A Multidisciplinary Conversation on Translational Reproductive Science
September 25, 2025 | MidTown Collaboration Center
9:30AM - 6:00PM
The reproductive science research community in Northern Ohio is invited to "Advancing Frontiers in the Science of Reproduction". This is a forum to share current research ideas, spark regional collaborative efforts, and to thoughtfully engage the community in dissemination and implementation of evidence-based reproductive health interventions. Health problems related to reproductive physiology and organs are common, and yet generally understudied. Therefore, there is great potential for human impact through the investigation of preventative and therapeutic interventions for widespread issues such as cancers of the reproductive tract, sexually transmitted infections, male and female infertility, and pregnancy complications.
Hosted by the Clinical and Translational Science Collaborative (CTSC) of Northern Ohio in collaboration with the Case Western Reserve University Center for Global Health and Disease, the School of Medicine's Department of Pathology, and the University Hospitals Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology this free day-long symposium will focus on community-engaged research, dissemination, and implementation science to address reproductive health challenges. By leveraging the CTSC’s network of seven partner institutions, we aim to unite community members, healthcare providers, and researchers to advance reproductive health knowledge and improve outcomes for people across Northern Ohio.
Symposium Objectives
- Identify opportunities for community-based participatory research in reproductive sciences.
- Describe how clinical and translational science can build trust between communities and research institutions to address knowledge gaps.
- Appreciate major reproductive science questions being researched at CTSC institutions and understand their clinical implications.
Agenda
| Time | Event | Speaker |
|---|---|---|
| 9:30AM - 9:40AM | Welcome Remarks | Dr. Emily Hamburg-Shields & Dr. Christina Farr |
| 9:40AM - 11:15AM | Workshop: How can we advance the frontiers in reproductive health through better academic community partnerships? | Dr. Peter Hovmand |
| 11:30AM - 12:45PM | Keynote | Dr. Erica E. Marsh |
| 12:45PM - 2:00PM | Lunch and Community Book Reading and Networking Session | Varied |
| 2:00PM - 2:40PM | Spotlight Session I | CTSC partner postdocs, early- and mid-career faculty |
| 2:40PM - 3:00PM | Break | |
| 3:00PM - 3:40PM | Spotlight Session II | CTSC partner postdocs, early- and mid-career faculty |
| 3:40PM - 4:00PM | Break | |
| 4:00PM - 5:15PM | Panel Discussion: Communication in Context | CTSC partner faculty & community partners |
The symposium will include the following:
Keynote: Dr. Erica E. Marsh, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Michigan Medical School and Chief of the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility.
Workshop: Dr. Peter S. Hovmand, an internationally recognized leader in participatory systems science, will lead a workshop exploring how academic-community partnerships can advance reproductive health. Learn practical strategies for collaboration and applying systems thinking to address real-world challenges in reproductive health.
Research Spotlight Sessions: Talks highlighting the research of faculty from CTSC partner institutions
Panel Discussion: "Communication in Context", a multidisciplinary panel on strategies for improving communication and dissemination of research in academia & the community.
Community Book Reading and Networking: Registrants will participate in a community book reading of Inferior: How Science Got Women Wrong, and the New Research That’s Rewriting the Story by Angela Saini
This is a free event, with lunch and parking provided. Also, the first 100 registrants will also receive a free copy of Angela Saini's book Inferior. Join us for a multidisciplinary conversation that will shape the future of reproductive science and health in Northern Ohio!