Trainee Merit Awards

First: Gul Bikem Soygur, University of California, San Francisco
Second: Xuan Luong, University of California, San Francisco
Third: Ismael Lamas Toranzo, Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria, Spain

2018 Awardees:

First: Andrew Kelleher, University of Missouri, USA
Second: Kaori Nozawa, Baylor College of Medicine, USA
Third: Patrick Hannon, University of Kentucky, USA

2017 Awardees:

First: Megan Sheridan, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
Second: Maria Szwarc, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
Third: Atefeh Abedini, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa

2016 Awardees:
First: Fei Zhao, Ph.D. NIEHS,USA
Second: Pavla Brachova, Ph.D. University of Kansas, USA
Third: Hao Wu. Nanjing Medical University, China

2015 Awardees:

First: Priya Mittal. Magee-Womens Research Institute, Pittsburgh USA. 
Second: Damayanti Chakraborty, Ph.D. University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City,USA.
Third: Mulin Xiong. Massachusetts General Hospital,USA. 

2014 Awardees: 

First: Matthew T. Rätsep. Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada. 
Second: Jonathan T. Busada. Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA. 
Third: Rodolfo C. Cardoso, D.V.M., Ph.D. Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA. 

2013 Awardees: 

First: Chang Liu. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), Durham, NC, USA. 
Second: Genna Stodden. University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI, USA. 
Third: Kalyne Bertolin, Ph.D. University of Montreal, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC, Canada. 

2012 Awardees: 

First: Jenna T. Haverfield, Ph.D.. Prince Henry's Institute, Clayton, VIC, Australia
Second: Sandeep Pawar, Ph.D. University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA. 
Third: Qi-En Yang, Ph.D. Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA.

2011 Awardees: 

First: Karen E. Racicot, Ph.D. The Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA, USA. 
Second: Lisa K. Akison, Ph.D. University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia. 
Third: Mandy L. King. Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL, USA

2010 Awardees: 

First: Kylie R. Dunning, Ph.D. University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia. 
Second: Amanda L. Krull. Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA. 
Third: Heather L. Franco, Ph.D. Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA. 

2009 Awardees: 

First: Jamie A. Le. University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA. 
Second: Emily Alvino, Ph.D. University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia 
Third: Y. Sangeeta Devi, Ph.D. University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA

2008 Awardees: 
First: Brandon Lingenfelter, D.O., Ph.D. West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA
Second: Chris Geyer, Ph.D. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), USA. 
Third: Karen A. Schindler, Ph.D. University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA. 

2007 Awardees: 
First: Daniel J. Trombly, Ph.D. Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
Second: Denise Archambeault, Ph.D. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
Third: Catherine Christian, Ph.D. University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA

2006 Awardees: 
First: Olga M. Ocón-Grove, Ph.D. The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
Second: Koji Toyokawa, Ph.D. University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, USA. 
Third: Tracy L. Davis, Ph.D. Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA.

2005 Awardees: 
First: Chuck R. Greenfeld, Ph.D. University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, USA
Second: Yoko Miyamoto, Ph.D. CHUL Research Centre, Ste-Foy, QC, Canada
Third: Misung Jo, Ph.D. University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA

2004 Awardees: 
First (tie): Joanna E. Burdette, Ph.D. Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA
First (tie): Armina A. Kazi, Ph.D. University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
Third: Jon M. Oatley, Ph.D. Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA

2003 Awardees: 
First: Lea A. Rempel, Ph.D. University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA
Second: Matthew D. Show, Ph.D. Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
Third: Tania Fayad, Ph.D. University of Montreal, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC, Canada

2002 Awardees: 
First: Kathleen H. Burns, M.D., Ph.D. Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
Second: Shannon D. Sullivan, M.D., Ph.D. University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA

2001 Awardees: 
First: Sekoni Noel, Ph.D. Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.
Second: Wendy Ingman, Ph.D. University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia

2000 Awardees: 
First: James K. Pru, Ph.D. University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA
Second: Regina D. Horvat, Ph.D. Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
Second: Sean W. Limesand, Ph.D. Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA

1999 Awardees:
First: Humphrey H.-C. Yao, Ph.D. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
Second: Walter Tribley, Ph.D. Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA

