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!
