Advancing Frontiers in the Science of Reproduction

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 

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. 

Session 1-

Moderator:

Rachel Martin - Immunology Training Program PhD Student | Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine

Speakers:

Jennifer Hill, PhD - Professor, Physiology & Pharmacology, University of Toledo College of Medicine

Alexis Heath - PhD Candidate, CWRU Systems Biology and Bioinformatics program

Session 2 - 

Moderator -

Deirdre Scully, PhD - Senior Instructor at Case Western Reserve University

Speakers:

Christina Farr, PhD - Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology, CWRU SOM

Ofer Reizes, PhD -  Professor, The Department of Cancer Sciences at Cleveland Clinic and The Laura J. Fogarty Endowed Chair for Uterine Cancer Research

Panel Discussion:  

"Communication in Context", a multidisciplinary panel on strategies for improving communication and dissemination of research in academia & the community. 

Moderators - 

Eugenia Sweet, BSN, RN - DNP student, CSU 

Dr. Emily Hamburg-Shields - Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology, CWRU SOM

Speakers - 

Erika Kelley, PhD - Assistant Professor, Department of Reproductive Biology; Clinical Psychology, UHCMC

Chaney Nezbeth -Vice-chair, CTSC CAB Executive Director, Way Station

Jessie Hill, JD - Judge Ben C. Green Professor of Law, School of Law, CWRU

Amine Sahmoud, MD - Clinical Instructor, Department of OB/Gyn, UHCMC

Ashley Brant, DO - Staff Physician, CCF Women's Health and OB/Gyn Institute

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!