1998 Awardees:
First: Faye A. Bradbury, Ph.D.. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
Second: Charles L. Chaffin, Ph.D.. Oregon Regional Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR, USA

1997 Awardees: 
First: Todd W. Sandhoff, Ph.D.. University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
Second: Vinayak Doraiswamy, Ph.D.. North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, USA

1996 Awardees: 
First: Warren B. Nothnick, Ph.D. University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
Second: Robert S. Viger, Ph.D. Clinical Research Institute of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada

1995 Awardees: 
First: Kaylon L. Bruner, Ph.D. Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
Second: Sheau Yu Hsu, Ph.D. Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA

1994 Awardees: 
First: Limin Liu, Ph.D. University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
Second: Adele M. Turzillo, Ph.D. Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA

1993 Awardees: 
First: Hal C. Cantor, Ph.D. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
Second: Richard E. Cutler Jr., Ph.D. Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA

1992 Awardees: 
First: Douglas W. Leaman, Ph.D. University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
Second: Kenneth P. Nephew, Ph.D. University of Kansas, Wichita, KS, USA

1991 Awardees: 
First: K. James Tsuruta, Ph.D. Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
Second: John L. Tilly, Ph.D. University of California–San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA

1990 Awardees: 
First: Suzanne M. Moenter, Ph.D. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
Second: Dana Gaddy-Kurten, Ph.D. Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA

1989 Awardees: 
First: Matthew Berria, Ph.D. University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, USA
Second: Constance Albarracin, M.D., Ph.D. University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA

1988 Awardees:
First: Milo C. Wiltbank, Ph.D. Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
Second: James Charles Cross, D.V.M., Ph.D. University of Missouri–Columbia, Columbia, MO, USA

1987 Awardees:
First: Diane S. Keeney, Ph.D. Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
Second: Nancy L. Wayne, Ph.D. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

1986 Awardees:
First: Kirwin J. Darney Jr. Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
Second: David R. Brigstock, Ph.D. AFRC Institute of Animal Physiology, Babraham, UK.

1985 Awardees:
First: Meredith L. Warshaw, Ph.D. University of Illinois–Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
Second: Charlotte E. Farin, Ph.D. Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
Honorable Mention: Debora L. Hamernik, Ph.D. Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA

1984 Awardees:
First: Kristen A. Ivani, Ph.D. University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, USA
Second: K.-Y. Francis Pau, Ph.D. Oregon Regional Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR, USA

1983 Awardees:
First: Hector W. Alila, D.V.M., Ph.D. Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
Second: Elizabeth J. Smanik, M.D., Ph.D. Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA, USA
Honorable Mention: Charles E. Roselli, Ph.D. Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland, OR, USA

1982 Awardees:
First: Diane E. Suter, Ph.D. Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
Second: Denis A. Leong. University of Alabama in Birmingham, Birmingham. 
Honorable Mention: Robert A. Milvae, Ph.D. Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA. 

1981 Awardees:
First: Marion C. Usselman, Ph.D. Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Second: Judith N. Schoonmaker, Ph.D. University of California at San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA.
Honorable Mention: Thomas E. Adams, Ph.D. Oregon Regional Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR, USA

1980 Awardees:
First: Robert D. Koos, Ph.D. Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA. 
Second: Arthur Coquelin, University of Texas, Austin, TX, USA.

1979 Awardees:
First: Gere diZerega, M.D. National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, USA
Second: Julia A. Jonassen. University of Michigan, USA. 

1978 Awardees:
First: Eileen Su-Rong Huang, Ph.D. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign,
Second: Jamie Y. Jeremy, Ph.D. Washington University

1977 Awardees:
First: Curtis Chubb, Ph.D. Johns Hopkins University
Second: James J. Ireland, Ph.D. University of Michigan

2023 Awardees:

Pre-Doctoral

The SSR Pre-Doctoral Platform Awards are supported by Dr. T. Rajendra Kumar through the Makowski Family Endowment at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus

First Place: Arslan Tariq, University of Florida

Second Place: ikaela Simon, University of Kansas Medical Center

Third Place: Anna Clapp Organski, Purdue University

Post-Doctoral 

First Place: Philippe Godin, Harvard Medical School

Second Place: Esteban Dominguez, University of Kansas Medical Center

Third Place: Deirdre Scully, Baylor College of Medicine

Pre-Doctoral

The SSR Pre-Doctoral Platform Awards are supported by Dr. T. Rajendra Kumar through the Makowski Family Endowment at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus

