From July 15 to 19 Society for the Study of Reproduction (SSR) hosted their 57th Annual Meeting in Dublin Ireland. This year’s conference was a historic occasion, as it was the first time the event was held outside North America, representing the society's remarkable growth and increasing global presence.
Established in 1967 during the annual meeting of the American Society of Animal Science, SSR is an international non-profit organisation that brings together researchers in reproduction, fertility, and developmental biology. Its scope includes both human and animal reproductive systems, focusing on fundamental research in medicine, agriculture, and biology.
The theme of this year's conference was “Evolution of Reproductive Sciences: Where Do We Go.” This theme was chosen to represent the remarkable diversity in vertebrate reproductive mechanisms driven by evolutionary forces and on the evolving nature of our understanding of the processes controlling reproduction.
The Reproductive Biology Research Group from Tallinn University of Technology presented three posters highlighting their latest research findings.
Agne Velthut-Meikas presented on “Molecular Mechanisms Underlying the Adverse Outcomes of DEHP Exposure on Human Preovulatory Follicles.” This research investigated how DEHP, a plasticizer found in the environment, might disrupt ovarian sensitivity to pituitary hormones, potentially impacting female fertility.
PhD student Inge Varik presented her poster titled “Characterising Subpopulations of Extracellular Vesicles in Human Follicular Fluid and Their Impact on the KGN Cell Line Transcriptome.” This study revealed how small extracellular vesicles contribute to maintaining the hormonal environment of the ovarian follicle, offering new insights into their role and improving our understanding of follicular communication.
Katariina Saretok, a master’s student, presented on “Isolation and Characterisation of Subpopulations of Extracellular Vesicles in Human Follicular Fluid.” This research aimed to refine methods for isolating these vesicle subpopulations to facilitate more in-depth future studies on their functions.
In addition to the conference, the 23rd Ovarian Workshop was held, addressing various relevant topics such as the development of the Human Ovarian Atlas (HuBMAP), intercellular communication, the role of inflammasomes and hormones in ovarian development, species preservation, and fertility.
The Dublin conference was an inspiring and informative event, providing attendees with the latest scientific insights and a deeper understanding of reproductive systems and their influencing factors. The exchange of ideas among researchers was invaluable, not only for receiving feedback but also for generating new ideas and fostering collaborative opportunities. Such interactions are crucial for advancing scientific progress and developing solutions to fertility-related challenges.