I am pleased to invite you to attend the 56th Annual Meeting of the Society for Birth Defects Research and Prevention, June 25–29, 2016, at the Grand Hyatt San Antonio, in San Antonio, Texas. The theme for this year’s meeting is “New Horizons in Birth Defects Research” and the Program Committee, chaired by Sonja A. Rasmussen, has put together an outstanding program around this theme. The program offers an exciting variety of scientific sessions on topics including:

• state of the art approaches to developmental toxicity testing,
  
• postmarketing assessment of drugs,
  
• current concepts in pregnancy registries,
  
• neurodevelopmental defects from fetal exposure to recreational drugs,
  
• new approaches for the treatment of birth defects,
• in vitro models of neurovascular development,
  
• depression and treatment during pregnancy,
  
• advances in placental research,
  
• concerns around genetically modified organisms (GMOs),
  
• science and public policy,
  
• monoclonal antibody drug testing across species,
  
• toxicity of nanoparticles,
  
• and more!

In addition, students will participate in the Wilson Student/Postdoctoral Platform Session and a student and postdoctoral career workshop.

In keeping with the theme of the meeting, the Education Committee, chaired by Chris J. Stodgell, has developed two exciting Education Courses entitled “Embryology in Modern Times” and “Development and Teratology of the Heart.”

Once again, we are pleased to offer joint sessions and a joint registration fee to maximize interactions with our sister societies, the Developmental Neurotoxicology Society (DNTS) and Organization of Teratology Information Specialists (OTIS).

To make this annual meeting truly excellent, WE NEED YOU to present your latest research findings! The abstract deadline is Monday, February 15, 2016. So plan now to submit an abstract of your work!

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 look forward to seeing you in San Antonio and hearing about your latest activities!

Sincerely,
Tacey E.K. White, PhD
Society for Birth Defects Research and Prevention President

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 2016 meeting is “New Horizons in 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 numerous career development events designed specifically for students and new and early stage investigators.

If your research and/or daily activities involve any of the items below, you should come to San Antonio!

• Researchers whose cutting edge science 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 and Postdoctoral Fellows 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.