First Place: Avery Ahmed, Baylor College of Medicine

Second Place: Astha Adroja, Rutgers University

Third Place: Katie Peterson, University of Tennessee

Post-Doctoral 

First Place: Virginia Savy, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences

Second Place: Filip Vasilv, Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal

Third Place: Alexandra Yaw, Michigan State University

2022 Awardees:

Pre-Doctoral

First Place: Lauren Alesi, Monash University

Second Place: Katerina Turner, The University of Toledo

Third Place: Mathilde Marchais, Université Laval

Post-Doctoral 

First Place: Mariana Giassetti, Washington State University

Second Place: Rong Li, NIEHS

Third Place: Elnur Babayev, Northwestern University

2021 Awardees:

Pre-Doctoral:

First: Yu-Ying Chen, Northwestern University
Second: Olivia Smith, Université de Montréal
Third: Leah Simon, Cornell University

Post- Doctoral:

First: Rowan Karvas, Washington University in St. Louis
Second: Camilla Hughes, Université de Montréal
Third: Helena Zomer, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

2020 Awardees:

Pre-Doctoral:
First: Urooza Sarma, Monash University
Second: Megan Gura, Brown University
Third: Regan Scott, University of Kansas Medical Center

Post- Doctoral:

First: Karl Kerns, University of Missouri
Second: Ross McNally, University of Kansas Medical Center
Third: Allison Tscherner, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute

2019 Awardees:

Pre-Doctoral:
First: Pascale Robineau-Charette, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute
Second: Ariane Lalonde-Larue, Université de Montréal
Third: Arpita Bhurke, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

Post- Doctoral:
First: David Landry, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute
Second: Arin Oestreich, Washington University School of Medicine
Third: Harriet Fitzgerald, University of Missouri

2018 Awardees: 

First: Gauthier Schang, McGill University, Canada
Second: Ashley Meyer, University of Missouri-Columbia, USA 
Third: Diana Monsivais, Baylor College of Medicine, USA

2017 Awardees

First: Sweta Ravisankar, Oregon Health and Science University, Oregon, USA
Second: Macarena Gonzalez, Robinson Research Institute, University of Adelaide, Australia
Third: Tegan Horan, Washington State University, Washington, USA

2016 Awardees:
First: Estela J. Jauregui. Washington State University, USA
Second: Douglas A. Gibson, Ph.D. University of Edinburgh, Scotland
Third: Pramod Dhakal, Ph.D. University of Kansas Medical Center, USA

2015 Awardees:

First: Faezeh Koohestani, Ph.D. University of Kansas Medical Center, USA
Second: Ying Yang, Ph.D. University of Missouri-Columbia,USA
Third: Lan Hai, M.D. Southern Illinois University, USA

2014 Awardees: 

First: Sharon L. Eddie, Ph.D. University of Illinois, USA
Second: Pawan Puri, Ph.D. University of Pittsburgh, USA
Third: Melissa L. McCallum. Washington State University,USA

2013 Awardees: 

First: Linah Al-Alem, Ph.D. University of Kentucky,USA
Second: Erica Ungewitter, Ph.D. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, USA
Third: Elon Roti Roti, Ph.D. University of Wisconsin–Madison, USA

2012 Awardees: 

First: Charlene D. Young, Ph.D., Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Canada.
Second: Niraj Joshi, Ph.D. Michigan State University, USA
Third: Richard A. Jiménez, University of Pennsylvania, USA

2011 Awardees: 

First: Kendra M. Hodgkinson. Ottawa Regional Cancer Center, Canada
Second: Liang-Yu Chen, Ph.D. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, USA
Third: Bruno Prud'homme. Laval University, Canada

2010 Awardees: 
First: Dulce Maroni, Ph.D. University of Nebraska Medical Center, USA
Second: Jessica A. Keegan. University of Missouri, USA
Third: April K. Binder, Ph.D. Washington State University,USA

2009 Awardees: 

First: Kathrin A. Dunlap, Ph.D. Texas A&M University,USA
Second: Yi Ren, Ph.D. Cornell University, USA
Third: Jing Liu. University of Kentucky, USA

