{"id":1415,"date":"2023-03-21T02:55:11","date_gmt":"2023-03-21T02:55:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bedfordresearch.org\/symposium\/?page_id=1415"},"modified":"2026-09-16T18:53:48","modified_gmt":"2026-09-16T18:53:48","slug":"2023-symposium","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.bedfordresearch.org\/symposium\/2023-symposium\/","title":{"rendered":"THE 2023 SYMPOSIUM"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column bg_overlay=”on” color_overlay=”” gradient_overlay=”” uniqid=”641cc7efee15e” css=”.vc_custom_1698253590149{margin-bottom: 0px !important;border-bottom-width: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1789584825230{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;border-top-width: 0px !important;border-bottom-width: 0px !important;padding-top: 8px !important;padding-bottom: 18px !important;background-color: #000000 !important;}”]<\/p>\n

UPDATE<\/span>: Join us for the 2026 Symposium – Learn More<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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THE 2023 SYMPOSIUM<\/div>\n

Human Egg Activation:
\nThe Influence of Sperm<\/span><\/h2>\n <\/div>\n
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Discussing novel sperm influences on egg activation.<\/i><\/h5>\n

<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/section>\n [\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column css=”.vc_custom_1698253578130{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;border-top-width: 0px !important;border-bottom-width: 0px !important;padding-top: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}” uniqid=”65394a7716439″][vc_text_separator title=”DOWNTOWN BOSTON” title_align=”separator_align_left” border_width=”2″ css=”.vc_custom_1774101710476{margin-bottom: 0px !important;border-bottom-width: 0px !important;padding-top: 10px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1695768821035{margin-top: 0px !important;border-top-width: 0px !important;padding-top: 0px !important;background-color: #ffffff !important;}” uniqid=”650c91d754a6d”][vc_column width=”2\/3″ css=”.vc_custom_1698253645710{margin-top: 0px !important;border-top-width: 0px !important;padding-top: 0px !important;}” uniqid=”65394b4643386″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1698253658609{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;border-top-width: 0px !important;border-bottom-width: 0px !important;padding-top: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}”]<\/p>\n

Friday, October 27th<\/sup>, 2023<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1698253672369{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;border-top-width: 0px !important;border-bottom-width: 0px !important;padding-top: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}”]Agenda<\/a> | Location & Directions<\/a> | Speakers<\/a>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

A unique, one-day event bringing together investigators from academia, industry and infertility clinics to meet and form collaborations.<\/p>\n

Share the PDF flier<\/strong>: Email Version (color)<\/a> | Printable Version (black&white)<\/a>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/3″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row uniqid=”651360698066e” css=”.vc_custom_1695769115478{margin-top: 0px !important;border-top-width: 0px !important;padding-top: 0px !important;}”][vc_column css=”.vc_custom_1695769123802{margin-top: 0px !important;border-top-width: 0px !important;padding-top: 0px !important;}” uniqid=”6513621f52436″][vc_column_text]Produced by <\/em>Bedford Research Foundation<\/em><\/a> in partnership with <\/em>JARG<\/em><\/a>, <\/em>Molecular Human Reproduction<\/em><\/a>, and <\/em>Stem Cells and Development<\/em><\/a>.<\/em>[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”1982″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” onclick=”custom_link” css_animation=”fadeIn” link=”https:\/\/www.bedfordresearch.org\/symposium\/become-a-sponsor\/” css=”.vc_custom_1695768743420{background-color: #000000 !important;}”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column]

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SPEAKERS<\/h2>\n <\/div>\n [vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/3″][vc_single_image image=”1865″][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n
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David Keefe, MD<\/h5>\n

NYU Ob\/Gyn
\nProfessor,\u00a0Department of Cell Biology at NYU Grossman School of Medicine<\/p>\n

Talk Title: “Retrotransposition and early embryo development”<\/em><\/p>\n

Dr. Keefe is an internationally recognized clinician scientist whose early work focused on the role of telomeres in mammalian gametes and has more recently been involved in studies of parthenogenesis and retroelement expression.<\/div>\n

Learn more<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Oliver Rando, PhD<\/h5>\n

Professor, UMass Chan Medical School, Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology<\/p>\n

Talk title: “Epigenetic contributions of sperm to early development in mammals”<\/em><\/p>\n

Dr. Rando is an internationally recognized pioneer in the epigenetic influence of sperm on egg fertilization and resulting offspring development in murine models.<\/div>\n

Learn more<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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David Albertini, PhD<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Editor in Chief, Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics<\/p>\n

Talk title: \u201cHuman Egg Research: Past, Present and Future\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Dr. Albertini investigates the acquisition of developmental competence in mammalian embryos as it relates to ovarian physiology and the impact of Assisted Reproductive Technologies.<\/div>\n

Learn more<\/a>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/3″][vc_single_image image=”1862″][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

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Eric Bittman, PhD<\/h5>\n

Professor, Department of BIology
\nCenter for Neuroendocrine Studies
\nUMass Amherst<\/p>\n

Talk title: “Time is of the Essence: Circadian coordination up and down the reproductive axis.”<\/em><\/p>\n

Dr. Bittman is a circadian rhythm scholar whose recent work has described the complex circadian signals involved in mammalian ovulation.<\/p>\n

