Sperm Heads the Agenda Among Top Developmental Biologists

    BOSTON, MA, October 25, 2023 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Researchers from across the country and around the globe will gather on Friday, October 27th in Boston for the 15th Activated Egg Symposium, "Human Egg Activation: The Influence of Sperm."

Recent publications have dramatically altered our view of the role of sperm, circadian rhythms and retroelements in egg activation. We now know that sperm are more than just transporters of genetic material, but what can this new data tell us about "activating" unfertilized human eggs for stem cell development?

"We included sperm this year to understand what specific factors to include when developing stem cells from unfertilized human eggs." Dr. Kiessling said of the conference, which normally focuses entirely on eggs.

The meeting will also touch on emerging research with Circadian Rhythms. It is now becoming widely accepted that circadian coordination is a key factor in the reproductive process. Being able to recreate, in a lab, these intricate processes is a crucial next step to developing life-saving stem cell therapies.

Organized by Bedford Research Foundation in partnership with JARG (Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics), Molecular Human Reproduction, and Stem Cells and Development, promises to be an unparalleled opportunity for researchers, students, and clinicians to meet, and form collaborations.

HIGHLIGHTS

1. Cutting-Edge Research: Renowned experts at the top of their field will present groundbreaking research on egg maturation and activation, giving a glimpse into the emerging trends for stem cell derivation.

2. Community and Networking: researchers, students, and clinicians gather at this unique event with limited attendance. As this year's keynote speaker, Dr. David Keefe from NYU put it, "The Activated Egg Symposium is one of my favorite meetings. The science is cutting edge, and the scale of the meeting facilitates robust interaction. So isn't just about good science, it's also about collaboration. It's the kind of event where colleagues meet and form lasting partnerships."

3. Q&A with Researchers: Scientists are frequently isolated from their peers as well as colleagues from other areas that may have interdisciplinary implications. This event allows faculty, students and clinicians to connect, share ideas, and ask questions.

4. Poster Session: Researchers and students are encouraged to bring their work to display and discuss during coffee breaks and meals, even posters from other meetings. A prize poster will be for an award.

5. Ethics: At each symposium, a leading ethicist is invited to discuss the, at times, extremely contentious moral and philosophical issues at the core of research surrounding human reproduction. No researcher in the field today can avoid the impact of these issues on their work.

"Year after year, I never miss the Activated Egg Symposium, it's one of the best stem cell / egg development workshops you can attend." – Dr. Rafael A. Fissore, UMass-Amherst, and Director, Frontiers in Reproduction.

DETAILS
Activated Egg Symposium
October 27, 2023
9 AM to 7 PM
At the Courtyard Marriott on Tremont Street in Downtown Boston, and broadcast live online.
Registration: https://www.bedfordresearch.org/symposium

CONTACT
Ryan Kiessling
Chief Operating Officer
Bedford Research Foundation
[email protected]
(617) 281-7902

The Activated Egg Symposium is a program of the Bedford Research Foundation, a Massachusetts Public Charity (501(c)3). In 2002, the Foundation launched The Activated Egg symposium series. With attendance limited to 100, the event provides a unique environment to meet and form collaborations.

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