2008 Awardees: 
First: Jennifer A. Hernandez-Gifford, Ph.D. Washington State University, USA
Second: Andrew S. Midzak, Ph.D. Johns Hopkins University, USA
Third: Sarah L. Wakefield. University of Adelaide,Australia

2007 Awardees: 
First: Ivraym B. Barsoum, Ph.D. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA
Second: Ankur K. Nagaraja, Ph.D., Ph.D. Baylor College of Medicine, USA
Third: Kalidou Ndiaye, Ph.D. Ohio State University, USA

2006 Awardees: 
First: Christine A. Glidewell-Kenney, Ph.D. Northwestern University, USA
Second: Gwonhwa Song, Ph.D. Texas A&M University, College Station, USA
Third: Xiaoyan Gong, M.D. Magee-Womens Research Institute, Pittsburgh, USA

2005 Awardees: 
First: Derek Boerboom, D.M.V., Ph.D. Baylor College of Medicine, USA
Second: Lei Bao, M.D., Ph.D. University of Illinois at Chicago, USA
Third: Julia Halperin, Ph.D. University of Illinois at Chicago, USA

2004 Awardees: 
First: Mayumi Oda, Ph.D. Laboratory of Cellular Biochemistry, Japan
Second: Genevieve B. Wortzman, Ph.D. Johns Hopkins University​, USA
Third: Sandra Ledoux. University of Montreal, Canada

2003 Awardees: 
First: Shu-Zong Wang. University of Missouri–Columbia, USA
Second: James A. MacLean, Ph.D. M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, USA
Third: Venkataraman Sriraman, Ph.D. Baylor College of Medicine, USA

2002 Awardees: 
First: Jessica A. Mong, Ph.D. Laboratory of Neurobiology and Behavior, USA
Second: Hsiu-Mei Chen. National Cheng Kung University, China

2001 Awardees: 
First: Jessica Liu. University of Western Ontario, Canada
Second: Dong Ryul Lee, Ph.D. Cornell University, USA

2000 Awardees: 
First: Jacques J. Tremblay, Ph.D. Laval University, Canada
Second: Timothy McKinnon, Ph.D. University of Western Ontario, Canada

1999 Awardees:
First: Alice S.T. Wong, Ph.D. University of British Columbia, Canada
Second: François J. Richard, Ph.D. Stanford University, USA

2023 Awardees

Mariana Sponchiado, University of Missouri, USA
Conceptus–induced proinflammatory effects on the maternal endometrium and role(s) of interferon gamma during early pregnancy in pigs.

Camila Cuellar, University of Florida, USA
Consequences of gene editing of PRLR on thermotolerance, growth and male reproduction in cattle.

Corrine Monaco, University of Nebraska Medical Center, USA
Development of a three-dimensional cell culture model to study the bovine corpus luteum.

Heather Steele, University of Calgary, USA
Differential exosomal proteome with porcine Sertoli cell maturation.

Jada Nix, Virginia Tech, USA
Disruption of OCT4 in cattle embryos by electroporation of CRISPR-Cas ribonucleoproteins into zygotes for DNA and RNA targeting (CRISPR-DART).

Arslan Tariq, University of Florida, USA
Effect of inflammation during oocyte maturation on bovine preimplantation embryo blastomere number and apoptosis.

Mary Ali Oliver, Virginia Tech, USA
Human Recombinant Interleukin-6 has Cryoprotective Properties in Blastocyst-Stage Cow Embryos.

Yugyeong Cheon, Yonsei University, South Korea
NOD-like receptors: expression and regulation in the endometrium during the estrous cycle and pregnancy in pigs.

Joe Cain, Texas A&M University, USA
Pig conceptuses release extracellular vesicles containing interferon gamma into the uterine lumen for paracrine communication with the endometrium.

Katie Peterson, University of Tennessee, USA
Preimplantation Microenvironment Proteins Influenced by Bovine In Vivo Derived and In Vitro Produced Conceptus Origin.

2022 Awardees

Yu Jing Liao, Colorado Center for Reproductive Medicine, USA
Employing the additional reprogramming factor TBX3 and small molecules improves generating porcine induced pluripotent stem cells reprogrammed by episomal plasmids. 

