Events

Fetal Membrane Society Virtual Conference

A global networking event with research and partnership hubs at three international Centres

Date:	Tuesday 2 December 2025 13:00 - 16:00
Location:	Online and GO Jones, LG1

An International Society

A global networking event to enhance collaboration and career advancement in obstetrics and women’s health around the world.

The President of the Fetal Membrane Society, Dr Claire Kendal-Wright, Associate Professor from Chaminade University of Honolulu at the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics will introduce the mission and vision, and the ambitious plan for growth and engagement of the society.

World-leading Keynote Speakers

There will be highly engaging keynote speakers in "New Experimental Organ Chip Models and in silico approaches", "Fetal Membrane Physiology: New Insights & Emerging Paradigms" and "From Big Data to Clinical Trials & Interventions".

• Prof Ramkumar Menon, Director Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Division of Basic Science and Translational Research, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Texas “Feto-maternal mechanisms during pregnancy and initiation of labor.”

• Dr Michelle Oyen, Associate Professor in Women's Health, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Wayne State University “How clinical, digital and in vitro tools can be used to predict rupture and prevent preterm birth“.

• Dr Nima Aghaeepou, Associate Professor of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine of Paediatrics, Department of Biomedical Data Science, Stanford University “Combining artificial intelligence with multiomics profiling and systems biology for maternal and child health.”

Dr Lauren Richardson who is the Strategic Advisor of the Fetal Membrane Society in Obstetrics & Gynaecology from The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston in Texas will chair presentations by early career researchers from Kyoto University (Dr Yosuke Kawamura), Case Western Reserve (Dr Angela DeTomaso), QMUL (Dr Esme McPolin-Hall) and Texas A&M University (Bowie Po Yi Lam), on environmental pollutants, HIV infection and inflammation at the feto-maternal interface.

Global Research & Partnership Hubs

The Society has established three hubs in partnership with inter-disciplinary research Centres at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Texas, Vanderbilt University Medical Centre and the Centre for in vitro Predictive Models at QMUL to drive collaborative research success, particularly aimed at advancing women's careers, building on social mobility and enhancing inclusivity.

Dr Tina Chowdhury who is the International Research Culture & Environment advisor elected by members of the Fetal Membrane Society is driving development and implementation of global research practice, valuing contributions and connectivity to advance women's careers. The society aims to enhance research success by supporting and enhancing the talent of diverse researchers and good practice, creating a truly inclusive environment for all. Tina Chowdhury will chair the session on Women's Health with discusssion on the health inequities of women and girl's healthcare.

The virtual event is taking place on 2 December 2025 from 1300-1600GMT and will be hosted by QMUL in the JO Jones building (LG1) at the Mile End campus via Teams.