Meeting Information
Annual Meeting Awards
April 16, 2019—From Bench to Bedside, Spectrum of Birth Defects Researchto Be Recognized
Josef Warkany Lecturer
This lecture recognizes Josef Warkany’s contributions to the Society for Birth Defects Research and Prevention. Dr. Warkany was the first person to demonstrate that exposures to environmental chemicals are responsible for production of congenital malformation. His early studies culminated in the formulation of the scientific principles of teratology. This award recognizes a scientist who has significantly contributed to the field of teratology over his/her career. This year’s lecture will be presented by Barbara D. Abbott on Sunday, June 23 at 8:15 am.
F. Clarke Fraser New Investigator Award
This award honors F. Clarke Fraser, one of the founding members of the Society for Birth Defects Research and Prevention, for his many contributions to the field of developmental toxicology. The award recipient must be an active member of the Society for Birth Defects Research and Prevention with evidence of a successful, independent research career in birth defects research. This year’s award recipient is Kembra L. Howdeshell, National Toxicology Program, NIEHS, who will present on Sunday, June 23 at 1:30 pm.
James G. Wilson Publication Award
This award honors James G. Wilson, one of the founding members of the Society for Birth Defects Research and Prevention, and is presented in recognition of the best paper accepted or published in the journal Birth Defects Research during the prior year. The dual purpose of the award is to provide recognition to the author(s) of the best paper and to encourage authors trained in various disciplines to submit high-quality papers to Birth Defects Research. The paper selected for this year’s award is Congenital heart disease complexity and childhood cancer risk; BDR 110.17:1314–1321. R. Thomas Collins II, Stanford University School of Medicine, will present the data on Sunday, June 23 at 2:00 pm.
Patricia Rodier Mid-Career Award in Research and Mentoring
This award honors the legacy of Dr. Patricia Rodier, a past President of the Developmental Neurotoxicology Society and a past Council member of the Society for Birth Defects Research and Prevention. The purpose of the award is to recognize a mid-career individual who has demonstrated successful, independent research in neurobehavioral teratology, birth defects, or related fields; and has demonstrated a commitment to mentorship of students, postdoctoral fellows, young investigators, and/or trainees. This year’s award recipient is Terry C. Hrubec, E. Via Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine, who will present on Sunday, June 23 at 5:35 pm.
Narsingh Agnish Fellowship
This award recognizes Narsingh Agnish’s contributions to the Society for Birth Defects Research and Prevention, particularly the implementation of the Education Courses. The Narsingh Agnish Fellowship is awarded to a long-standing member of the Society for Birth Defects Research and Prevention who has made a major contribution to education in the field of teratology or a related discipline. This year’s recipient is Barbara Hales, McGill University, whose recorded presentation will take place on Monday, June 24 at 2:00 pm.
Birth Defects Research Distinguished Scholar Awards
These awards recognize distinguished authors for the importance, impact, and relevance of their published works in the field of birth defects research. The dual purpose of these awards is to provide recognition to the authors of high impact papers and to encourage authors trained in various disciplines to submit high quality papers to our journal, Birth Defects Research. Award recipients will be recognized during the Annual Meeting Awards Presentation and Business Meeting on Wednesday, June 26.
2019 Award Recipients
Bengt Källén, Tornblad Institute, University of Lund, for his research associated with Congenital Malformations in Infants Born after In Vitro Fertilization in Sweden; BDRA 88.3: 137–143.
Janet Y. Uriu-Adams, University of California–Davis for her research associated with Zinc and Reproduction: Effects of Zinc Deficiency on Prenatal and Early Postnatal Development; BDRB 89.4: 313–325.
Robert L. Brent Lecture
This lecture recognizes Robert L. Brent’s contributions to the Society for Birth Defects Research and Prevention and particularly for the implementation of the “Teratogen Update.” The purpose of the Robert L. Brent Lecture is to facilitate the discussion of new and old teratogens during the Annual Meeting. This year’s Robert L. Brent Lecture will be presented by Cheryl Maslen, Oregon Health Sciences University, on Tuesday, June 25 at 8:00 am.
Edward W. Carney Distinguished Service Award
This award honors Edward W. Carney, Past President of the Society for Birth Defects Research and Prevention, for his exemplary dedication and service to the Society and the field of teratology. This year’s Edward W. Carney Distinguished Service Award recipient is Thomas B. Knudsen, US Environmental Protection Agency. Dr. Knudsen’s commitment to the Society for Birth Defects Research and Prevention and leadership in shaping its future, participation in Strategic Planning Sessions, mentorship of trainees, service on committees, expert panels, and peer review groups, and leadership for FutureTox are all testaments to his many contributions to service and leadership in the field of birth defects research. Coupled with his exemplary publication record, and numerous scientific achievement awards, Dr. Knudsen has established an outstanding national and international reputation that is highly respected by investigators, educators, students, postdoctoral fellows, and others in the field. Through these and numerous other contributions, he has left an indelible mark on the Society for Birth Defects Research and Prevention and on the field of birth defects research at large. This award will be presented at the Annual Meeting Awards Presentation and Business Meeting on Wednesday, June 26.
Society for Birth Defects Research and Prevention Innovator Award
This award recognizes innovative and translational research at the intersection of at least two of the following areas: basic science, new technologies, clinical research, policy, and outreach. The three finalists for this year’s award are Katherine O'Shaughnessy, who will present Bypassing the Brain Barriers: Identification of Serum microRNAs Reflective of Developmental Neurotoxicity; Thomas B. Knudsen, who will present Computational Synthesis and Integration: Reconstructing Complex Systems for In Silico Testing; and James L. Mills, who will present Exome Sequencing Identifies ID1 As a Possible Risk Factor for Sacral Agenesis. The abstracts will be presented during the Innovator Award Finalist platform session on Wednesday, June 26 at 11:00 am.
Student and Postdoctoral Fellow Awards
Several Student and Postdoctoral Fellow Awards will be presented during the Annual Meeting Awards Presentation and Business Meeting on Wednesday, June 26. These awards include the Edward W. Carney Trainee Award, Marie W. Taubeneck Award, Wilson Presentation Awards, and James C. Bradford Memorial Poster Award. Please join us to celebrate these students and postdoctoral fellows who are the future of teratology.