Jessica Klabnik, The University of Tennessee, USA
Heat-Induced Increases in Body Temperature Impact Cumulus and Granulosa Cell Transcriptomes in the Periovulatory Follicle of Lactating Dairy Cows. 

Robyn Moses, Texas A&M University, USA
Characterizing enzymes and transporters involved in fructose and lactate metabolism in the ovine conceptuses during the peri-implantation period of pregnancy. 

Caitlin Ross, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, USA
GnRH-II and its receptor influence sperm morphology and kinematics.

Alexis Jones, University of Missouri- Columbia, USA
Identification of Novel Mitophagy Determinants in The Mammalian Cell Free System for the Study of Mitochondrial Inheritance. 

Riley Sullivan, University of Missouri – Columbia
CXCL12 Expression in Porcine Interferon Gamma Knockout Conceptuses During Early Pregnancy. 

Nico Menjivar, Colorado State University, USA
Emerging role of extracellular vesicles as messengers for protection against heat stress in bovine oocytes. 

Makenzie Newton, Texas A&M University, USA
Regulation of expression of enzymes for synthesis of polyamines by the uterus during the estrous cycle of sheep. 

Katerina Turner, The University of Toledo, USA
Abnormal centriolar biomarker ratios are associated with unexplained bull artificial insemination subfertility. 

Annika Geijer-Simpson, University of Leeds, UK  
Does the in-utero sex ratio of a litter alter the ovarian and uterine development in female pigs? 

2021 Awardees

Nirvay Sah, Texas A & M University, USA
Ovine Utero-Placental Tissues Metabolize Creatine During Pregnancy to Support Conceptus Development

Jason Rizo, University of Missouri, Columbia, USA 
Sire Influences on Trophectoderm Development in Cattle

Abigai Maucieri, University of Vermont, USA
Evaluating The Impact of The Hexosamine Biosynthesis Pathway And O-Glcnacylation on Glucose Metabolism In Bovine Granulosa Cells

Laurie Francoeur, Cornell University, USA
Persistent Layers Differ from Non-Persistent Layers in Bodyweight and at the Ovarian Level

Maria Isabel Silva, The Pennsylvania State University, USA
Changes In Immune Cell Populations and Phenotype in Peripheral Blood Leukocytes of Dairy Cows and Heifers During Early Pregnancy

Thiago  Amaral, University of Florida, USA
Signaling mechanisms for actions of DKK1 on cell numbers in the preimplantation bovine embryo,

Yahan Li, University of Missouri, USA
Investigation of Bovine Chromosome Architecture and Its Involvement in Large Offspring Syndrome

Casey C. Read, University of Tennessee, USA
Influence Of Pre-Ovulatory Follicle Size on The Follicular Fluid Metabolome in Lactating Beef Cows,

Jessica Keane, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, USA
Reductions in Hematocrit and Hemoglobin Concentrations in Non-Cycling Heifers May Contribute to Delayed Pubertal Attainment

Jessica Kincade, University of Missouri – Columbia, USA
Central Nucleus Positioning in Murine Oocytes is Achieved by F-actin and Maintained by Microtubules to Avoid Erroneous Chromosome Segregation

2020 Awardees

Ana Silva, Utah State University
Effect of Bovine Trophoblast Cell Derived Extracellular Vesicles On Gene Expression Profiles Of Immune Cells

Martyna Lupicka, Pennsylvania State University
MiR-1246 Is the Most Abundant Mirna In Luteal Extracellular Vesicles and It Regulates T Cell Transcripts Associated with Their Activation

Asghar Ali, Colorado State University
Gene Regulation by LIN28-let-7 miRNA Axis in Sheep Trophoblast Cells

Hanah Georges, Colorado State University
BVDV infection epigenetically alters T-cell Transcription Factors in Persistently Infected Fetal Spleens

Avery Kramer, Texas A&M University
Porcine Conceptuses Utilize the Polyol Pathway and Fructose-Driven Glycolysis (Fructolysis) to Support Development during the Peri-Implantation Period of Pregnancy

Eleanore O'Neil, University of Missouri-Columbia
Single-cell RNA-seq Reveals the Diversity Of Trophoblast Subtypes And Patterns Of Differentiation In The Bovine Placenta

