Newswise — Rockville, Md. (September 26, 2018)—A person’s biological sex can be a defining factor in how well—or how poorly—they respond to disease, therapy and recovery. Experts at the forefront of sex-specific research will convene next week at the sixth APS conference on sex differences in cardiovascular and renal physiology. The Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolic Diseases: Sex-Specific Implications for Physiology conference will be held September 30–October 3 in Knoxville, Tenn.
“Sex can increase the risk of certain problems while reducing the risk of others. Yet, despite its impact on health and disease, it has not always been a factor taken into account in the design or execution of research experiments or clinical trials,” said conference co-organizer Jennifer Sullivan, PhD, a professor at Augusta University in Georgia. “That tide is changing. More investigators are now including both sexes in their studies and are performing research that is powered to find sex differences if they exist.”
“The research landscape sets the stage for an exciting meeting that will explore and expand on the unique considerations of cardiovascular, renal and metabolic physiology of males versus females,” said conference co-organizer Michael Ryan, PhD, a professor at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. “Including sex differences in research helps scientists draw a clearer picture of the real, significant differences that exist between men and women. These differences can affect normal physiology, disease development and progression and response to both known and yet-to-be-discovered treatments.”
Research presented at the meeting will cover health concerns in which biological sex may play a role including diabetes, obesity, stroke, heart attack, hypertension and chronic kidney disease. Presented research will also explore the role of sex hormones—such as estrogen and testosterone—and their effects on cardiovascular, renal and metabolic health.
Program Highlights
Monday, October 1
Welcome and Introduction
Conference Chairs: Jennifer Sullivan, Augusta University; Michael Ryan, University of Mississippi Medical Center
Session 1: Sex and gender differences in physiology and function: The brain and nervous system
Chairs: Gina Yosten, St. Louis University School of Medicine; Taylor Schlotman, U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research
Session 2: Physiology and gender: Aging and senescence
Chairs: Christopher DeSouza, University of Colorado; Jennifer DuPont, Tufts Medical Center
Session 3: Sex and gender differences in physiology and function: The heart
Chairs: Zdenka Pausova, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto; Eli Louwagie, University of South Dakota-Sanford School of Medicine
Tuesday, October 2
Session 4: Physiology and gender: Obesity and metabolism
Chairs: Franck Mauvais-Jarvis, Tulane University; Jessica Faulkner, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University
Session 5: Sex and gender differences in physiology and function: The kidney
Chairs: David Pollock, University of Alabama at Birmingham; Ellen Gillis, Augusta University
Session 6: Female-specific cardiovascular, renal and metabolic complications
Chairs: Jennifer Sasser, University of Mississippi Medical Center; Dennis Pollow Jr., University of Arizona
Wednesday, October 3
Session 7: Sex and gender differences in physiology and function: The vasculature
Chairs: Eric Belin de Chantemele, Augusta University; Eman Y. Gohar, University of Alabama at Birmingham
Session 8: Male-specific cardiovascular, renal and metabolic complications
Chairs: Jane Reckelhoff, University of Mississippi Medical Center; Teri Hreha, Washington University
NOTE TO JOURNALISTS: The Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolic Diseases: Sex-Specific Implications for Physiology conference will be held September 30–October 3 in Knoxville, Tenn. To schedule an interview with the conference organizers or presenters, contact the APS Communications Office or 301-634-7209. Find more research highlights in the APS Press Room.
Physiology is the study of how molecules, cells, tissues and organs function in health and disease. Established in 1887, the American Physiological Society (APS) was the first U.S. society in the biomedical sciences field. The Society represents more than 10,000 members and publishes 15 peer-reviewed journals with a worldwide readership.
Meeting Link: Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolic Diseases: Sex-Specific Implications for Physiology
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