Reproduction and Development: Revealing the Origin of Life

This new conference will focus on discoveries and innovative technologies
to study the origin of life, from gametes to embryo development to stem
cells. The meeting will highlight the power of stem cells and mammalian
models to understand human reproduction and the arising biomedical
opportunities.

At an individual level, the origin and progression of mammalian
development and its implications for human health concerns us all. Recent
scientific and technology advances, such as single-cell methods, genome
editing, stem cell techniques and visualisation tools, are offering
unique opportunities to unveil the mechanisms of normal and abnormal
developments. This conference will review recent findings, from how early
development works to the latest advances in organoid culture,
intergenerational inheritance and the creation of stem cell banks for the
development of regenerative medicine. The conference will also include
discussions on invasive and non-invasive techniques for both
preimplantation selection and genetic diagnosis.

We encourage participation from researchers and specialists across basic
biology and translational research. The programme will offer an
interchange of ideas across the fields of mammalian stem cell biology,
embryo development and human reproduction.

*Image credit: Sidorowicz and Zernicka-Goetz project entitled “Life”.

The conference will start at approximately 13.00 on Monday, 12 March and
close at approximately 14.00 on Wendesday, 14 March 2018.

Scientific topics

• Gamete formation and meiotic stress
• Transgenerational inheritance and epigenetics
• Pluripotent and embryonic stem cells
• Organoid 3D culture and tissue regeneration
• Pre-implantation selection, genetic diagnosis and IVF
• Mammalian development beyond implantation
• New technologies (e.g. single cell sequencing, gene editing)

A draft
programme is available.

Scientific programme committee
Myriam Hemberger Babraham Institute, UK
Thierry Voet University of Leuven, Belgium and WTSI, UK

Magdalena Zernicka-Goetz University of Cambridge, UK

Keynote speaker
Maria Barna Stanford University, USA
Susan Fisher University of California, San Francisco,
USA

Confirmed speakers
Jan Brosens University of Warwick, UK
Qi Chen University of Nevada, USA
Petra Hajkova MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences,
UK
Fredrik Lanner Karolinska Institute, Sweden
Nicolas Plachta Agency of Science, Technology &
Research (A*STAR), Singapore
Mitinori Saitou Kyoto University, Japan
Antonio Scialdone Institute of Epigenetics and Stem
Cells, Germany
Marta Shahbazi University of Cambridge, UK
Fuchou Tang Peking University, China
Margherita Turco University of Cambridge, UK
Joris Vermeesch Centre for Human Genetics, Belgium
Monica Ward University of Hawaii, USA
Dagan Wells University of Oxford, UK

Conference organiser
Lucy Criddle Wellcome Genome Campus, UK

Registration Fees:

* owing to space constraints the Early Bird Discount rate is limited to
100 delegates

The registration fee includes entrance to the lectures and poster
sessions, an abstract book, meals (lunch and dinner) and refreshments
during the conference. Breakfast will be provided for delegates who have
booked accommodation.

Registration deadline: 6 February 2017

Accommodation
Accommodation is provided for the nights of 12, 13, March 2018. Please
note: there is limited onsite accommodation and this will be allocated on
a first-come, first-served basis. Therefore, early registration is
recommended.

If you wish to book onsite accommodation either side of the conference
dates, please contact the Conference Centre directly.

Travel visas
Contact the conference organiser if you require a letter to support a
travel visa application. Please note: letters will only be provided to
confirmed registrants.

Non-European Economic Area or Swiss nationals may be required to have a
visa to enter the UK.
Early application is strongly advised, as this process can take 6-8 weeks
or longer.

Please visit the following websites for further information:
UK Border Agency website: www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas-immigration/

Information for general visitors and business visitors: www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas-immigration/visiting/business/business-activities/

A limited number of registration bursaries are available for PhD students
to attend this conference (up to 50% of the registration fee) from
Wellcome Genome Campus Scientific Conferences.

The following documents will need to be provided:

• Abstract
• CV
• Covering letter
• Letter from supervisor

To apply, please contact the conference organiser.

Bursary deadline: Closed

Additional funding opportunities
Visit our Funding webpage for
additional funding opportunities currently available.

We welcome abstracts from all areas relevant to the main themes of the
meeting, for both oral and poster presentations. Several oral
presentations will be chosen from the abstracts submitted.

Abstracts will only be considered from registered delegates. Please use our online abstract submission system and follow the instructions given to ensure your abstract is submitted correctly. All abstracts must be submitted by the deadline. If you are intending to submit more than one abstract, please contact the conference organiser prior to registration.

The scientific programme committee will assess your abstract after the
deadline has passed and you will be notified whether you have been
selected for an oral or poster presentation.

Poster boards onsite will accommodate 118 cm high by 84 cm wide (A0-
portrait) of printed material. Accepted abstracts will appear in the
conference programme book and poster boards will be allocated at the
conference.

Abstract deadline: 23 January 2018

Abstract guidelines can be viewed here.