Karl Kerns, University of Missouri
Artificial Intelligence Analysis of the Mammalian Sperm Zinc Signature Predicts Male-factor Subfertility

Camila Bruna de Lima, Université Laval
Unraveling the Landscape of Mitochondrial mtDNA Methylation in Bovine Oocytes and Embryos

Sarah West, Texas A&M University
Effects of Prenatal and Postnatal Nutrition on Neuropeptide Y Neuronal Projections to Kisspeptin Neurons in the Arcuate Nucleus of Beef Heifers

Alexandria Snider, University of Nebraska- Lincoln
Lipids Involved in Pro and Anti-Inflammatory Responses Are Altered in Follicular Fluid and Plasma of Cows Administered A Low Dose FSH Treatment and May Be Used as Markers of Ovulation in Beef Cows

2019 Awardees:
Haidee Tinning, University of Leeds, UK     
Conceptus-Derived Proteins, CAPG & P4HB, Alter the Transcriptome of Bovine Endometrial Cells Cultured In Vitro To Enhance the Pregnancy Recognition Process         

Erika E. Paulson, University of California Davis, USA          
Expression Pattern and Role of Mirnas During Early Development in The Cow

Constantine Simintiras, University College Dublin, Ireland
Biochemical Changes in Uterine Fluid Composition at The Initiation of Conceptus Elongation in Cattle

Caroline Pfeiffer, University of Missouri, USA     
Conceptus Prostaglandin Synthase 2 is Not Essential for Early Development and the Establishment of Pregnancy in the Pig  

Shelby Springman, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, USA
Follicle Stimulating Hormone Stimulation Restores Ovarian Microenvironment of Beef Heifers with Androgen Excess to Reduce Inflammation                                                    

Niharika Sinha, Michigan State University, USA
Developmental Programming: Prenatal Testosterone-Induced Epigenetic Modulation and Its Effect on Gene Expression In Sheep Ovary

Michelle Halstead, University of California – Davis, USA
Chromatin Remodeling During Bovine Preimplantation Development Indicates Species-Specific Differences in Regulators of Genome Activation in Cattle, Human, And Mouse 

Kerri Bochantin, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, USA
Lipopolysaccharide Differentially Affects Pro-Inflammatory Responses in Theca Cells from Androgen Excess compared to Control Beef Cows       

Jason Rizo, University of Florida, USA
Seminal Plasma or TGFβ Increases Expression of IL6 and TNF in Bovine Endometrial Cells 

Stacia McIntosh, New Mexico State University, USA    
Intrauterine Inhibition of Chemokine Receptor 4 Signaling Modulates Local and Systemic Inflammation in Ovine Pregnancy

2018 Awardees:

Ashley Meyer, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA

Eleanore O'Neil, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA

Bethany Mordhorst, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA

Alexandria Snider, Universtiy of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA

Malavika Adur, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA

Bryan McLendon, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA

Kelsey Brooks, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA

Camilla Hughes, The Pennsylvania State University, Pennsylvania, USA

Leticia D.P. Sinedino, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA

Cheyenne Robinson, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico, USA

2023 Awardees

Allyssa Fogarty, University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA
Cooperation of GATA2 and androgen signaling in the morphogenesis of the epididymis.

Virginia Savy, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, NIH, USA
How much calcium is “too much” calcium at fertilization?

Alaina Houghton-Chamberlain, University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA
IRX3 and SEPTIN7 Interact in Oocyte Cytoplasm During Germline Cyst Breakdown and Primordial Follicle Formation.

Filip Vasilv, Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal, Canada
It’s good to talk: communication between sister cells by cytoplasmic bridges in preimplantation embryos.

Alison Ermisch, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, USA
N6-methyladenosine dynamics and differential methylation of maternal and zygotic mRNAs during the early stages of the maternal to zygotic transition.

Avery Ahmed, Baylor College of Medicine, USA
Oocyte NEDDylation is Required for Female Fertility.

Alexandra Yaw, Michigan State University, USA
Rotating light shifts reveal sub-population of female mice resilient to estrous cycle disruption.

Astha Adroja, Rutgers University, USA
Targeting proprotein convertases and follicle rupture to identify non-hormonal contraceptive candidates.

