We are pleased to announce that three SSR members have been elected to the National Academy of Medicine. This prestigious honor recognizes their pioneering contributions to reproductive biology. The honorees, their affiliations, and research accomplishments are:
Marisa S. Bartolomei, PhD, Perelman Professor of Cell and Developmental Biology and director, Center of Women’s Health and Reproductive Medicine, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. For identifying one of the first imprinted genes, a rare class of genes essential for development and human health. She defined imprinting regulation and provided insights into mechanisms of imprinted gene dysregulation and associated clinical disorders.
Francesco J. DeMayo, PhD, chief and senior investigator, Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, N.C. For transforming our understanding of uterine function and regulation in health and disease. He revolutionized uterine biology by pioneering genetically engineered models that enable precise in vivo manipulation of uterine tissues, providing unprecedented insights into mechanisms underlying pregnancy and reproductive disorders, with a broad impact on women’s health.
Vassilios Papadopoulos, DPharm, PhD, dean and professor of pharmacology and pharmaceutical sciences, Alfred E. Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences; and professor of medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles. For his groundbreaking work that helped define mechanisms controlling steroid hormone biosynthesis in classical and non-classical tissues, and pioneering work on pharmacology of steroidogenesis and neuro-steroidogenesis that led to development of new drugs for endocrine, neurological, and psychiatric diseases. And, for leadership that contributed to the success of multiple universities.
Drs. Bartolomei, DeMayo, and Papadopoulos are long-standing SSR members who have made significant, selfless contributions to our Society. Please join us in congratulating them on this outstanding achievement.
The official press release from the National Academy of Medicine can be found here.
SSR researchers appeared in two high-profile pieces by science journalist Kristen V. Brown in WIRED and GQ, highlighting advances in male contraception, sperm physiology, and ovarian longevity. Featured members include Francesca Duncan, David Pépin, Masahito Ikawa, Cameron Schmidt, Chris Geyer, and Maria Gracia Gervasi.
GQ: No Sperm Left Behind: Modern Medicine’s Race to Solve Male Infertility, August 31, 2026. Read Full Article HERE
Wired: The Ovary Is Surprisingly Active After Menopause. Scientists Are Trying to Figure Out Why, September 24, 2026. Read Full Article HERE
September 23, 2026 — Investigating human embryogenesis presents significant translational challenges, which is why my postdoctoral work at the Université de Montréal focuses on the guinea pig as an alternative model. This approach provides critical insights into early developmental pathways that strongly align with human biology, opening new avenues for reproductive research.
June 9, 2026 — Cheryl Rosenfeld was a featured guest on Foodie Pharmacology with Dr. Cassandra Quave. They discussed the placenta and its role in shaping offspring health and recent findings from my laboratory published in Biology of Reproduction, suggesting the maternal microbiome can greatly influence this vital organ.