Sixteenth ovarian workshop

Ovarian Differentiation, Development, Function and Persistence

July 19-21, 2007 - San Antonio, Texas, USA

• 2.5 days Days, 101 total attendees (14 Speakers, 5 Scientific Committee Members, 80 Participants, 2 Staff), no commercial exhibits, 28 Posters, 1 Poster Prize for best research based on merit.
• Attendee type: 82% Scientists, 8% Physicians, 10% Other. 93% of total audience does scientific research as a primary role. 28% of the audience has greater than 20 years of experience in their primary profession. 48% of total audience were trainees (37/80 were trainees).
• Credit type: ACCME, ABB
• Sessions focused on new advances in reproductive science focusing on population research, ovarian preservation, ovarian-cervical infertility, the impact of environmental contaminants on ovarian function and advanced technologies (proteomics, transplant technology), and bioinformatics to understand ovarian function and disease.
• 100% of survey respondents felt the symposium was ‘scientifically rigorous’.
• 100% of Attendees reported that they would recommend this program to a colleague.
• 100% of Attendees reported that the content was free from commercial bias.
• Objectives of the course were to:

• Understand the impact of disease, cancer treatment, environmental pollutants, and advanced reproductive technologies on the population.

• Gain knowledge in the recent advances in understanding the biology behind ovarian development and the genetic pathway leading to an ovary.

  Gain knowledge of the applications of genomics, proteomics, and bioinformatics as they apply to ovarian research.

• Gain knowledge of the new ethics in reproductive medicine and regenerative science and of concepts relevant to advances at the bench as they move forward to the bedside.

• Advance our understanding of ovarian function so that this basic knowledge can be translated to clinical applications to enhance or control fertility and treat, reduce, and/or eliminate ovarian dysfunction and cancer.

The Cornelia Channing New Investigator poster abstract award of $500 was given to Zelieann Rivera for her work titled: “Gene expression in the follicle-depleted ovary of VCD-treated mice” in Pat Hoyer’s lab at University of Arizona in Tuscon. Supported by a NIH-NIA Grant.

• Selected learner comments included:
• “I head a lot of new ideas and was able to meet new people.”
• “Very stimulating, well organized, lots of lively discussion.”
• “Good interaction, updated information and future directions”
• “A great opportunity to meet with other researchers.”
• “Very educational, great opportunity to meet and interact with experts and colleagues in the field, smaller meeting size provides greater opportunity for information exchange.”
• “Plenty of time to interact and gain much information outside of talks.”
• “As I am a trainee and it was my first major conference, I would recommend it to others in the same situation as it is an intimate and friendly environment which encourages interaction and learning.”
• “Good overview of subject - excellent discussions - meeting a good size to be informal and informative.”
• “Speakers were excellent - combination of historical review and new developments was excellent.”
• “It is a unique opportunity to discuss a single topic with experts in the field”
• “Excellent topics - exciting new research!”
• “Enjoyed the open atmosphere to ask probing questions.”
• “Very high quality talks. I also liked the format - good talk length, session length and plenty of time for discussion. It's nice to have all meals on site so there's lots of opportunity for interactions.”
• “Very intense - most cutting-edge findings.”
• “Well focused, high quality speakers, good size of faculty and attendees, time for good discussion, encouraging for young scientists, good "all included" package.”

According to Teresa Woodruff, Scientific Chairperson, the most significant outcomes were:

• New awareness of fertility preservation options for women with cancer and new frontiers in follicle and oocyte maturation.

• Critical new information on population biology and new frontiers in ethics of reproductive science.

Disclosure of Faculty Relationships

BioSymposia, Inc., adheres to guidelines of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation (ANCCCA), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and all other professional organizations as applicable, stating that programs where continuing education credits are awarded must be balanced, independent, objective, and scientifically rigorous.

As uses for pharmaceutical agents, medical devices, and other products may be presented in the program that are not necessarily the same as those indicated in approved product labeling (but which may reflect clinical experience, the professional literature or other clinical sources known to the presenter or for investigational uses of products), we ask the presenter to provide participants with information about relationships with pharmaceutical and/or medical equipment companies that may have relevance to their lectures. This policy is not intended to exclude faculty who have relationships with such companies; it is simply intended to inform participants of any potential conflicts so that participants may form their own judgments based on full disclosure of the facts. Further, these opinions and recommendations presented during the program or materials related to the program do not imply an endorsement or recommendation on the part of BioSymposia, Inc. These presentations solely represent the independent views of the presenters/authors.

The following faculty and planners provided information regarding significant commercial relationships and/or discussions of investigational or non-FDA approved (off-label) uses of drugs:

Richard S. Legro, M.D. discloses that he is a consultant for Ferring Pharmaceuticals, GlaxoSmithKline, and Advantx.

Clarisa R. Gracia, M.D., M.S.C.E. discloses that she may discuss the off-label use of leuprolide-acetate for preserving fertility.

The following faculty and planners indicated no significant relationship with commercial supporters and/or discussion of investigational or non-FDA approved (off-label) uses of drugs:

Planners: Jock K. Findlay, Ph.D., D.Sc., Patricia B. Hoyer, Ph.D., Benjamin K. Tsang, Ph.D., Teresa K. Woodruff, Ph.D.

Speakers: Roger G. Gosden, Ph.D., D.Sc., Katharine Hardy, Ph.D., Patricia A. Hunt, Ph.D., Wendy N. Jefferson, Ph.D., Joan S. Jorgenson, D.V.M., Ph.D., Julang Li, Ph.D., Todd Nystul, Ph.D., Gordon B. Mills, M.D., Ph.D., Steven F. Mullen, Ph.D., Lonnie D. Shea, Ph.D., Alan Trounson, Ph.D., Paul F. A. Van Look, M.D., Ph.D., Laurie Zoloth, Ph.D.

Marc-Andre Sirard, D.V.M., Ph.D. has withdrawn his participation from the meeting.

Commercial Support and Other Disclosures

BioSymposia, Inc., is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. All of our programs are organized solely to promote the exchange and dissemination of scientific and medical information. No forms of promotional activities are permitted. There may be presentations discussing investigational uses of various products. These views are the responsibility of the named speakers, and do not represent an endorsement or recommendation on the part of BioSymposia, Inc.

This program is supported by an unrestricted educational grant from EMD Serono, Inc. In addition, BioSymposia personnel are employees of EMD Serono, Inc. and BioSymposia, Inc. also receives other in-kind support from EMD Serono, Inc. in the form of space and administrative services.

The organizing committee of the Ovarian Workshop thanks the following grantors and sponsors for their support of ovarian biology research:

EMD Serono, Inc.

The National Institutes of Health: NICHD, NIEHS, and NCI

Diagnostic Systems Laboratories, Inc. A Beckman Coulter Company

The Endocrine Society

The Institute for Women’s Health of Northwestern University

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