Narsingh Agnish Fellowship

This award recognizes Narsingh Agnish’s contributions to the Society for Birth Defects Research and Prevention, particularly the implementation of the Education Course. The Narsingh Agnish Fellowship is awarded to a senior member of the Society for Birth Defects Research and Prevention who has made a major contribution to education in the field of teratology or a related discipline. The 2015 recipient is Melissa S. Tassinari, US Food and Drug Administration, who will present on Saturday, June 27 at 8:10 am.

Josef Warkany Lecturer

This lecture recognizes Josef Warkany’s contributions to the Society for Birth Defects Research and Prevention. Dr. Warkany was the first person to demonstrate that exposures to environmental chemicals are responsible for production of congenital malformation. His early studies culminated in the formulation of the scientific principles of teratology. This award recognizes a scientist who has significantly contributed to the field of teratology over his/her career. This year’s lecture will be presented by William Slikker Jr., National Center for Toxicological Research, US FDA on Sunday, June 28 at 8:15 am.

F. Clarke Fraser New Investigator Award

This award honors F. Clarke Fraser, one of the founding members of the Society for Birth Defects Research and Prevention, for his many contributions to the field of developmental toxicology. The award recipient must be an active member of the Society for Birth Defects Research and Prevention with evidence of a successful independent research career in birth defects research. This year’s award recipient is Sarah G. Obican, Columbia University, who will present on Sunday, June 28 at 1:30 pm.

James G. Wilson Publication Award

This award is presented in recognition of the best paper accepted or published in the journal Birth Defects Research. The dual purpose of the award is to provide recognition to the authors of the best paper and to encourage authors trained in various disciplines to submit high-quality papers to Birth Defects Research. The paper selected for this year’s award is The Microbiome in Early Life: Self-Completion and Microbiota Protection As Health Priorities. Rodney R. Dietert, Cornell University, will present the data on Sunday, June 28 at 2:00 pm.

Patricia Rodier Mid-Career Award for Research and Mentoring

This award honors the legacy of Dr. Patricia Rodier, a past President of the Neurobehavioral Society for Birth Defects Research and Prevention and a Council member of the Society for Birth Defects Research and Prevention. The purpose of the award is to recognize a mid-career individual who has demonstrated successful independent research in neurobehavioral teratology, birth defects, or other related fields involving the central nervous system; and has demonstrated a commitment to mentorship of students, postdoctoral fellows, young investigators, and/or trainees. This year’s award recipient is Gregg D. Stanwood, Florida State University, who will present on Sunday, June 28 at 5:30 pm.

Birth Defects Research Distinguished Scholar Awards
These awards recognize distinguished authors for the importance, impact, and relevance of their published works in the field of birth defects research. The dual purpose of these awards is to provide recognition to the authors of high impact papers and to encourage authors trained in various disciplines to submit high quality papers to Birth Defects Research Part A and Birth Defects Research Part B. Award recipients will be recognized during the Annual Meeting Banquet on Wednesday, July 1.

Birth Defects Research Part A

The 2015 recipients of this award are Mark A. Canfield, Texas Department of State Health Services; Adolfo Correa, University of Mississippi Medical Center; and Russell S. Kirby, University of South Florida for their research associated with national prevalence estimates for selected birth defects (reference papers: National estimates and race/ethnic-specific variation of selected birth defects in the United States, 1999–2001; BDRA 76, 11: 747–756; and Updated national birth prevalence estimates for selected birth defects in the United States, 2004-2006; BDRA 88, 12: 1008-1016).

Birth Defects Research Part B

The 2015 recipients of this award are Karen A. Augustine-Rauch, Bristol-Myers Squibb and Kimberly Brannen, Charles River Laboratories for their research associated with development of a zebrafish embryo teratogenicity assay and the associated quantitative prediction model (reference paper: Development of a zebrafish embryo teratogenicity assay and quantitative predictive model; BDRB 89, 1: 66–77).

Robert L. Brent Lecture

This lecture recognizes Robert L. Brent’s contributions to the Society for Birth Defects Research and Prevention and particularly to the implementation of the “Teratogen Update.” The purpose of the Robert L. Brent Lecture is to facilitate the discussion of new and old teratogens during the Annual Meeting. The 2015 Robert L. Brent Lecture will be presented by Jan M. Friedman, University of British Columbia, on Tuesday, June 30 at 8:30 am.

Edward W. Carney Society for Birth Defects Research and Prevention Distinguished Service Award

This award honors Edward W. Carney, Past President of the Society for Birth Defects Research and Prevention, for his exemplary dedication and service to the Society and the field of teratology. The 2015 Edward W. Carney Distinguished Service Award recipient is Jan M. Friedman, University of British Columbia. Dr. Friedman has had a wide reaching impact on the Society for Birth Defects Research and Prevention stemming from his nearly 30 years of membership and service to our Society, his active role in seven committees/focus areas, and his service as the Society’s President. The personal impact he has had on our field is clear as he is known to many as a consummate scientist, a trusted advisor, and an outstanding teacher and mentor to numerous students, fellows, and current members. Beyond being well respected internationally and with an exemplary publication record, his advisory roles to TERIS, the US FDA, and the CDC stand out as an example of his strong leadership within our field. In summary, through these and other numerous contributions he has left an indelible mark on the Society for Birth Defects Research and Prevention and the field of birth defects research at large.