Where Basic Meets Clinical Meets Mechanism

One of the most dramatic transitions in the life history of an organism occurs with the union of egg and sperm. Used by all sexually reproducing organisms, fertilization begins with fusing these two highly specialized cells – from different individuals – and successfully reprogramming the embryo for early development. The study of fertilization and the activation of development requires integration of broad molecular, physiological, and evolutionary aspects that all intersect on the "reproductive niche" of the organism. Moreover, these processes are highly susceptible to the influences of gamete maturation, the environment, the age of the gametes and of the adults, and clinical intervention is needed to address the infertility in over 50 million people worldwide, annually. The awarding of the 2010 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine to Dr. Robert G. Edwards for development of in vitro fertilization underscores this significance and the benefits from the integrative approach to biomedical research.

This is the 21st successive Gordon Research Conference on Fertilization and Activation of Development. Its participants will explore the latest advances in the field that render the gametes "fertilization-competent," and the transition into embryonic development. An emphasis of this conference is to provide broad perspectives from different organisms – plants and animals – using different technologies and research approaches, through an evolutionary lens.

The scientific program for the 2015 Gordon Conference brings together researchers from basic, veterinary, and clinical perspectives to share scientific advances and future plans in reaching our goals of understanding this important transitional period in an organism’s life history. The Conference also provides a link with a Gordon Research Seminar - a forum for graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, and early career scientists to present their work in the field immediately preceding the Conference. Topics to be discussed in these gatherings include sperm and oocyte maturational processes and aging; gamete union, competition and evolution; early embryogenesis; and reproductive epigenetics and the environmental impacts on fertility. Approximately half of the presentations will be from invited speakers whereas other talks will be selected from the abstract submissions, with a focus on exciting late-breaking results. Keynote talks will address broad topical considerations in the field and unique experimental approaches to stimulate future research. Please join us for these exciting forums of discussion and discovery.