Clinical:The Teratology Society

The Teratology Society

About the Teratology Society

Mission/Vision

The Mission of this Society is:

to promote research and the exchange of ideas and research results that reveal the causes, improve the diagnosis and treatment, and prevent the occurrence of abnormal development and birth defects,

to communicate that information to physicians, public health officials, concerned health advocacy and lay groups and other interested parties that promote the elimination of birth defects when possible and amelioration of them when they occur, and

to provide education and training on the causes, mechanisms, treatment and prevention of birth defects

History

The Teratology Society is a multidisciplinary scientific society founded in 1960, the members of which study the causes and biological processes leading to abnormal development and birth defects at the fundamental and clinical level, and appropriate measures for prevention. Society members have expertise in numerous fields, ranging from clinical medicine to basic and applied science and regulatory affairs. Disciplines represented include epidemiology; embryology; developmental biology; developmental anatomy; clinical, biochemical, and molecular genetics, and cytogenetics; developmental and reproductive toxicology; pharmacokinetics; bioinformatics; genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics; obstetrics and gynecology; maternal and fetal medicine; pediatrics; pediatric pathology; clinical dysmorphology; risk assessment; safety assessment; and other related areas of science and medicine. The Society has taken positions on several topics and provides an annual meeting where attendees gain insight about important issues in birth defects research and education. The Society also sponsors scientific journals in the discipline.

Annual Meeting

The Society's 50^th Annual Meeting was held on June 26—30, 2010, at The Marriott Louisville Downtown, Louisville, Kentucky.

This milestone anniversary meeting provided a unique opportunity to celebrate the significant scientific achievements of Society members during the past 50 years and to construct the blocks needed to build the future we want to see for the next 50.

Future Meetings

51st Annual Meeting, Loews Coronado Bay Resort, Coronado, CA, June 25-29, 2011

52nd Annual Meeting, Marriott Baltimore Waterfront, Baltimore, MD, June 23-27, 2012

53rd Annual Meeting, Loews Ventana Canyon Resort, Tucson, AZ, June 22-26, 2013

BDR Connection

The Teratology Society offers collaborative resources via the newest member benefit—BDR Connection (BDR = birth defects research). BDR Connection enables Teratology Society members to collaborate and communicate easily throughout the year. Community sites for every Society Committee, Task Force, and Working Group have been established within BDR Connection. Each Society member who is also a member of a Society committee, task force, or working group has access to the Community to which they belong.

The Community pages feature tools that allow members to participate in discussions with fellow community members. In addition, they can access files posted to their Community’s file library, such as minutes of recent meetings or other important documents for reference. Moreover, the Teratology Society Council’s minutes are posted in the Minutes and Reports file library, and Society members can access the library.

BDR Connection features several blogs to help keep Society members informed, and an area is dedicated to keeping them informed about FASEB activities. Teratology Society members who serve as representatives to FASEB post key information in this area.

There is also a Student/Postdoc Corner that is part of the BDR Connection. Portions of the Student/Postdoc Corner are open to the public, while other areas remain restricted to members of the Teratology Society.

Teratology Society Publications

Journals

Birth Defects Research is published in three Parts. Collectively the Society’s journals are a comprehensive resource of original research and reviews in fields related to embryo-fetal development and reproduction.

• Birth Defects Research Part A: Clinical and Molecular Teratology
Editor-in-Chief: Dr. Diana Juriloff

• Birth Defects Research Part B: Developmental and Reproductive Toxicology
Editor-in-Chief: Dr. George Daston

• Birth Defects Research Part C: Embryo Today: Reviews
Editor-in-Chief: Dr. Rocky Tuan

View the Aims and Scope of the different subtitles of Birth Defects Research.

Position papers

• Pregnancy Labeling for Prescription Drugs: Ten Years Later, 2007 [1]

• Causation in Teratology-Related Litigation, 2007 [2]

• Obesity, 2006 [3]

• Smoking, 2003 [4]

• Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, 2002 [5]

• Thalidomide, 2000 [6]

• Developmental Toxicity of Endocrine Disruptors to Humans, 1999 [7]

• Folic Acid, 1997 [8]

• Vitamin A, 1987 [9]

PDF files require Adobe Acrobat reader software

Teratogen Updates

These articles review in detail the epidemiology, animal data, pharmacokinetics, toxicokinetics, or mechanism of action of a particular agent or group of agents, e.g., anticonvulsants. These in-depth articles, published in the journal Birth Defects Research: Part A (formerly “Teratology”), are usually solicited by the journal’s Teratogen Update Editor, but the journal also considers proposals from potential authors.

These state of the art reviews evaluate the potential of various chemical and physical agents, disease conditions, and nutritional deficiencies to disrupt normal embryonic and fetal development. Although the majority of the compounds or conditions reviewed were deemed likely to cause harm to the developing human under the right circumstances, that is not the case for every agent listed.

The Teratogen Updates published to date include the following:

Mason Barr Jr. Teratogen update: Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors. Teratology 50:399-409 (1994).

Orna Diav-Citrin, Asher Ornoy. Teratogen update: antithyroid drugs - methimazole, carbimazole, and propylthiouracil. Teratology 65:38-44 (2002).1

John M. DeSesso. Teratogen update: Inorganic arsenic. Teratology 64:170-173 (2001).¹

Janine E. Polifka, J.M. Friedman. Teratogen update: Azathioprine and 6-mercaptopurine. Teratology 65: 240-261 (2002).

