The Tri-State Symposium on Reproductive Health - Reproductive health is a cornerstone of human well-being, extending beyond fertility to impact longevity, endocrine health, and quality of life. Addressing the complexities of reproductive disorders—including infertility, endometriosis, and reproductive aging—requires a collaborative and translational approach that bridges basic science with clinical insight. The Tri-State Regional Symposium on Reproductive Health Sciences (Tri- Repro) was established in 2018 to meet this need by fostering an interdisciplinary community that spans four premier institutions: Cornell University’s Center for Reproductive Sciences (CoRe), the Magee-Women’s Research Institute (MWRI) at the University of Pittsburgh, the Center for Women’s Health and Reproductive Medicine (CWHRM) at the University of Pennsylvania, and RU Repro Group at Rutgers University. Tri-Repro is a trainee-led, annually rotating symposium held in the Northeastern US that emphasizes both cutting-edge reproductive science and professional development. The symposium is free and open to attendees from institutions across the country, creating an accessible and informal environment. Central to its success are three innovations: (1) full organizational leadership by a Trainee Organizing Committee, (2) a no- cost, regional format that facilitates wide participation and networking, and (3) a rotating host structure that promotes institutional ownership and thematic diversity. The annual two-day symposium features five Keynote Speakers, including the Stuart Moss Memorial Lecturer, and additional talks selected from trainee and early- career faculty abstract submissions. Activities include a poster session, networking reception, and a career development forum addressing entrepreneurship, FemTech, clinical translation, alternative career tracks and funding strategies. This R13 renewal application supports four primary goals to support Tri-Repro: Goal 1: To maintain a small, local conference model to support networking and research exchange among reproductive scientists and clinicians across the Northeast. Goal 2: To prioritize trainee career development through leadership roles in meeting organization, scientific programming, and interactive forums with renowned leaders across academia, industry, and funding agencies. Goal 3: To facilitate cross-institutional collaborations, as well as interactions between basic and clinical researchers, through in-person engagement in an intimate, informal setting. Goal 4: Expand the focus on translational science and entrepreneurship to better prepare trainees and early- career investigators for impactful, real-world applications of their work. In summary, Tri-Repro is a high-impact, low-cost model for scientific engagement that complements national meetings by cultivating a supportive community of reproductive scientists and clinician-investigators. By fostering regional collaboration and prioritizing trainee development, Tri-Repro directly supports the NIH mission to cultivate future leaders and improve reproductive health through translational innovation.
