Late-Breaking Abstracts: 25 April–9 May 2013

Beginning on Thursday, 25 April 2013, and ending on Thursday, 9 May 2013, the SSR Program Committee will welcome late-breaking abstracts that report new basic, clinical, or translational research findings concerning reproduction. 

As with regular abstracts, authors do not need to be members of SSR and there are no restrictions on species studied; however, all accepted late-breaking abstracts will be presented as posters. 

Failure to comply with all rules for the submission and format of abstracts may be cause for rejection.

Please visit the 2013 Late-Breaking Abstracts page for details:

• SSR 2013 Abstracts
• Rules Governing Submission of Late-Breaking Abstracts
• Submission Process for Late-Breaking Meeting Abstracts
• To Submit an Abstract
• Submission Process Details

Abstract Decisions, Redesigned SSR Meetings Page, Tourisme Montréal Microsite, Schedule Change

Abstract Decisions Announced

If you submitted an abstract to SSR 2013 this winter, then a decision notification e-mail was sent to you on Thursday the 28th or Friday the 29th of March. If you did not receive a message, please contact the SSR Business Office at ssr-am@ssr.org.

Presentation notifications are expected to be distributed in mid- to late-April 2013.

Redesigned SSR Meetings Page

Have you seen the redesigned SSR Meetings page? Tell us what you think!

Tourisme Montréal: SSR 2013 Microsite

Tourisme Montréal has developed an SSR 2013-specific website at http://ssr.alamontreal.com that includes a calendar of events and a discount coupon book (click on the "Exclusive Offers" tab). Take a look!

Schedule Changes

A title has been provided for the following scientific session:

• Gametes Session 4. Gamete Function in Fertilization.
            Invited Talk. Betsy Navarro, Ph.D. (Harvard Medical School, Boston,
            Massachusetts). Progress in CatSper, the Spermatozoan-Specific
            Calcium Channel.

LAC Welcome, Burroughs Wellcome Applications, Heritage Luncheon, Diversity Activities

Welcome from the 2013 Local Arrangements Committee

Montréal is a thoroughly international and multilingual city that celebrates the summer with festivals and activities for everyone.

This meeting will boast two tourism web sites: one by Tourisme Montréal (under development) and one by the Local Arrangements Committee (LAC; http://www.ssr2013.com). An initiative of Géraldine Delbès, the LAC site provides our personal perspectives on the multiple attractions in and about Montréal. You'll find blogs about the local terrain, points of interest, getting around town, our favorite restaurants, and, of course, tips on how to enjoy Montréal's renowned nightlife.

The meeting overlaps with Montréal's famous comedy festival, Just for Laughs, with comedy clubs, comedy shows, and street performers all near the Palais. And the weather is glorious in July; sun all day and shirt-sleeve evenings.

We promise an exciting meeting and a unique cultural experience for SSR 2013!

—Bruce Murphy and Hugh Clarke, Co-Chairs

Burroughs Wellcome Travel Fellowship Applications

Applications are now available for 2013 Burroughs Wellcome Travel Fellowships for underrepresented minority trainees and junior faculty from the U.S. or Canada. Please visit the Travel Fellowships page for eligibility details and to download an application. The deadline is 10 May 2013.

Heritage Luncheon 

The SSR Heritage Committee is hosting a luncheon and talk honoring Professor Alfred Jost, who is recognized as the father of modern fetal endocrinology and his discovery of the Müllerian inhibitor (now known as anti-Müllerian hormone [AMH] or Müllerian-inhibiting substance). The presentation will be delivered by Dr. Nathalie Josso (Institut Paris-Sud sur les Cytokines, INSERM, Clamart, France), who was a student with Dr. Jost and participated in his pioneer work. Please see the Special Events page for session rates.

Diversity Activities

The Minority Affairs/Diversity Committee organizes several events during the SSR meeting, including:

• Travel Awards and Fellowships for Underrepresented Trainees and Junior Faculty
• Lunch Symposium and Reception
• Exhibit Booth

Abstract Deadline Extended; SSR 2013 Awardees Announced

Deadline for SSR 2013 Abstracts and Trainee Awards Extended

Due to the severity of the snowstorm in the Northeastern United States and its effect on infrastucture, the abstract deadline for the 2013 annual meeting of SSR and the qualification deadline for Trainee awards have been extended to the end of the day, 24:00h US Eastern Time (GMT -5:00), on Friday, 22 February 2013.

