Recent advances in reproductive research in Australia and New Zealand: highlights from the Annual Meeting of the Society for Reproductive Biology, 2022

Ella S. Green; Hon Y. Chan; Emily Frost; Meaghan Griffiths; Jennifer Hutchison; Jacinta H. Martin; Bettina P. Mihalas; Trent Newman; Jessica E. M. Dunleavy

doi:10.1071/RD23213

REVIEW (Open Access)

Next Contents Vol 36(4)

Recent advances in reproductive research in Australia and New Zealand: highlights from the Annual Meeting of the Society for Reproductive Biology, 2022

Ella S. Green

^A ^* , Hon Y. Chan ^A , Emily Frost

^B , Meaghan Griffiths ^C ^D , Jennifer Hutchison ^E ^F ^G , Jacinta H. Martin ^H ^I , Bettina P. Mihalas ^J , Trent Newman ^E and Jessica E. M. Dunleavy

^K

+ Author Affiliations

- Author Affiliations

^A Robinson Research Institute, School of Biomedicine, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia.

^B Fertility & Research Centre, Discipline of Women’s Health, School of Clinical Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.

^C Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic., Australia.

^D Gynaecology Research Centre, Royal Women’s Hospital, Parkville, Vic., Australia.

^E School of BioSciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Vic., Australia.

^F Centre for Reproductive Health, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton Vic., Australia.

^G Department of Molecular and Translational Science, Monash University, Clayton, Vic., Australia.

^H Priority Research Centre for Reproductive Science, School of Environmental and Life Sciences, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia.

^I Infertility and Reproduction Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW, Australia.

^J The Oocyte Biology Research Unit, Discipline of Women’s Health, School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of NSW Sydney, Randwick, NSW, Australia.

^K School of BioSciences and Bio21 Institute, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Vic., Australia.

^* Correspondence to: ella.green@adelaide.edu.au

Handling Editor: Graeme Martin

Reproduction, Fertility and Development 36, RD23213 https://doi.org/10.1071/RD23213

Submitted: 12 December 2023 Accepted: 9 January 2024 Published online: 13 February 2024

© 2024 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND)

Abstract

In 2022, the Society for Reproductive Biology came together in Christchurch New Zealand (NZ), for its first face-to-face meeting since the global COVID-19 pandemic. The meeting showcased recent advancements in reproductive research across a diverse range of themes relevant to human health and fertility, exotic species conservation, and agricultural breeding practices. Here, we highlight the key advances presented across the main themes of the meeting, including advances in addressing opportunities and challenges in reproductive health related to First Nations people in Australia and NZ; increasing conservation success of exotic species, including ethical management of invasive species; improvements in our understanding of developmental biology, specifically seminal fluid signalling, ovarian development and effects of environmental impacts such as endocrine-disrupting chemicals; and leveraging scientific breakthroughs in reproductive engineering to drive solutions for fertility, including in assisted reproductive technologies in humans and agricultural industries, and for regenerative medicine.

Keywords: agricultural breeding practices, assisted reproductive technologies, conservation, developmental biology, exotic species, First Nations reproductive health, Indigenous reproductive health, infertility, invasive species, preeclampsia, reproductive engineering, seminal fluid signalling, Society for Reproductive Biology.

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