All the important links, repro news and guest bios from this month's episode
Guests
Associate Professor John Bromfield
Dr Bromfield graduated with a BSc (Hons) and PhD in Medicine from the University of Adelaide. After postdoctoral fellowships at Kansas University Medical Center, Swansea University and University of Missouri, Dr Bromfield joined the faculty of the Department of Animal Sciences at the University of Florida where he is currently Associate Professor of Reproductive Physiology. Dr Bromfield specializes in the field of reproductive immunology. Specifically, Dr Bromfield is interested in the role the immune system plays in facilitating optimal, healthy reproductive outcomes focusing on two main areas, (1) the impact of uterine infection on ovarian function and (2) the role of semen in modulating early pregnancy success. For both programmatic themes, Dr Bromfield utilize various bovine, rodent and human in vitro and in vivo models that have been funded by the NIH and USDA.
Early Career Researcher Spotlight
Dr Beatriz Fernandez-Fuertes
Beatriz Fernandez Fuertes is a postdoctoral fellow at the National Institute of Agricultural and Food Research in Spain. Her broad scientific interest is the male aspect of fertility in livestock: in particular, how interactions between male factors and the maternal environment shape successful pregnancy. After obtaining her degree in veterinary medicine from the Complutense University of Madrid in 2012, Fernandez Fuertes joined the laboratory of Dr. Pat Lonergan at University College Dublin. There, she completed her PhD in reproductive biology in 2016 and was then awarded a two-year postdoctoral fellowship investigating different aspects of bull sperm function. In 2018, she was granted a European Commission Marie Curie Individual Fellowship at the University of Girona to study maternal-paternal interactions in cattle. In 2020 she joined the laboratory of Dr. Dimitrios Rizos, where her research continues to focus on this topic.
Repro News
Fun Fact
If you want to learn more about this episode's fun fact, check out the article below:
Upcoming conferences and abstract deadlines
Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) World Congress 2022
13th - 15th June 2022, London, UK and virtual
Abstracts submissions are closed, registration open
24th European Veterinary Society for Small Animal Reproduction Congress (joint with 9th Quadrennial International Symposium on Canine and Feline Reproduction)
30th June - 2nd July 2022, Milan, Italy
Abstract submissions closed, registration open
Upcoming training
European Society of Contraception and Reproductive Health
Contraceptive counselling 2022: A focused approach to improve women's quality of life
Upcoming awards and grants
Ferring Fertility Society of Australia and NZ (FSANZ) Leaders in Fertility Research and Education
Applications due by 31st July 2022
Merck Fertility Society of Australia and NZ (FSANZ) ‘Leaders in Innovation/Fertility’ Research Grant
Applications due by 31st July 2022
Paper of the month
Can't get enough of seminal plasma? Join the club! Check out these interesting tid bits:
The Biochemistry of Semen, by Thaddeus Mann aka the Holy Bible of seminal plasma
A study that Jess, Taylor & Simon did on seminal plasma and cervical transit in sheep
Some of Taylor's work looking at using isolated seminal plasma proteins to improve sperm freezing outcomes (the litres of semen were worth it!)
A great classic review paper by John Bromfield, and a more recent one by John Schjenken on the effects of seminal plasma exposure in females
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