2014 Mammalian Reproduction Gordon Research Conference

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DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Infertility is a problem that affects approximately 12-15% of couples in developed countries including the United States and Canada, and a significant portion of these cases are based on unknown causes (idiopathic infertility). At the same time, the need and desire for population control and family planning remain at an all-time high throughout the world and represent priorities in the US and Canada. In addition, diseases of the reproductive systems (e.g., ovarian, cervical, uterine, testicular or prostate cancer, endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome, and many others) impose a large burden on the US healthcare system. Taken together, these considerations impact a large proportion of the population in North America and therefore translate into very significant financial, political and cultural priorities in this region. Enhanced knowledge of the reproductive systems in general, and specific aspects of these systems including the gonads (testes and ovaries), the germ cells (spermatogenic and oogenic), the male and female reproductive tracts, and early embryos, represent the most promising avenue to the discovery of breakthroughs that will yield novel solutions to infertility or reproductive system diseases, or toward the development of novel methods of contraception. The new Gordon Research Conference on Mammalian Reproduction is designed to bring together experts in basic and translational research in multiple areas of reproductive biology and reproductive medicine. Topics to be discussed will include fate determination and development of reproductive tissues, epigenetic programming and reproduction, stem cells and reproduction, environmental effects on reproductive functions, pregnancy and par tuition, infertility and contraception, male reproductive tract, genomics and systems approaches to reproduction, and the founders' forum featuring scientists who have made lasting contributions to the field of reproductive biology/medicine.