OSSD Convenes 7th Annual Sex Differences Conference

WEEHAWKEN, N.J. - April 26, 2013 - PRLog -- The Organization for the Study of Sex Differences (OSSD), founded by the Society of Women’s Health Research, is holding its annual meeting April 25-27, at the Sheraton Lincoln Harbor, Weehawken, NJ and will present the latest developments in research on sex differences in biological processes, behavior, disease, healthcare and graduate/medical curricula, covered in twelve symposia, two poster sessions and three special lectures.

Keynote lectures on sex-based biology included neuroscientist, Bruce S. McEwen, Ph.D., Rockefeller University, speaking on Sex, Stress and the Brain: From Serendipity to Clinical Relevance; and geneticist Eric Vilain, M.D., Ph.D., UCLA, speaking on Gender and Genetics of Sexual Development. In addition, Alice Dreger, Ph.D. Professor of Clinical Medical Humanities and Bioethics, Northwestern University, will give a special guest lecture on The Use of Prenatal Dexamethasone for Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia.

“By bringing together scientists and clinicians from diverse backgrounds, for symposia on topics ranging from, for example, Sex Differences in Cardiac Arrhythmias to Pain Management in Cancer, OSSD’s goal is to facilitate interdisciplinary research on sex/gender differences at all levels of biological organization, to advance our understanding of sex/gender differences and using that knowledge to improve health and healthcare,“ said Geert J. de Vries, OSSD President.  

Phyllis Greenberger, SWHR’s President & CEO, said “The importance of studying sex-based biology is to identify the biological and physiological differences between men and woman. Sex chromosomes exist in every cell, meaning that sex differences can arise anywhere in the human body, and can influence almost every disease or cognitive process. We congratulate OSSD on their vital accomplishments to advancing sex differences research.”

ABOUT:

THE ORGANIZATION OF SEX DIFFERENCES

Founded in 2006 by member scientists and the staff of the Society for Women's Health Research (SWHR),The Organization for the Study of Sex Differences (OSSD), is a scientific membership organization that seeks to enhance knowledge of sex and gender differences by facilitating interdisciplinary communication and collaboration among scientists and clinicians of diverse backgrounds. OSSD holds a multidisciplinary annual meeting and has an official journal, Biology of Sex Differences.
Visit http://www.ossdweb.org for more information.

THE SOCIETY OF WOMEN’S HEALTH RESEARCH

SWHR a national non-profit organization, is the thought leader in research on biological differences in disease and is dedicated to transforming women’s health through science, advocacy, and education.  Most diseases differ in males and females. Often, one sex is partially protected from a disease because of biological or environmental factors. It is important to understand these sex differences, to discover and enhance sex-biasing factors that protect from disease, and to develop optimal therapies for women and men.

Visit SWHR’s website: http://www.womenshealthresearch.org for more information.