Monique Mills, The Jackson Laboratory, USA
The role and regulation of TRP53 in the oocyte’s response to radiation-induced damage.

Zian Liao, Baylor College of Medicine, USA
Utilization of Tagged Mouse Lines to Study Mechanism of Action and Redundancy of SMAD1 and SMAD5 in the Uterus.

2022 Awardees

Krista Briedis, Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP), Vienna
Deciphering the species specificity code of Bouncer, an essential fertilization factor in fish. 

Adriana Alexander, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, USA
Sex-specific regulatory networks prime primordial germ cell fate commitment.

Rafael Domingues, University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA
Ketanserin, a serotonin receptor 2A and 2C antagonist, prevents serotonin- and fluoxetine-induced adverse pregnancy and neonatal outcomes. 

Andrew Pearson Eastern Virginia Medical School, USA
Neurotensin as a Novel Regulator of Vascular Permeability in the Ovarian Follicle. 

Emily Zaniker, Northwestern University, USA
Spatial Asymmetry in the Molecular Determinants of Ovarian Follicle Rupture.

Rexxi Prasasya, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, USA
Investigating active demethylation pathways in germline epigenetic reprogramming using novel Tet1 mouse mutants.

Mingxin Shi, Washington State University, USA
GATA6+ peritoneal macrophages contribute to maintaining the pro-inflammatory environment exacerbating endometriosis-associated pain in a mouse model. 

Ashley George, University of California, San Francisco, USA
Seminal plasma induces in endometrial stromal fibroblasts a distinct in vitro decidualization program resembling the in vivo state. 

Ciro Amato, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, USA
A novel cell population from hindlimbs interacts with mesenchymal cells in the external genitalia to facilitate proper penis formation. 

2021 Awardees: 

Hannah Anvari, Northwestern University, USA
Analysis Of Fibroblast and Myofibroblast Marker Expression in The Human Ovarian Cortex Across Age

Mariyan Jeyarajah, Western University, USA
GCM1 is a Critical Regulator of Human Extravillous Trophoblast Development and Function

Rachel Wilson, Oregon Health and Science University, USA
Detecting Testosterone Induced Placental Inflammation Using Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasonography with Phosphatidylserine Microbubble

Zhuqing Wang, The Lundquist Institute, USA
Testis-Specific X-Linked Mir-506 Family Regulates Sperm Competition

Yuliana Tan, The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, USA
Single Cell Analysis of Endometriosis Reveals a Coordinated Transcriptional Program Driving Immunotolerance and Angiogenesis Across Eutopic and Ectopic Tissues

Shah Tauseef Bashir, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA
Endometriosis Leads to Altered Glial Morphology and Activation in The Brains of Mice in A Mouse Model Of Endometriosis

 Rong Li, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, USA
The Spatial Transcriptomic Analysis of the Mouse Uterine Microenvironment at Early Pregnancy

Camilla Hughes, Université de Montréal, USA
Steroidogenic Factor 1 (SF-1; Nr5a1) Regulates Primordial Follicle Assembly and Activation

Jennifer McKey, Duke University Medical Center, USA
Integration of Mouse Ovary Morphogenesis with Developmental Dynamics of the Oviduct, Ovarian Ligaments, and Rete Ovarii

Marija Kuna, University of Kansas Medical Center, USA
CITED2 Regulates Placentation and The Invasive Trophoblast Cell Phenotype,

2020 Awardees:

Pascale Robineau-Charette, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Canada 
Spatial and temporal dynamics of FGL2 expression reveal immunoregulatory function essential to the establishment and outcome of pregnancy

Katie Bidne, University of Nebraska - Lincoln, USA
Maternal Western Diet Consumption Alters Placental Lipid Composition and Apolipoprotein Gene Expression

Regan Scott, University of Kansas Medical Center, USA
Single cell interrogation of the uterine-placental interface

Yu-Ying Chen, Northwestern University, USA
Regulatory roles of zinc fluxes in early murine ovarian follicle development

Urooza  Sarma, Monash University, Australia 
Chlamydia infects the ovary, elicits an immune response and depletes the ovarian reserve in mice

