IVFConnections Library

by Erika Tabke
Published August 06, 2010 09:16

We like to keep up with what's going on in reproductive research. The American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) gives awards to a few members at their Annual Meeting - this gives us a glimpse into what our Reproductive Endocrinologists are doing when they're not seeing patients! These awards were published at the 65th meeting of ASRM in Atlanta, Georgia.

Distinguished Service Award
Each year ASRM honors one or more individuals or organizations that have provided distinguished service to ASRM. Recipients are selected based on their scientific, leadership, organizational, political or societal service contributions to ASRM, reproductive medicine and/or reproductive medicine patients. In 2009 ASRM honors two outstanding members of the Society whose leadership has advanced the mission of the Society to discover, educate and advocate.

Roger Kempers, M.D., M.S., is Professor Emeritus of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Mayo Clinic. He has served the Society for more than three decades in many capacities. Dr. Kempers is recognized with the 2009 Distinguished Service Award for his invaluable contributions to the Society through the education of medical and scientific professionals in the fields of reproductive endocrinology and infertility, his many years of service as Editor-in-Chief of Fertility and Sterility, Medical Director and then President of the Society, and President of the International Federation of Fertility Societies.

Kamran Moghissi, M.D., is Professor Emeritus of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Wayne State University School of Medicine. Dr. Moghissi is recognized with the 2009 Distinguished Service Award for his dedicated service to the Society and to the community of reproductive medicine through his untiring advocacy for research and education at the local, national and international levels. Dr. Moghissi's many responsibilities have included serving as ASRM's first delegate to the American Medical Association and as President of the Society. He has attended every ASRM meeting since 1960.

ASRM Distinguished Researcher Award
The 2009 recipient of the ASRM Distinguished Researcher Award is Bruce R. Carr, M.D., Professor and Paul C. MacDonald Distinguished Chair in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. Dr. Carr is a reproductive endocrinologist who has been very active in research, both basic science and clinical. Dr. Carr currently is a principal or co-principal investigator on three NIH grants and has conducted 60 clinical pharmaceutical trials since 1986. His current areas of research include regulation of steroid metabolism in the human ovary, GnRH agonists, androgen excess, uterine leiomyomata, infertility and the menopause. He is the author of more than 580 scientific publications and abstracts and he has served on numerous study sections and advisory panels. Furthermore, he has trained 33 fellows in reproductive endocrinology and infertility.

Ira and Ester Rosenwaks New Investigator Award
Emre U. Seli, M.D., has been selected as the 2009 recipient of the Ira and Ester Rosenwaks New Investigator Award. This award recognizes a member of ASRM who has made outstanding contributions to clinical or basic research in reproductive sciences published within 10 years after receiving the doctoral degree or completing residency training. Dr. Seli is Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Yale University School of Medicine. As a junior faculty member, he has made significant contributions to our understanding of the basic biology of gene expression during oocyte and early embryonic development. He also has been investigating novel methods for non-invasive assessment of oocyte and embryo viability. He already has authored 35 peer-reviewed publications.

ASRM/Ortho Women's Health and Urology New Investigator Research Grant in Reproductive Medicine
Ortho Women's Health and Urology has supported an annual one-year, $30,000 research grant for a doctoral level associate or active member of ASRM who either is a fellow in reproductive endocrinology, reproductive biology, or a related discipline at the time of the application, or is no more than one year from completion of fellowship training. Applicants must have completed either a residency in obstetrics and gynecology or urology or a program leading to a Ph.D. The recipient is selected by the Research Committee based on the scientific merit of the proposed study and the potential for a career in academic medicine or research. The 2009 recipient is H. Irene Su, M.D., of the University of Pennsylvania for her project titled "Evaluating Risks and Benefits of Hormone Replacement Therapy in Healthy Postmenopausal Chinese Women using Population-based Healthcare Data."

ASRM/EMD Serono New Investigator Research Grant in Reproductive Medicine
EMD Serono has supported a two-year research grant of $50,000 to a junior faculty member who is an active member of ASRM and who has completed training within the previous year. Applicants must hold a doctoral degree and have completed either a residency in obstetrics and gynecology or urology or a program leading to a Ph.D. The recipient was selected by the Research Committee based on the scientific merit of the proposed study and the potential for a career in academic medicine or research. The recipient for 2009 is Laura C. Schulz, Ph.D., of the University of Missouri Columbia for her project titled "Creation of a Trophoblastic-specific Leptin Receptor Knockout for Study of Leptin Function in Placenta."

Society for Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, National Research Service Institutional Training Award (T32)
The Society for Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility was awarded a competitive training grant from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development to provide reproductive endocrinology and infertility fellows with specialized training in reproductive medicine and biology. Ten Board-approved REI fellowship programs currently participate in the program, which is administered through the University of Pennsylvania. Each year, REI fellows are awarded 1- or 2-year NIH traineeships to conduct cutting-edge research in the laboratories of NIH-funded investigators. In the final year of training, fellows present their research in the special research presentations session, which this year will take place on Wednesday, 11:15-12:00 noon in Georgia Ballroom Section 3. The 2009-2011 trainees are: Marie Nam Menke, M.D., Albert Einstein College of Medicine, and Kerri Marquard, M.D., Washington University.

ASRM/NIH/Duke Clinical Research/Reproductive Scientist Training (CREST) Program
The CREST training program is offered by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), the Clinical Research Training Program (CRTP) at Duke University, and the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM). This two-year program meets an existing need for physicians in private or academic clinical practice to obtain formalized academic training in the quantitative and methodological principles of clinical research in reproductive medicine. The members of the Class of 2009-2011 are: Larisa Gavrilova-Jordan, M.D., Thomas Kimble, M.D., Moshood Olatinwo, M.D., Aimee Seungdamrong, M.D., David Shin, M.D., and Kristen Wright, M.D.

Society for Male Reproduction and Urology Traveling Scholars Program
The annual Society for Male Reproduction and Urology Traveling Scholars Program allows a diverse group of young clinical physicians and basic science researchers the opportunity to explore a career in male reproductive medicine. The primary purpose of the program is to stimulate the scientific interests of residents and fellows in the study of male reproduction. Scholars are selected by the SMRU Research Committee based on the scores of their abstracts submitted for the Scientific Program. Each awardee will present an oral abstract on Monday, 4:15 - 5:00 pm in Room C306. The 2009 Scholars are: Matthew Roberts, M.D., Anand Shridharani, M.D., and Brooke Hodes-Wertz, M.D.