Dipak Sarkar, director of the Rutgers Endocrine Program and distinguished professor in the Department of Animal Sciences.
“Endocrinology of Women’s Health” was the theme of the 11th Annual Pioneers in Endocrinology Workshop held at Rutgers on September 17, 2018, at the Busch Student Center.
The workshop was sponsored by the Rutgers Endocrine Program; Rutgers-RWJMS Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Nutrition; Department of Animal Sciences at the Rutgers School of Environmental and Biological Sciences; Rutgers NJAES Cooperative Extension; and the New Jersey Obesity Group.
Dipak Sarkar, director of the Rutgers Endocrine Program and distinguished professor in the Department of Animal Sciences, welcomed 100 attendees.
Opening remarks were presented by, School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, and S. David Kimball, interim senior vice president, Office of Research and Economic Development.
Carole Mendelson, Rutgers alumna and professor of Biochemistry and Obstetrics-Gynecology and the director of the North Texas March of Dimes Birth Defects Center at the University of Texas.
Following the opening statements, Carol Bagnell, professor and director, Endocrinology and Animal Biosciences Graduate Program, introduced the first speaker, Carole Mendelson, Ph.D. Mendelson is a Rutgers alumna and currently serves as professor of Biochemistry and Obstetrics-Gynecology and the director of the North Texas March of Dimes Birth Defects Center at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. Her scientific research is focused on reproductive and perinatal biology, including fetal lung development and surfactant synthesis, and on regulation of aromatase – the key enzyme in estrogen biosynthesis. Her lecture on “Fetal-maternal crosstalk in the timing of birth” emphasized the importance of understanding the mechanisms regulating uterine contractility and pathways involved in term and preterm labor. A question-and-answer session following this lecture was led by Wendie Cohick, professor and chair, Animal Sciences Department.
Ethel Siris, M.D. Siris is the Madeline C. Stabile Professor of Medicine at Columbia University Medical Center.
Louis Amorosa, chief of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Nutrition, introduced the second speaker, Ethel Siris, M.D. Siris is the Madeline C. Stabile Professor of Medicine at Columbia University Medical Center. She is also director of the Toni Stabile Osteoporosis Center at CUMC–New York Presbyterian Hospital. Her research focuses on metabolic bone diseases, particularly osteoporosis and Paget’s disease of bone. Her talk, entitled “Osteoporosis 2018: New definitions for diagnosis, ongoing challenges for management,” reported that hip fractures lead to a high rate of morbidity and mortality and that osteoporosis medication noncompliance is rising. She emphasized new approaches to osteoporosis prevention and described the challenges of working with at-risk older and elderly patients. Following this talk, Sue Shapses, professor and director, New Jersey Obesity Group, led the Q&A session, which was followed by a luncheon.
Poster session.
The afternoon featured a poster session, displaying about 40 posters reporting advanced endocrine research being conducted at Rutgers and other universities.
Industry colleagues Thermo Fisher Scientific, Research Diets, and Biomatik were represented at the workshop. Thermo Fisher Scientific hosted a display booth by the Fireside Lounge at the Busch Campus Center. All financial contributions to the workshop were generous and much appreciated.
To learn more about the Rutgers Endocrine Program and next year’s Pioneers in Endocrinology Workshop, contact Dipak Sarkar. Additional photos will be displayed on the Rutgers Endocrine Program website.
