Phyllis And Mark Leppert Foundation For Fertility Research

DURING 2023, WE HELD A SCIENTIFIC MEETING ON THE BASIC SCIENCE OF GESTATION AND PARTURITION THAT WAS ATTENDED BY OVER 100 SCIENTISTS IN THE FIELD. WE GAVE FIVE CAMPION AWARDS TO JUNIOR INVESTIGATORS AND WE INAUGURATED A SERIES OF EDUCATIONAL BLOGS ON PREGNANCY AND BIRTH THAT ARE POSTED ON OUR WEBSITE. WE HAVE WORKED TO RAISE AWARENESS REGARDING THE HIGH MATERNAL MORTALITY ON THE UNITED STATES AND HAVE DISSEMINATED INFORMATION ON THIS TOPIC FROM THE PROFESSIONAL LITERATURE. WE FINALIZED OUR EFFORTS ON HOW AIR POLLUTION HARMS REPRODUCTION BY SHOWING OUR EDUCATIONAL VIDEOS TO PRESCHOOL TEACHERS AT A SPECIFIC SCHOOL, THE ST. PAUL'S PRESCHOOL IN SALT LAKE CITY IN PERSON, HOLDING A DISCUSSION FOLLOWING THIS SHOWING. THE PRE AND POST QUESTIONNAIRES DEMONSTRATED THAT THE EDUCATIONAL CONTENT OF THE VIDEOS IMPROVED THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE PARTICIPANTS. OUR SPRING GALA HONORED OUR TENTH ANNIVERSARY AND INCLUDED A SHOWING OF A VIDEO DESCRIBING OUR MISSION, GOALS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS. FINALLY, WE AWARDED FIVE AWARDS TO JUNIOR INVESTIGATORS IN 2023. THESE AWARDS WERE ELECTED BY AN UNBIASED JURY OF EXPERIENCED SCIENTISTS UNRELATED TO THE CAMPION FUND. IN 2023 STAFF SPENT TIME AT BIMONTHLY MEETINGS PLANNING A IN PERSON AND VIRTUAL COMBINED MEETING ON THE TOPIC OF REDUCING MATERNAL MORTALITY: STRATEGIES THAT WORK THAT WILL BE HELD IN SEPTEMBER 2024. THIS MEETING WILL BE BASED ON THE RESEARCH EVIDENCE SHOWING HOW SPECIFIC PROGRAMS HAVE ACTUALLY REDUCED MORTALITY AS WELL HAS HOW THEY HAVE REDUCED SERIOUS PREGNANCY COMPLICATIONS THAT ARE KNOWN TO LEAD TO MATERNAL DEATHS.