in Young Women with Cancer: Preventing Follicle Loss."

Early Registration Discount for SSR 2014 Ends May 31st

Do not delay. Time is running out.  Early registration discount for the annual meeting in Grand Rapids ends May 31st! (https://www.ssr.org/14Registration)

The program is complete and includes an exciting list of speakers and topics that will be of interest to all SSR members. Highlights of this year's meeting include:

Opening Keynote Address & President's Symposium

The Opening Keynote Address and President's Symposium will focus on contraception, a key issue for the reproductive health and welfare of the human race. While contraceptive user rates are increasing in many developed and developing countries, there are still many gaps regarding the suitability of contraceptives for all individuals and in their availability, which collectively increases the likelihood of unintended pregnancies. The opening lecture will be given by Dr. Anna Glasier, University of Edinburgh, an expert on emergency contraception who played a key role in its deregulation. The following day, in the President's Symposium, world-renowned experts in the field of contraception research (Jeffrey Jensen, Oregon Health and Science University; Christina Wang, University of California-Los Angeles) will discuss advances as well as challenges in contraceptive use and the development of new methodologies. The symposium will be followed by a roundtable discussion that includes participation of meeting attendees from the audience, speakers, as well as experts in the area of contraceptive development (Drs. John Amory, University of Washington; Diana Blithe, NIH/NICHD; Richard Stouffer, Oregon National Primate Research Center).

AgResearch Plenary Lecture

Dr. Milo Wiltbank (University of Wisconsin-Madison) will provide an overview of the importance of reproductive research in optimizing fertility outcomes in domesticated animal species and describe how these efforts contribute to our ability to feed a growing global population.

Historical Perspectives Lecture

Sir Ian Wilmut (University of Edinburgh) will provide a historical account of cloning and the advances that resulted in its application to numerous species.

State-of-the-Art Lecture

Dr. Richard Green (University of California-Santa Cruz) will discuss his involvement in the original sequencing of the Neanderthal genome and how this information has transformed our understanding of human evolution.

Hot Topics in Reproductive Sciences Lecture

Dr. Enrica Bianchi (Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute) and colleagues recently reported on the characterization of the molecular components, specifically Juno-Izumo protein interactions, which are critical for sperm-egg binding and fertilization. She will provide an overview of this recent work and discuss its potential importance for the control of fertility.

In addition to these outstanding plenary lectures, a full and comprehensive set of Modules and Platform sessions have been scheduled. Please see the SSR meeting website (http://www.ssr.org/14SciProgram) for a complete listing of the meeting events.

This will be a great meeting in a fantastic venue (thanks to Dr. Asgi Fazleabas and the Local Arrangements Committee). There is something for everyone!

Presentation Instructions, Roommate Referral Service, Schedule Updates

Presentation Instructions

If you are presenting a poster, platform, or invited talk at SSR 2014, visit the Presentation Instructions page for important rules, tips, and guidelines.

Roommate Referral Service

Are you an SSR Trainee Member seeking a roommate for SSR 2014? If so, then join the Trainee Facebook group and post a message to the Roommate Referral Service event. If you need help accessing the event or the Facebook group, contact your Trainee Affairs Committee Chairs, Annie and Tony, at trainees@ssr.org.

Schedule Updates

The following modules have swapped time slots:

Sunday, 20 July 2014. 3:35–4:55 p.m.
Module Session I-B. Translation of Basic Science to Real-World Practice. Humans/Nonhuman Primate Models. Chair: Asgerally T. Fazleabas, Ph.D. (Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA).

• Invited Talk. Jun Wang, Ph.D. (Beijing Genomics Institute, Beijing, China). "To Explore the Unexploreable."
• Platform. Speaker and title to be announced.
• Invited Talk. Krina T. Zondervan, Ph.D. (University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom). "Endometriosis in Humans and the Rhesus Macaque."

Monday, 21 July 2014. 5:00–6:20 p.m. Module Session IV-B. Translation of Basic Science to Real-World Practice. Wildlife, Feral Species, Companion Animals. Chair: Pierre Comizzoli, Ph.D. (Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Washington, D.C., USA).

