2022 Reproductive Science and Medicine Summit
The 2022 Reproductive Science and Medicine Summit took place May 12-13, 2022 in Simpson Querrey Biomedical Research Center, downtown Chicago. The theme of this year's summit was "Frontiers in Reproductive Science and Medicine."
All photos by Tracy Zhou
The 2022 Planning Committee was led by Kelsey Andersen (MS-RSM student, Duncan and Miller Labs), and Katy Trotter (Research Lab Manager, Duncan Lab ). Other 2022 Planning Committee Members included:
- Pooja Devrukhkar (MS-RSM Student, Duncan Lab)
- Madison Gowett (MS-RSM Student, Duncan Lab)
- Tanvi Potluri, ScM (Graduate Student, Bulun Lab)
- Khadija Snowber (MS-RSM Student, Miller Lab)
- Tracy Zhou, MS (Research Associate, Duncan Lab)
Keynote Speaker 
Nicolas Plachta, PhD, is the William Richard Gordon President’s Professor in Genetics at the Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania. He presented on “Imaging how the preimplantation embryo forms.”
CRS Alumni Speaker
CRS was pleased to welcome back Molly Moravek, MD, MPH, MSCI, as this year's CRS Alumni Speaker. Dr. Moravek is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, and the Department of Urology at the University of Michigan. She is also the director of the Fertility Preservation Program and the Associate Program Director for the Fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. Dr. Moravek completed her residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Michigan, and her fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at Northwestern University, where she also received a master’s degree in clinical investigation. She completed her fellowship thesis project in Dr. Serdar Bulun's lab, investigating the role of stem cells in uterine leiomyoma. Dr. Moravek presented on "Fertility and Fertility Preservation in Transmasculine Individuals."
Session Speakers
Session 1: Frontiers in Reproduction - Model Systems
Miguel Brieño-Enriquez, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of OBGYN and Reproductive Sciences at Magee-Womens Research Institute, University of Pittsburgh, “Forever young: Lessons from the naked mole-rat ovary”
Session 2: Frontiers in Reproduction – Extreme and Unusual Conditions
Jonathan G. Steller, MD, Clinician Scientist, Department of Maternal Fetal Medicine, University of California-Irvine “Reproductive and Developmental Considerations in the Space Environment"
Session 3: Frontiers in Reproduction -- Sex Differences
Bérénice Benayoun, PhD, Assistant Professor of Gerontology, Biological Sciences, Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Southern California, “Sex differences in immune aging: are we missing half of the picture?”
Shaw Family Pioneer Award Talk
The Shaw Family Pioneer Awards were established by Robert Shaw ('70, '81), and Charlene Shaw ('70), both alumni of Northwestern University to provide funding for sex-inclusive research, focusing on sex-based mechanisms and determinants of health and disease. The Shaw Family Pioneer Awards are given annually to support Northwestern University investigators who conduct or are interested in sex-based research. Dr. Hong Zhao, MD, PhD, Research Associate Professor in Department of OBGYN at Northwestern University, was the winner of this year’s award. Dr. Zhao presented on “Estrogen, Astrocyte, and Sex Differences in Alzheimer’s Disease."
Alumni Panel
This year's summit featured a Q & A session with a group of CRS Alumni: 
Molly Moravek, MD, MPH, MSCI
Current Role: Associate Professor and Director of Fertility Preservation, University of Michigan
Former CRS Role: REI Fellow at Northwestern
Stacey Tobin, PhD
Current Role: Biomedical Writer and Editor, The Tobin Touch, Inc.
Former CRS Role: PhD Student, Woodruff Lab
Hunter Rogers, PhD
Current Role: Equity Research Associate, Biotech at William Blair
Former CRS Role: PhD Student, Woodruff Lab
Chanakarn Suebthawinkul, MD
Current Role: OB/GYN, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand
Former CRS Role: MS-RSM Student, Northwestern University
Beatriz Peñalver Bernabé, PhD
Assistant Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Medicine, UIC
Former CRS Role: PhD Student, Shea Lab
Trainee Talks
The following trainees were selected to give talks, divided across the three sessions: 
- Aubrey Converse, PhD, Post-doctoral fellow, Duncan Lab
- Kadir Büyükçelebi̇, MD, Post-doctoral fellow, Adli Lab
- Chanakarn Suebthawinkul, MD, MS-RSM student, Duncan Lab (Constance Campbell Research Award)
- Ross McNally, PhD, Post-doctoral fellow, Kim Lab Lab
- Alena Hanson, BA Research Technologist 2, Urbanek Lab
- Kelsey Andersen, MS MS-RSM student, Duncan Lab & Miller Lab
- Tanvi Potluri, ScM, PhD candidate, Bulun Lab (Constance Campbell Research Award)
- Grace Foley, PhD Candidate, Kim Lab
- Hana Kubo, PhD Candidate, Laronda Lab (Constance Campbell Research Award)
The remaining 31 abstracts were presented as posters. All posters were judged at the Summit, and the top five. received a Constance Campbell Research Award:
- Rosie Bauer, PhD Candidate, Urbanek Lab
- Shweta Dipali, PhD Candidate, Duncan Lab
- Luce Kassi, MD, Resident Physician , Pavone Lab
- Alina Murphy, PhD Candidate, Kim Lab
- Yinu Wang, PhD, Research Assistant Professor, Matei Lab