Meeting Information
Invitation from the President
I am pleased to invite you to attend the 58th Annual Meeting of the Society for Birth Defects Research and Prevention, June 23–27, 2018, at the Hilton Clearwater Beach Resort, in Clearwater, Florida. The theme for this year’s meeting is “Mechanisms, Models, Mothers and Babies: Bringing Birth Defects Research into Practice,” and the Program Committee, chaired by Dana L. Shuey, has put together an outstanding program around this theme. The program offers an exciting variety of scientific sessions on topics including:
- Organotypic culture/Microphysiological models
- Air pollution
- New genomic technologies
- Infectious diseases
- Opiates
- Safety of drugs during lactation
- Neonatal pediatric drug development
- Autism
- Rare childhood diseases
- Birth defect prevention
- Botanical supplements
- Epigenetics
- and more
In keeping with the theme of the meeting, the Education Committee, chaired by Julia Y. Hui, has developed two exciting Education Courses entitled Embryology and Development of Central Nervous System, and Assessment and Management of Developmental Effects on the Central Nervous System: From the Molecular Level to the Clinical Setting. In addition, the Education Committee has organized a Lunch and Learn Mini Course on the placenta that will explore its important role in the maintenance of pregnancy and prenatal development.
Once again, we are pleased to offer joint sessions and a joint registration fee to maximize interactions with our sister society the Developmental Neurotoxicology Society (DNTS). Concurrent meetings allow for joint sessions and the opportunity for networking between attendees, enriching the exchange of scientific ideas for all participants.
To make this annual meeting truly excellent, WE NEED YOU to present your latest research findings! The abstract deadline is Thursday, February 15, 2018. Plan now to submit an abstract of your work!
Our Annual Meeting provides us with the opportunity to promote our shared vision and scientific identity as researchers focused on the causes, manifestations, intervention, and prevention of birth defects, both structural and functional. It also is an expression of our scientific diversity, as a Society of clinicians, scientists, and science policy regulators from academic, industrial, and government sectors. There is no better occasion to learn about the latest scientific research in teratology, to interact with scientists whom you have not yet met, and to network with old friends and colleagues. I look forward to seeing you in Clearwater and hearing about your latest activities!