SSR 2013 Awards Announced

Please join us in congratulating the SSR 2013 Awardees, whose awards will be presented during the SSR 2013 Annual Meeting, 22–26 July 2013. Please refer to the Schedule of Events for dates and times.

• 2013 Carl G. Hartman Award (sponsored by Cook Medical): Dr. Michael D. Griswold, Washington State University.

• 2013 SSR Research Award: Dr. Thomas E. Spencer, Washington State University.

• 2013 SSR Distinguished Service Award (sponsored by EMD Serono Research Institute): Dr. Edward M. Eddy, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.

• 2013 SSR New Investigator Award (sponsored by the Virendra B. Mahesh New Investigator Fund): Dr. Stephanie A. Pangas, Baylor College of Medicine.

• 2013 SSR Trainee Mentoring Award (sponsored by the SSR Training Mentoring Fund): Dr. Gordon D. Niswender, Colorado State University.

Meeting Registration Open

Registration for SSR 2013 is now available! Visit the SSR 2013 Registration page for important information regarding:

• Registration fees
• Optional events/items
• Online & printable registration forms
• On-site registration
• Confirmation and receipts
• Cancellation
• Questions about registration

Attendees are responsible for arranging their own lodging; please visit the Accommodations page for information.

Important Dates

Discounted registration ends: 31 May 2013
Preregistration ends: 28 June 2013
On-site registration begins: 22 July 2013

Contact Us

Please contact the SSR Registration office with any questions.

     E-mail: registration@ssr.org
     Phone: 608.256.2777
     Fax: 608.256.4610
     Web: http://www.ssr.org

SSR 2013 Updates: Week of 27 February 2013

Special Events

Preliminary information about SSR 2013's Special Events and Optional Items is now online. Find out what's in store for the:

• Opening Reception
• 5K Fun Run/Walk
• Trainee/Mentor Luncheon
• Heritage Luncheon
• Minority Affairs Lunch Symposium
• Barbecue & Dance
• Commemorative SSR 2013 t-shirts

Schedule Changes

Titles have been provided for the following scientific sessions:

• Hormones Session 1. Neuroendocrinology, Hypothalamus. 

  Invited Talk. Stephanie Seminara, M.D. (Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts). The Hypothalamic Control of Reproduction: A Kiss to Remember. 

• Minority Affairs/Diversity Committee Lunch Symposium.

  Tyrone Hayes, Ph.D. (University of California–Berkeley, Berkeley, California). From Silent Spring to Silent Night: A Tale of Toads and Men.

SSR 2013 Newsletter

Catch up on Society activities with the February 2013 SSR Newsletter. Past issues are also available.

Event Schedule and Scientific Program

SSR has just released its preliminary Schedule of Events and Scientific Program! SSR will continue to update these pages as additional information becomes available, so check back often or subscribe to this blog for announcements.

Here's a quick overview of the program structure by Program Committee Co-Chairs Janice L. Bailey, Ph.D., and Janice P. Evans, Ph.D.

The four modules for the 2013 meeting represent the four pillars of reproductive biology:

1. Gametes: Including germ cells, germline stem cells, meiosis, gametogenesis, fertilization, gamete maturation, early embryonic development, the oocyte-to-embryo transition.

2. Gonads: Including testis and ovary, somatic cells and germ cells (and their interactions), gametogenesis, hormone signaling.

3. Hormones: Including steroid hormones, steroidogenesis, peptide hormones, hormone signaling, neuroendocrinology.

4. Reproductive Tracts: Including male and female tracts (oviduct, uterus, epididymis, etc.), implantation, parturition, placenta, gamete/embryo maturation and transport in the male and female tracts, pathologies of the tracts.

Each of the four modules will consist of five sessions over three days, each session having a different, specific focus. Sessions will include both invited speakers and platform presentations selected from the submitted abstracts. A principal objective for the modular system is to generate more in-depth discussion; session chairs will provide a unifying introduction to each session and serve as discussion leaders.

The 2013 program has been designed to maximize the number of platform presentations. Over the course of the meeting, a whopping 170 platform presentations will be a part of the program in concurrent platform sessions in the early afternoons and in module sessions in later afternoons. The poster sessions will provide an ideal place for concentrated, face-to-face scientific exchange. All posters will remain on display for the duration of the meeting.

Be sure to read SSR's February 2013 newsletter for the Program Committee's full report. Which sessions are you most excited about?