Society for Reproduction and Fertility
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| Society for Reproduction and Fertility | |
|---|---|
| Name | Society for Reproduction and Fertility |
| Formation | 1952 |
| Type | Learned society |
| Headquarters | Birmingham |
| Region | United Kingdom |
| Fields | Reproductive biology, andrology, embryology, developmental biology |
Society for Reproduction and Fertility is a learned society focused on reproductive biology and fertility research. It engages researchers from institutions such as University of Cambridge, University of Oxford, Imperial College London, University College London, and University of Edinburgh and collaborates with agencies like Medical Research Council (United Kingdom), Wellcome Trust, National Health Service (England), European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology, and Royal Society. The society interacts with publishers including Nature Publishing Group, Elsevier, Wiley-Blackwell, Oxford University Press, and Cambridge University Press and partners with conferences at venues such as ExCeL London and Royal Society meetings.
History
Founded in 1952, the society emerged amid postwar expansion of biomedical research at centers including Johns Hopkins University, Harvard University, Stanford University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and University of California, Berkeley. Early figures associated with its milieu included scientists from National Institutes of Health, Max Planck Society, Karolinska Institutet, Pasteur Institute, and University of Tokyo. The society developed alongside organizations such as International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics, American Society for Reproductive Medicine, European Molecular Biology Organization, Federation of European Biochemical Societies, and Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. Historic meetings took place near institutions like Wellcome Trust Centre, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Guy's Hospital, Great Ormond Street Hospital, and Hammersmith Hospital and attracted contributors affiliated with Cleveland Clinic, Mayo Clinic, Karolinska University Hospital, Johns Hopkins Hospital, and Gunnar Johansson Laboratory.
Mission and Objectives
The society's mission emphasizes promotion of research in reproductive science across translational settings such as National Institute for Health and Care Research, European Commission, World Health Organization, United Nations, and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Objectives include fostering collaboration between investigators from Cancer Research UK, Royal Society of Biology, Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, European Research Council, and Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority and supporting policy engagement with bodies like House of Commons, European Parliament, Nuffield Council on Bioethics, UK Research and Innovation, and Wellcome Collection.
Membership and Governance
Membership comprises academics and clinicians from universities and hospitals including University of Manchester, King's College London, University of Glasgow, University of Bristol, and Queen Mary University of London as well as industry scientists from companies like F. Hoffmann-La Roche, GlaxoSmithKline, Merck Group, Bayer, and Thermo Fisher Scientific. Governance is overseen by an elected council similar to structures at Royal Society, British Medical Association, Royal College of Physicians, Institute of Physics, and Academy of Medical Sciences. Officers may interact with regulators such as Human Tissue Authority, Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, Food and Drug Administration, European Medicines Agency, and Council of Europe.
Meetings and Conferences
Annual meetings and thematic conferences occur in collaboration with venues and organizations such as Royal Society, ExCeL London, Edinburgh International Conference Centre, Manchester Central, and Birmingham NEC and attract speakers from University of California, San Francisco, Yale University, Columbia University, University of Toronto, and McGill University. Symposia have featured topics intersecting work at Broad Institute, Sanger Institute, European Bioinformatics Institute, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, and Wellcome Sanger Institute. Joint meetings have been organized with European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology, American Society for Reproductive Medicine, International Society for Stem Cell Research, Federation of European Biochemical Societies, and British Fertility Society.
Grants, Awards, and Fellowships
The society administers grants and fellowships to early-career researchers from programs akin to Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, Horizon Europe, Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Career Development Fellowship, Medical Research Council Career Development Award, and National Institute for Health Research. Awards are presented at meetings alongside prizes named in the style of honors from Royal Medal, Copley Medal, Lasker Award, Thomson Reuters Citation Laureates, and European Inventor Award. Funding panels have included reviewers linked to European Research Council, Wellcome Trust Senior Research Fellowships, NIH Director's Pioneer Award, Gates Cambridge Scholarship, and Erwin Schrödinger Fellowship.
Publications and Communications
The society supports dissemination through journals and media similar to Reproduction (journal), Nature, Science, Cell, and PNAS and communicates via newsletters, social media, and press briefings coordinated with BBC News, The Guardian, The Times (London), The Telegraph, and Financial Times. It encourages open science practices aligned with initiatives at Creative Commons, OpenAIRE, PubMed Central, arXiv, and bioRxiv. Editorial collaborations have involved editors from Nature Genetics, Cell Stem Cell, Development, Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, and Molecular Human Reproduction.
Outreach and Education
Outreach programs partner with museums and institutions such as Science Museum, London, Natural History Museum, London, British Museum, Royal Institution, and Wellcome Collection and engage schools linked to Department for Education (England), National STEM Learning Centre, Association for Science Education, Royal Society Young People's Book Prize, and Biochemical Society. Educational activities include workshops and public lectures featuring contributors from Royal Institution Christmas Lectures, Cheltenham Science Festival, Hay Festival, Edinburgh International Science Festival, and British Science Festival.