Teratology Society Annual Meeting 2018: Multidisciplinary workshop defines research needs.

Abstract

Throughout the history of the Teratology Society, what members cite most frequently as the primary thing that sets us apart from other organizations and what they value most is its multidisciplinary nature. Members of the society include developmental, molecular and systems biologists, toxicologists, epidemiologists and public health researchers and clinicians, from academia, government (research and regulatory), and industry, who share a common interest in the understanding and prevention of birth defects through research and education. This broad, interdisciplinary “bench to bedside” perspective makes the society membership strongly positioned to identify important emerging issues in birth defects research, define key research gaps, and to discuss multidisciplinary, translational approaches to address them; the Annual Meeting is an excellent forum to facilitate these discussions. To this end, the first “Multidisciplinary Research Needs Workshop” was introduced at the 2018 Teratology Society Annual Meeting. This report summarizes the key highlights of the workshop and specific topic discussions. Specific topics for discussion at the workshop were identified through general and targeted (e.g., past presidents) surveys of society members conducted several months before the Annual Meeting. The top four topics were selected for breakout discussions, and a fifth session was reserved for open discussion. Discussion leaders were identified and charged with identifying questions to facilitate discussion. Several of the topics were also reflected in Annual Meeting plenary and symposium sessions, thus allowing for incorporation of presented information, as well as key speakers in the topic discussions. Following a brief talk presenting several past examples of how a multidisciplinary approach has successfully contributed to our understanding of birth defects, participants were divided into the breakout sessions to discuss research needs and approaches. Participants then reconvened to share highlights of their discussions, which are summarized below. This group allowed for open discussion of any emerging topics/research needs not covered in the other four breakout sessions. A need was identified to develop a means to marry diverse data sources, such as birth defect registries, clinicians, and large databases relating to exposures. Specifically, it would be helpful to have greater integration of birth defect studies within large clinical pregnancy studies. The level of engagement and outcomes of these discussions underscore the benefit of a multidisciplinary forum for identifying and addressing emerging needs in birth defects research. Successes have been realized when all interested and dedicated parties work together. Annual gatherings like the research needs workshop at the TS meeting can facilitate these discussions and the advancement of research toward understanding and prevention of birth defects. Special thanks to the Session Chairs: William Slikker and Peter Langlois, and Discussion Leaders: Barbara Hales and Kembra Howdeshell (Epigenetics), Thomas Knudsen and Nicole Kleinstreuer (Emerging Technologies), Melissa Tassinari (Lactational Exposure and Risk), Grace Lee (Opioids) and Richard Miller (Open-Ended).