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Invitation from the President
Dear Colleagues,
I am pleased to invite you to attend the 54th Annual Meeting of the Society for Birth Defects Research and Prevention, June 28–July 2, 2014, at the Hyatt Regency Bellevue, in Bellevue, Washington located on the eastside of Seattle. The theme for this year’s meeting is “Pushing the Boundaries of Birth Defects Research.” The Program Committee, chaired by Mary Alice Smith, has put together an outstanding program around this theme. The Education Committee, chaired by Carolyn Kapron, has developed Education Courses entitled “Frontiers in Developmental Biology” and “Mechanisms of Abnormal Embryonic Development” that fit the theme as well. There are presentations by a number of internationally recognized scientists, including TedX presenters Leroy Hood and Todd Coleman, Society for Birth Defects Research and Prevention members Ken Jones and Sonja Rasmussen, and the Elsevier Distinguished Lecturer David Sweatt. The program offers an exciting variety of scientific sessions on topics including epigenetics, early diagnosis of birth defects, testicular dysgenesis syndrome, developmental toxicity, thrombosis during pregnancy, the value of developmental toxicity testing in two species for risk assessment, a student and postdoctoral career workshop, and a symposium with grants program officers. Once again, we are pleased to offer joint sessions and a joint registration fee to maximize interactions with our sister society, the Neurobehavioral Society for Birth Defects Research and Prevention (NBTS).
Our Annual Meeting provides us with the opportunity to promote our shared vision and scientific identity as researchers focused on the causes, manifestations, intervention, and prevention of birth defects, both structural and functional. It also is an expression of our scientific diversity, as a Society of clinicians, scientists, and science policy regulators from academic, industrial, and government sectors. There is no better occasion to learn about the latest scientific research in teratology, to interact with scientists whom you have not yet met, and to network with old friends and colleagues. I urge you to join us for this special event.
Sincerely,
Elaine Z. Francis, PhD
Society for Birth Defects Research and Prevention President
Why Attend the 2014 Society for Birth Defects Research and Prevention Annual Meeting?
Birth defects and developmentally-mediated disorders constitute a major public health concern in the world today. Human development can be affected not only by drugs and chemicals but also by diet, genetics, maternal health, and socioeconomic factors. Understanding and protecting against potential hazards to developing embryos, fetuses, and children requires advanced scientific knowledge from diverse and novel fields such as cell and molecular biology, developmental biology and toxicology, computational modeling, genetics, and epidemiology. The science is put into practice in the areas of prenatal medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics, neonatology, medical genetics, counseling, product safety, risk assessment, and governmental regulations.
Our Annual Meeting provides the opportunity to promote our shared vision and scientific identity as researchers focused on the causes, manifestations, intervention, and prevention of birth defects and disorders of developmental origin.
- The meeting promotes and expresses our scientific diversity as a society of fellow clinicians, scientists, and science policy regulators from academic, industrial, and government sectors.
- Attendees can indulge in discussions from philosophical to practical with established experts in the field, new researchers, and students.
- The Annual Meeting provides a place and time to catch up with colleagues, make new friends, and network.
- Scientific sessions highlight the latest scientific research in birth defects, diseases of developmental origin and cutting edge technologies.
The theme of the 2014 meeting is “Pushing the Boundaries of Birth Defects Research” and will highlight that preventing and treating birth defects and developmental disabilities is dependent on: a) developing and integrating the latest information and technology into research; and b) recruiting, training, and mentoring the next generation of birth defects researchers. Symposia topics include early prenatal diagnosis of birth defects, testicular dysgenesis syndrome, and thrombosis during pregnancy. There will be joint sessions with the Neurobehavioral Society for Birth Defects Research and Prevention (NBTS) on epigenetics and the latest results from the National Children’s Study. There will be numerous career development events designed specifically for students and new and early stage investigators, such as a Career Development Luncheon on topics including publishing a manuscript, choosing life-long mentors, writing for success, and integrative thinking.
If your research and/or daily activities involve any of the items below, you should come to Bellevue.
- Researchers whose cutting edge science that can be applied to birth defects research such as research with stem cells, adverse outcomes pathways, computational toxicology, genomics/genetics, mechanistic toxicology, proteomics or metabolomics.
- Clinicians involved in early diagnosis of birth defects, technologies to identify birth defects or adverse pregnancy outcomes, identification of chemicals and pathogens that affect pregnancy and development,
- Epidemiologists working to recognize developmental disabilities,
- Regulators responsible for interpreting and managing regulations based on reproductive and developmental endpoints,
- Developmental and Reproductive Toxicologists who develop and/or test pharmaceuticals or chemicals for development and reproductive effects,
- Pharmacologists who develop and design new drugs and chemicals for use during pregnancy and early childhood.
- Educators teaching developmental and reproductive biology/toxicology, serve as mentors to students, or develop training materials for scientists, clinicians or pregnant women,
- Students with a desire to learn more in developmental or reproductive toxicology, and diseases of developmental origin, and who want a career in government, academia, or industry in the field of birth defects research.
Register early and save.
The meeting will be held at the Hyatt Regency Bellevue on Seattle's Eastside, located 20 minutes from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and nine miles east of Seattle. The Hyatt serves as an anchor within the trendy Bellevue Collection. Stroll through connecting sky bridges and discover more than 250 shops, 45 restaurants and lounges, and plenty of entertainment options directly adjacent to the hotel.
Emeritus members are encouraged to attend the meeting and the Education Courses. Reduced registration rates have been established for Emeritus members of the Society for Birth Defects Research and Prevention to participate in the Annual Meeting. To qualify for this rate you must be an approved Emeritus Member of the Society for Birth Defects Research and Prevention.
We applaud the 2014 Program and Education Committees for preparing an outstanding meeting. The 2014 program represents the great strengths of our multidisciplinary Society and presents something for everyone. The Society for Birth Defects Research and Prevention invites you to join us in Bellevue, Washington for an exciting and rewarding scientific meeting.
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