Meeting Information

Annual Meeting Awards

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 Michael T. Williams, Cincinnati Children’s Research Foundation.


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 Joshua F. Robinson, University of California, San Francisco.


James G. Wilson Publication Award

This award honors James G. Wilson, one of the founding Society members, 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 The effects of alcohol and cannabinoid exposure during the brain growth spurt on behavioral development in rats; BDR. 2019; 111:760–774. https://doi.org/10.1002/bdr2.1487. Kristen R. Breit, Department of Psychology, Center for Behavioral Teratology, San Diego State University, will present the data during the virtual annual meeting.


Josef Warkany Lecturer

This lecture recognizes Josef Warkany’s contributions to BDRP. 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 during the virtual annual meeting by Linda S. Birnbaum, Scientist Emeritus and Former Director, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and National Toxicology Program.


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.

2020 Award Recipients

Anderka, M., Mitchell, A.A., Louik, C., Werler, M.M., Hernández‐Diaz, S., Rasmussen, S.A. and (2012), Medications used to treat nausea and vomiting of pregnancy and the risk of selected birth defects. Birth Defects Research Part A: Clinical and Molecular Teratology, 94: 22-30. doi:10.1002/bdra.22865

Brent, R.L., Christian, M.S. and Diener, R.M. (2011), Evaluation of the reproductive and developmental risks of caffeine. Birth Defects Research Part B: Developmental and Reproductive Toxicology, 92: 152-187. doi:10.1002/bdrb.20288


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 Elaine M. Faustman, University of Washington, will make a presentation during the virtual annual meeting.


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 during the virtual annual meeting by Karen W. Gripp, A.I. duPont Hospital for Children/Nemours .


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 Lena Smirnova, who will present Studying Gene-Environmental Interactions in Autism with iPSC-derived BrainSpheres: microRNA and Metabolic Biomarkers of the Synergy;

Colette Miller, who will present A Tale of Two Livers: The Impact of Sex on Hepatic Gene Expression in the Adolescent Rat Exposed to Ozone During Implantation;

and Myrto Dimopoulou, who will present ReproTracker: A Human Stem Cell-Based Biomarker Assay for in vitro assessment of Developmental Toxicity. The abstracts will be presented during the Innovator Award Finalist platform session during the virtual annual meeting.


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 Alan M. Hoberman, Charles River. Dr. Hoberman’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 planning for the Practical Reproductive and Developmental Toxicology training course are all testaments to 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. Hoberman 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.


Edward W. Carney Trainee Award

This award supports graduate student or postdoctoral scholar travel to meetings that offer significant educational opportunities in the field of reproductive and developmental toxicology, such as the annual meetings of the Society of Toxicology and the Society for Birth Defects Research and Prevention. Recipients of this award in 2020 will have the opportunity to present their research during the virtual meeting and may use their travel funds next year.

This year’s Edward W. Carney Trainee Award recipients are Bevin Blake, PhD, NIEHS (First Place) and Haneesha Mohan, PhD, Canadian Institutes of Health Research (Second Place).


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