for the Reproductive Biologists Professional Group.  Membership in the RBPG is free for ASRM Members.  If you'd like to become a member of the RBPG, tell us.

The Reproductive Biologists Professional Group (RBPG) promotes study and supports research in reproductive biology while providing a forum for scientists and clinicians to exchange ideas. 

Officers:

Chair - Mitchel C. Schiewe, Ph.D.
Secretary - Sangita K. Jindal, Ph.D.
Past Chair - Karen E. Elkind-Hirsch, Ph.D.
Program Chair - Barry Behr, Ph.D.
Nominating Committee Chair - Kimball Pomeroy, Ph.D.
Website Coordinator - Mitchel C. Schiewe, Ph.D.
SART Representative - David Wininger, Ph.D.
Bylaws Committee Chair - Michael Vernon, Ph.D.

Of Interest to Members

Some items below are in Adobe® Acrobat® PDF format. Please click here for downloading information. 

• New! Participate in the Influence of Environmental Air Quality on Embryo Development and IVF Success Survey

• Message from the RBPG Chair - Mitchel C. Schiewe, Ph.D.

• 2007 RBPG Annual Report

• Minutes from the 2007 RBPG Members Meeting (PDF)

• Attention SART Members!

• Salary Survey Results (PDF): 2006 | 2004 | 2000

• I've Been to the Other Side... - Grace Centrola, PhD

• New Information on FDA Final Interim Ruling for HCT/Ps

• Are You SURE Your Testing of Oocyte Donors Meets the FDA Requirements?

• RBPG Bylaws (PDF)

Message from the Chair

The nation’s Capitol brought us a great venue, beautiful fall weather and an excellent program. The RBPG started with a successful post-graduate course examining the “Historical Perspective of the Development of ARTs Across Species and Disciplines,” with more than 80 attendees. Intriguing talks were given by Drs. David Wildt and Robert Godke focusing on Wildlife ART applications and Animal Science ART history, respectively. Dr. Marius Meintjes presented an insightful view of clinical IVF history, ethical developments and current progress, while I filled in the gaps on technical history/progress in cryopreservation and micromanipulation ARTs. I would encourage all of you in university-based programs or private clinics with new embryologists and clinical fellows / young physicians to acquire a copy of the proceedings which are heavily referenced with comprehensive categories of classical papers well worth reading.

It was my pleasure to serve as Program Chairman in 2007. It is now my honor to serve as the Chairman of RBPG for the next two years due to the absence of a Vice-Chair in 2007. I commend the excellent work of Karen Elkind-Hirsch, Past-Chair, and Sangita Jindal, Secretary, for their dedicated efforts in 2007. Karen, Sangita and I all attended a SIG/PG committee meeting where the RBPG had a strong presence in hopes of having a PhD member-at-large (preferably a woman) involved at the Executive Board level. We look forward to Karen, or another politically qualified and motivated individual, representing us in upcoming years. It is to my benefit and delight that Sangita has agreed to stay on as Secretary during my tenure. The nominating committee did a good job administrating the electronic balloting/elections last year. Under the direction of Kim Pomeroy (nominating committee chair), Diane Wright (vice-chair) and Hugh Hensleigh (elected member-at-large 2007), we hope to standardize an electronic format and timetable that easily supports membership involvement and better prepares the Program Chair-elect for their ASRM deadlines. We appreciate the efforts of Grace Centola who served as our Website Coordinator/Chair. Although other responsibilities have caused her to resign this position, RBPG is actively searching for a dedicated member to replace her. RBPG’s executive committee feels strongly that the website-based system of communication to and between members, in conjunction with ASRM directed e-mail blasts, is the wave of the future.

As we begin preparations for the 2008 ASRM Annual Meeting in San Francisco, Dr. Barry Behr (Program Chair-elect) is actively organizing the RBPG postgraduate course and a joint interactive session with the Androgen Excess SIG. We should have an update on the postgraduate course by Spring 2008. Meanwhile, we are seeking members who are interested in moderating Roundtables. If you have a topic that you would like to present, please contact me immediately as our suggestions for topics are due in December. Last year, the RBPG submitted ten topics and seven were approved. For 2008 we have been allotted six Roundtable slots. Additionally, we are organizing an Abstract Review Committee for 2008 for both clinical and animal model topics. In 2007, the committee reviewed 430 abstracts, of which 24 were selected for Oral presentation (including the Prize paper). RBPG was well represented, providing approximately 30% of the 1400 abstracts submitted (1100 accepted) to the 2007 meeting. We look forward to your involvement in the RBPG in 2008 and attendance at San Francisco next November. Look for and please respond to the e-mail blasts from ASRM and keep posted periodically to the RBPG website for more “Hot Air from the Chair” in 2008 and much more, we hope!

-- Mitchel C. Schiewe, Ph.D., RBPG Chair

CME COMMITTEE TOPICS
In early January, the ASRM CME Committee asked the RBPG to help in developing future educational activities. In order to develop these activities, they asked the Reproductive Biologist PG leadership to provide five topics of interest that would help:

• improve teaching/practice

• further educate members on a specific topic or procedure, or

• any other educational need

The following CME Committee Topics for RBPG were suggested:

• Maternal Diet and Other Factors Affecting Offspring Sex Ratio

• Regulation of Blastocyst Implantation

• Potential Importance of Vitrification in Reproductive Medicine

• Ex-vivo Early Embryo Development and Effects on Gene Expression and Imprinting, or the Problematic in-vitro Embryo in the Age of Epigenetics.

• Effect of Culture Environment on Gene Expression and Developmental Characteristics in IVF-Derived Embryos

ONLINE EDUCATION
At the January quarterly ECRC Conference Call, Dr. Marlane Angle was asked to contact the Chairs of the RBPG and RLTPG to inquire whether online education for their members would be a project they are interesting in developing. A conference call was scheduled on Wednesday, January 31, 2007. The executive committee has already approved Resident education modules. This was just asking permission to expand the concept. 

The main focus of the call included expectations/guidelines, a project timeline, possibly forming a committee, and funding issues. A list of individuals who signed up at the RBPG business meeting to be involved on ASRM committees were sent an invitation by Dr. Angle to join an education committee.

Attention SART Members

Are you affiliated with a SART member program and but you are not an ASRM member? ASRM is offering you one year of membership at NO COST! The members’ only benefits are invaluable to healthcare professionals. In order to take advantage of this complimentary ASRM/SART membership, please click here and answer a few questions regarding your practice history to comply with ASRM’s disciplinary policy. If you have any questions about ASRM membership, please contact Dottie Beatty, Membership secretary at dbeatty@asrm.org or (205) 978-5000 x136.

for the Reproductive Biologists Professional Group.  Membership in the RBPG is free for ASRM Members.  If you'd like to become a member of the RBPG, tell us.

By accessing and using the ASRM Web Site, you agree to be bound by 
the ASRM Web Site Terms and Conditions of Use.  

View the ASRM Non Discrimination Policy

Copyright 1996-2008 ASRM, All Rights Reserved
American Society for Reproductive Medicine

Listed on Infertility Resources
Developed and hosted by Internet Health Resources