Meetings & Education

Courses, Webinars & Lectures

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Human Teratogens Course

The Human Teratogens Course provides balanced and comprehensive information on the current knowledge and controversies in the field of teratology and counseling for pregnancy exposures. The faculty, teratology and toxicology experts, present lectures that cover basic principles of teratology, embryology, and epidemiology as well as detailed information regarding maternal conditions and environmental exposures which may pose teratogenic effect in pregnancy and lactation. The course provides up-to-date information on common exposures and hot topics, such as COVID-19 and vaccines, which providers are likely to encounter in their practice. The target audience for this course includes obstetricians, maternal fetal medicine specialists, genetic counselors, pharmacists, and allied health professionals. Dates for the next Human Teratogens Course are February 23-25, 2026. Once again, the course will be a live, virtual course. Registration is now open.
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Reproductive and Developmental Toxicology Course for Industrial and Regulatory Scientists

This course will provide a basic understanding in reproductive and developmental biology and principles of various testing approaches for reproductive and developmental toxicology, with strong emphasis on the practical application of these principles and interpretation of nonclinical safety data as well as risk assessment. The intended audience for this course includes industrial and regulatory scientists, graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows. This hybrid course will include foundational modules conducted in a virtual setting on September 25, October 2, and October 9, 2026, followed by an interactive case study-based in-person module on October 15-16, 2026, in Cambridge, MA. Registration is now open.
Educational Webinars

The Society periodically hosts webinars for members and others in the community. If you are not already a member and wish to be notified in advance of webinars, please submit a membership application or connect with BDRP on LinkedIn.
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The Thalidomide Story

The thalidomide saga is complex, worldwide in its scope and changed the lives of many children and their families. The intention of this two-part webinar, recorded in 2016, is to inform and educate members of Society for Birth Defects Research and Prevention about thalidomide embryopathy (TE). It focuses primarily on a study done at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden during the years of 1987 to 1989 involving 86 Swedish adults between the ages of 27 and 29 years. The webinar presents the history, characteristics of TE, malformations versus exposure time, results from the Swedish thalidomide studies, animal studies, and new usage of thalidomide and show the malformations and function of some individuals with TE. This webinar is only accessible to current Society for Birth Defects Research and Prevention Members.
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Robert L. Brent Presentations

This lecture is presented to facilitate the discussion of new and old teratogens as well as new and emerging topics
in research on birth defects and/or disorders of reproductive or developmental origin, or a related discipline.
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Josef Warkany Lecturer Presentations

This award recognizes a scientist who has significantly contributed to the field of teratology over his/her career.
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Free Lectures in Teratology

The Society for Birth Defects Research and Prevention is able to provide three 20-minute sample lectures available free-of-charge.