Lewis B. Holmes. Teratogen update: Bendectin. Teratology 27:277-281 (1983).

Mildred S. Christian, Robert L. Brent. Teratogen update: Evaluation of the reproductive and developmental risks of caffeine. Teratology 64:51-78 (2001).¹

Dieneke Van Driel, Judit Wesseling, Pieter J.J. Sauer, Bert C.L. Touwen, Eveline Van Der Veer, Hugo S.A. Heymans. Teratogen update: Fetal effects after in utero exposure to coumarins. Overview of cases, follow-up findings, and pathogenesis. Teratology 66: 127-140 (2002).

Robert Mittendorf. Teratogen update: Carcinogenesis and teratogenesis associated with exposure to diethylstilbestrol (DES) in utero. Teratology 51:435-445 (1995).

Elisabeth Robert. Teratogen update: Electromagnetic fields. Teratology 54:305-313 (1996).

Gerald V. Raymond. Teratogen update: Ergot and ergotamine. Teratology 51: 344-347 (1995).

John M. Graham Jr., Matthew J. Edwards, Marshall J. Edwards. Teratogen update: Gestational effects of maternal hyperthermia due to febrile illnesses and resultant patterns of defects in humans. Teratology 58:209-221 (1998).¹

Mary E. Norton. Teratogen update: Fetal effects of indomethacin administration during pregnancy. Teratology 56: 282-292 (1997).¹

Joseph G. Hollowell Jr., W. Harry Hannon. Teratogen update: Iodine deficiency, a community teratogen. Teratology 55:389-405 (1997).¹

David C. Bellinger. Teratogen update: Lead and pregnancy. Birth Defects Research Part A: Clinical and Molecular Teratology 73: 409-420 (2005).

Robert L. Brent. Teratogen update: Reproductive risks of leflunomide (AravaTM); A pyrimidine synthesis inhibitor: counseling women taking leflunomide before or during pregnancy and men taking leflunomide who are contemplating fathering a child. Teratology 63:106-112 (2001).¹

Josef Warkany. Teratogen update: Lithium. Teratology 38:593-596 (1988).

Daniel J. Elliott, Stephen C. Eppes, Joel D. Klein. Teratogen update: Lyme disease. Teratology 64:276-281 (2001).

A. Polizzi, S.M. Huson, A. Vincent. Teratogen update: Maternal myasthenia gravis as a cause of congenital arthrogryposis. Teratology 62:332-341 (2000).¹

Janet D. Cragan. Teratogen update: Methylene blue. Teratology 60: 42-48 (1999).¹

Jacquetta M. Trasler, Tonia Doerksen. Teratogen update: Paternal exposures - reproductive risks. Teratology 60: 161-172 (1999).¹

Franz W. Rosa. Teratogen update: Penicillamine. Teratology 33:127-131 (1986).

Joseph L. Jacobson, Sandra W. Jacobson. Teratogen update: Polychlorinated biphenyls. Teratology 55:338-347 (1997).¹

Martha M. Werler. Teratogen update: Pseudoephedrine. Birth Defects Research (Part A) 76:445–452 (2006).

Frank P. Castronovo Jr. Teratogen update: Radiation and Chernobyl. Teratology 60:100-106 (1999).¹

William S. Webster. Teratogen update: Congenital rubella. Teratology 58:13-23 (1998).¹

Martha M. Werler. Teratogen update: Smoking and reproductive outcomes. Teratology 55:382-388 (1997).¹

C. G. H. Newman. Teratogen update: Clinical aspects of thalidomide embryopathy - A continuing preoccupation. Teratology 32:133-144 (1985).

Marilyn T. Miller, Kerstin Strömland. Teratogen update: thalidomide: a review, with a focus on ocular findings and new potential uses. Teratology 60: 306-321 (1999).¹

Louise Wilkins-Haug. Teratogen update: Toluene Teratology. 55:145-151 (1997).¹

Ruth Lynfield, Roger B. Eaton. Teratogen update: Congenital toxoplasmosis. Teratology 52:176-180 (1995).

¹Article available at the Teratology Society website as an Adobe Acrobat file: http://www.teratology.org/teratogen.asp.

Teratology Primer:

The Teratology Society has published a book titled Teratology Primer, in order to raise awareness about the field of teratology. The second edition of the Teratology Primer is now on-line. Intended as an overview of the field and written by experts in their areas of specialty, the Teratology Primer provides information and references with a collection of interesting and current topics regarding birth defects. The Teratology Primer is intended mainly for students to understand the career choices available in the field of teratology and addresses issues such as how preconceptional exposures may affect pregnancy outcome, what infections increase the risk of birth defects, and the effects of alcohol use during pregnancy. Additional topics range from how birth defects are diagnosed to ethical considerations and the use of systems biology or computational approaches to predict risk of birth defects.

The Teratology Society has made this second edition of the Teratology Primer available electronically and free of charge. To obtain a copy, follow this link: Teratology Primer

Resources for Scientists and Professionals

To go to links to the resources listed below, follow this link to the Teratology Society website:

Notice These resources are selected for their usefulness to members of the Teratology Society and to others interested in the causes and prevention of birth defects. No endorsement of any of the sites or their sponsoring organizations is intended or implied.

General Resources

Research Funding

Scientific Societies

Developmental Biology Courses and Information

Teratology Related Links

Government Agencies

Journals

Transgenic Animal Databases and Vendors

Microarray Websites

Resources for medical professionals

Societies and Organizations

Toxicology and Teratology Databases and Literature[[Category:|Category:]]