Learn more<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Tiziana A.L. Brevini, PhD<\/h5>\n

Unistem-Laboratory of Biomedical Embryology and Tissue Engineering Chair of Anatomy and Histology, Universit\u00e0 degli Studi di Milano<\/p>\n

Talk title: \u201cExpression profile and mechanosensing related pathways in parthenogenetic cells\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Dr. Brevini’s work contributes broadly to the interface between regenerative medicine and stem cells (ES, iPS) as related to the development of organoids and using mammalian parthenogenesis to derive stem cells.<\/p>\n

Learn more<\/a>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/3″][vc_single_image image=”1610″][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

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Bj\u00f6rn Heindryckx, PhD<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Ghent-Fertility And Stem cell Team (G-FaST) Department for Reproductive Medicine Department of Human Structure and Repair Ghent University Hospital, Belgium<\/p>\n

Talk title: \u201cOvercoming dysfunctional oocyte cytoplasm causing failed fertilization or embryo developmental arrest\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Dr. Heindryckx is a leader in the European community investigating genetic instability in human eggs before and after artificial activation (parthenogenesis) or fertilization.<\/p>\n

Learn more<\/a>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/3″][vc_single_image image=”2028″][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

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Ann A. Kiessling, PhD<\/strong><\/h5>\n

Dr. Kiessling is Director of the Bedford Research Foundation and is retired Associate Professor of Surgery at Harvard Medical School.<\/p>\n

Talk title: “The Beginning of Reverse Transcription\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Dr. Kiessling\u2019s research has been at the crossroads of infectious disease and reproductive biology for decades and has more recently focused on human parthenogenetic stem cell derivation for clinical uses.<\/p>\n

Learn more<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Gianpiero D. Palermo, MD, PhD<\/h5>\n

Professor of Embryology in Obstetrics and Gynecology
\nWeill Cornell Medicine<\/p>\n

Talk title: “Clinical Aspects of Early Fertilization\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Dr. Palermo, widely recognized for his seminal work on ICSI, is a specialist on male factor determinants, both genetic and epigenetic, that impact clinical outcomes focusing on male gamete cell biology.<\/div>\n
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Learn more<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Corrado Spadafora, PhD<\/h5>\n

Italian National Research Council
\nVisiting Scientist, Bedford Research Foundation<\/p>\n

Talk title: “Sperm-Mediated\u00a0Epigenetic\u00a0Inheritance,\u00a0Genesis and\u00a0Propagation\u00a0of\u00a0Extrachromosomal\u00a0Information\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Dr. Spadafora\u2019s pioneering reports of epigenetic cargo carried into eggs by sperm was initially very controversial and is now a recognized sperm activity.<\/p>\n

Learn more<\/a>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/3″][vc_single_image image=”329″][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Dan Wikler, PhD<\/h5>\n

Professor of Ethics and Population Health
\nHarvard School of Public Health<\/p>\n

Talk title: \u201cA.I.D, A.I.H, A.I.V, A.I.P\u2026 and the Turkey Baster Baby\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Dr. Wikler is an internationally recognized expert in human subjects research and has chaired BRF’s Human Subjects Review committee for many years.<\/p>\n

Learn more<\/a>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/3″][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/3″][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_gallery type=”image_grid” images=”1328,1321,1315,1155,1106,1160,1313″][vc_text_separator title=”SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION” title_align=”separator_align_left”][vc_column_text]The Bedford Stem Cell Research Foundation is entirely supported by private donations. And since the Foundation has lower operating costs than large teaching and medical institutions, 94% of your donation goes directly to the laboratory. For this reason, more research results from each donation received. Please help us support this urgently needed research.[\/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”DONATE NOW” color=”purple” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bedfordresearch.org%2Faboutus%2Faboutus.php%3Fitem%3Dabout_donate|title:Donate%20to%20the%20Bedford%20Research%20Foundation” css=”.vc_custom_1679514265744{background-color: #7a2455 !important;}”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/section>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column bg_overlay=”on” color_overlay=”” gradient_overlay=”” uniqid=”641cc7efee15e” css=”.vc_custom_1698253590149{margin-bottom: 0px !important;border-bottom-width: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1789584825230{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;border-top-width: 0px !important;border-bottom-width: 0px !important;padding-top: 8px !important;padding-bottom: 18px !important;background-color: #000000 !important;}”] UPDATE: Join us for the 2026 Symposium – Learn More [\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column bg_overlay=”on” color_overlay=”” gradient_overlay=”” css=”.vc_custom_1698253590149{margin-bottom: 0px !important;border-bottom-width: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column css=”.vc_custom_1698253578130{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;border-top-width: 0px !important;border-bottom-width: […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":29,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"template-landing.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1415","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bedfordresearch.org\/symposium\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1415","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bedfordresearch.org\/symposium\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bedfordresearch.org\/symposium\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bedfordresearch.org\/symposium\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bedfordresearch.org\/symposium\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1415"}],"version-history":[{"count":116,"href":"https:\/\/www.bedfordresearch.org\/symposium\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1415\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2670,"href":"https:\/\/www.bedfordresearch.org\/symposium\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1415\/revisions\/2670"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bedfordresearch.org\/symposium\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/29"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bedfordresearch.org\/symposium\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1415"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}