• Invited Talk. Michelle Kutzler, D.V.M., Ph.D. (Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA). "Gonad-Sparing Sterilization Techniques in Dogs: Benefits of Contraception Without Risks of Gonadectomy."
• Platform. Speaker and title to be announced.
• Invited Talk. Katarina Jewgenow, Ph.D. (Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany). "The Miracle of Lynx Reproduction: Life Cycle of Corpora Lutea in Feline Species."

A title has been provided for the following scientific session:

SSR New Investigator Lecture.

• Invited Talk. Kanako Hayashi, Ph.D. (Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Illinois, USA). "The Impact of Epithelial Genes in Endometrial and Ovarian Cancer."

Late-Breaking Abstracts, Supporters, Airport Shuttle Service, LAC Posts, Schedule Update

Late-Breaking Abstracts

Starting tomorrow, 15 April 2014, the SSR Program Committee welcomes late-breaking abstracts for poster presentation at SSR 2014. These abstracts are not eligible for awards. Submission closes at midnight (EST), 15 May 2014.

Annual Meeting Supporters

We've already received a number of generous contributions to help support the 2014 Annual Meeting. Please help us thank these contributors, who are identified on the SSR 2014 Supporters page and will be recognized in the Meeting Program, on signage and slides at the meeting venue, at the Opening Ceremony, and at supported events.

If you would like to contribute to the SSR Annual Meeting, please visit Exhibits, Support, and Sponsorship for more information.

Airport Shuttle Service

If you're planning to fly in to Grand Rapids, coach shuttle service for SSR Meeting attendees will be available every hour, on the hour, between the Gerald R. Ford International Airport and the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel. Please see our Travel page for schedules.

New LAC Posts

SSR's Michigan-based Members have added two more entries to their ongoing blog, Enjoying West Michigan.

"Michigan Fly Fishing": As a companion to the fishing blog by the Risingers and Sue Ferguson, Dr. Gary Smith and Mike "Schultzy" Schultz (owner of Schultz Outfitters) provide the low-down on fishing on the fly. Tips include the best places to catch your fish of choice, the truth behind the Michigan Monster Mayflies (3M), and even the best rod/reel/line combo for top-water smallmouth fishing. Schultzy's recommendation for a family-friendly fishing and vacation destination, Traverse City, leads into the next post in the series (below).

"A Wine and Food Tour of Northern Michigan": If you enjoy farm-to-table dining, vineyard tours, and beautiful sights, Dr. Kristin Parkin strongly recommends a trip to the Grand Traverse area. Based on her own 30+ years of traveling in the area, Dr. Parkin has put together a two-day wine and food tour of northern Michigan that's sure to delight. If you're lucky, you might even run into acclaimed chef Mario Batali, who spends his summers in the area.

Schedule Update

The names of all module chairs have been added to the preliminary schedule. Please note that this schedule is subject to change; the date of a particular module session may shift.

Burroughs Wellcome, New LAC Post, T-Shirt Design, Schedule Update

Burroughs Wellcome Travel Fellowships

Applications are now available for 2014 Burroughs Wellcome Travel Fellowships for underrepresented minority trainees and junior faculty from the U.S. or Canada. Please visit the Travel Fellowships page for eligibility details and to download an application. The deadline is 10 May 2014.

New LAC Post

If you have even the slightest interest in fishing, you'll love "West Michigan Fishing Paradise," the new LAC post by Michigan State University's Sue Ferguson and John Risinger. They and their fishing companions are on shore (or on the ice) year-round, and they're sharing their stockpile of tips, tricks, and trophy photos so that you, too, can get a taste of the action.

T-Shirt Design

Back

Front

T-shirts with the SSR 2014 logo will be available for $15 each in both female and unisex adult styles (small to XXL). Proceeds of T-shirt sales support the Larry Ewing Memorial Trainee Travel Fund (LEMTTF). T-shirts should be purchased during pre-registration; a limited supply will be available for purchase at the Meeting.

Schedule Update

Speakers and/or titles have been provided for the following events:

Diversity Lunch Symposium.

• Invited Talk. José F. Cordero, M.D. (University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico). "Risk Factors for Preterm Births in Puerto Rico: From Health Disparities to Endocrine Disruptors."