The UCSF-CHE Summit will provide overviews by leading researchers of the science on these topics and will also explore translation of this research to: clinical care, medical training, and public health policy; to federal regulatory agency and research institute priorities; and to patient advocate and community health concerns, including health disparity issues. Collaborative working groups and partnerships will form to further explore and take action on these environmental health issues.
This summit is jointly sponsored by the UCSF Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences and the Collaborative on Health and the Environment (CHE) (Working Group: Fertility/ Early Pregnancy)
Overview:
Increasingly, scientific evidence indicates that a number of reproductive health endpoints and disorders—including infertility and subfertility, sperm count/semen quality decline, pregnancy loss, adverse birth outcomes, early puberty, reproductive tract abnormalities, endometriosis, and cancers in women and men—are associated with environmental contaminants that many Americans are exposed to in their daily lives. Leading researchers and health professionals are concerned; they also recognize that a majority of health professionals, policy makers, reproductive and community health advocates, and the public are unaware of these research findings and implications for public health and patient care.
The Summit, a pioneering national, multidiscipline environmental reproductive health conference, will increase awareness and expertise among health professionals, basic and clinical researchers, policymakers, advocates, funders, and reproductive and community health leaders. It will further strategic thinking and efforts toward mitigating adverse environmental reproductive health impacts—particularly those that may have irreversible periconceptional, fetal, or early postnatal exposure origins (i.e., developmental origins). We seek to expand the number of informed voices in support of enhanced environmental reproductive health research agendas, education programs, and public health policy.
At the Summit, preeminent scientific and clinical investigators will provide a series of cogent overviews of the science linking environmental contaminants and metals with male and female reproductive health and fertility compromise across the lifespan. Presenters will also discuss critical research directions and tools, and translation of the science where plausible to the clinic and broader public health. Rather than a standard data presentation conference, the Summit will be an unusual “hybrid” convening designed to promote transdisciplinary learning, investigation and thinking among science, health, and lay ally experts (see Background, below).
This 2.5 day conference will be held at UCSF’s new Mission Bay Conference Center, and will highlight: Critical Windows of Vulnerability to Environmental Exposures…New Conceptual Frameworks (e.g. low-level exposures, mixtures of chemicals, the role of epigenetics)…Genes and the Environment…Relevance of Wildlife and Experimental Animal Data…Definition and Measurement of Reproductive Health/Fertility Compromise…Periconception as a Critical Window: Advising the Pregnancy Planning Couple. Interactive “Conversations on Stage” will pair researchers with health professionals, with reproductive health advocates, and with federal regulators, policy makers and funders, who will discuss their perspectives on the issues and how to work together effectively. Smaller “Breakout Groups” will afford the opportunity for more concentrated transdisciplinary discussion and agenda-setting around selected environmental reproductive health questions and issues, and help to shape follow-on initiatives and/or work groups coordinated by UCSF’s newly launched Program in Reproductive Health and the Environment.
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Objectives:
By the Summit’s conclusion, participants should be able to:
- Outline scientific information on the impacts of environmental contaminants on reproductive health endpoints, including: altered onset of puberty; endometriosis; impaired fertility and fecundity; sperm/semen quality and the testis; pregnancy loss; reproductive system cancers; premature ovarian failure and/or menopause; neuroendocrine and immune system-related reproductive function; and selected pregnancy outcomes.
- Identify critical “windows of vulnerability” to environmental contaminant exposures and associated reproductive health compromise; contaminants of highest concern; and current human exposure assessment tools and results.
- Describe how science suggests new frameworks for understanding the relationship between environmental exposures and reproductive health impacts; and research directions that could help resolve gaps in scientific understanding.
- Discuss how some research results might translate to clinical care and policies that improve reproductive health, including improved pregnancy outcomes and child health
- Demonstrate improved ability to educate patients, communities and the public on reduction of exposures that may be harmful, during periconceptional, fetal, postnatal, pubertal, and adult windows; and to consider environmental exposures as a possible factor in certain reproductive health problems.
- Discuss the potential of multi- and interdisciplinary partnership to: enhance environmental reproductive health research, education, clinical care, and public health policy; advance translation of environmental reproductive health science for community, environmental justice and reproductive health advocates, and for policy makers.and the Environment.
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Participants:
Those concerned with reproductive health, development and medicine; environmental health; periconceptional, fetal and early postnatal origin of adult disorders; and child development, including:
- Researchers and health professionals (in practice and in-training) in obstetrics-gynecology, urology, family medicine, pediatrics, occupational medicine, internal medicine, public health, and related disciplines.
- Environmental health scientists, and scientists (and their mentees) from across a broad range of reproduction-related investigative disciplines, e.g., reproductive biology, endocrinology, toxicology, genetics/epigenetics, and epidemiology.
- Representatives of patient, women’s and reproductive health, and community and environmental health organizations.
- Health and environment policy makers; public health professionals.
- Environmental health funders.
- Professional Society Partner and Affiliated Society representatives to the Summit.
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For More Information:
Specific questions may be directed to Mary Wade, Summit Manager: wadem@obgyn.ucsf.edu (415) 476-2563
Media inquiries can be directed to Christina Bernard: bernardc@obgyn.ucsf.edu (415) 353-7668
For more information regarding Registration see the OCME Course Details page.
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