Gargi Jaju, Western University, Canada 
Global and Site-Specific Changes in Histone Acetylation During Human Placental Trophoblast Differentiation

Ross McNally, University of Kansas Medical Center, USA
Anti-Coagulation Factor Contributions to Placental And Fetal Development

Virginia Savy, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences USA
Abnormal Pattern of Ca2+ Oscillations During Fertilization In Vivo Impairs Offspring Growth Trajectory in The Mouse

Ayelen Moreno, University of Kansas Medical Center, USA
Genetic Control of The Uterine-Placental Interface

Amanda Colvin Zielen, University of Pittsburgh, USA
Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Gene-Editing Therapy in An Infertile Mouse Model To Restore In Vivo Spermatogenesis

2019 Awardees:

Xuan Luong, University of California - San Francisco, USA
The Program of Maternal mRNA Translation During Oocyte Meiosis: A Genome-Wide Approach

Brittany Croft, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Australia
Human Sex Reversal Is Caused by Duplication or Deletion of Core Enhancers Upstream of SOX9

Bikem Soygur, University of California- San Francisco, USA
Intercellular bridges orchestrate meiotic initiation in developing mouse ovaries

Lisa Vrooman, University of Pennsylvania, USA
Morphological and Epigenetic Abnormalities in the Placenta Linked to Embryo Culture in a Mouse Model of In Vitro Fertilization

Jasmine Reed, University of Rochester, USA
Epigenetic Dysregulation of the Ido1 Gene Induced by BPA and TBBPA Exposure is Associated with Fetal Loss in Mice

Lina Kenzler, RWTH Aachen University, Germany
ATP-Induced Calcium Signals and Contractions in Testicular Peritubular Cells

Ismael Lamas Toranzo, INIA, Spain
A Novel Sperm Protein Is Required for Sperm-Egg Membrane Fusion

Laurie Pinel, University of Quebec, Canada
Epididymal Stem/Progenitor Basal Cells Express LGR5 and can Differentiate into Principal Cells

Ana Cristina Lima, Oregon Health & Science University, USA
Location Matters: Compartmentalized Protein Translation in Sertoli Cells

Julia Balough, Northwestern University, USA
Investigating the Role of Zinc in Murine Preimplantation Embryo Development and The Effect on Cell Fate Determination in The Blastocyst

2018 Awardees:
Patrick Hannon, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA

Renata Prunskaite-Hyyrylainen, Oulu University, Oulu, Finland

Lorena Roa De La Cruz, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA

Kaori Nozawa, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA

Andrew Kelleher, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA

Franchesca Nuñez, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA

Kathryn McClelland, NIEHS, USA

Atefeh Abedini, Ottawa Hospital Research Institution, Ottawa, Canada

Diana Monsivais, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA

Ana Romarowski, Instituto de Biologia y Medicina Experimental (IBYME)-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Gauthier Schang, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada

Pavla Brachova, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA

Ahmed Balboula, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt

Deepti Lava Kumar, Cincinnati Childrens Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA

Jessica Dunleavy, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia

Emily Brehm, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, Illinois, USA

Emily Fishman, University of Toledo, Toledo, Ohio, USA

Yan Yuan, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China and Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China

Adrienne Shami, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA

*Tie - Madison Lane, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA AND Shawn Briley, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA

2017 Awardees: 
Travis Kent, Jackson Laboratory, USA

Atefeh Abedini, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Canada

Megan Sheridan, University of Missouri, USA

Lacey Luense, University of Pennsylvania, USA

Maria Szwarcz, Baylor College of Medicine, USA

Jackson Nteeba, University of Kansas Medical Center, USA

Andres Gambini, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, USA

Nikola Sekulovski, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, USA

Naomi Bernecic, University of Sydney, Australia 

Alexander Fine, Tufts University, USA

Mayra Tsoi, Université de Montréal, Canada 

Sweta Ravsankar, Oregon Health and Science University, USA

Tegan Horan, Washington State University, USA

Rong Li, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, USA

Peng Wang, University of Missouri, USA

Nicholas Serra, East Carolina University, USA

Fei Zhao, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, USA

Manjunatha Nanjappa, University of Florida, USA

Patrick Hannon, University of Kentucky, USA

Macarena Gonzalez, Robinson Research Institute, Australia