Close to a thousand scientists from around the world who study embryonic development will gather in Chicago for the 82nd annual meeting of the Society for Developmental Biology (SDB) from July 20-23, 2023. At the meeting, Northwestern Professor Carole LaBonne, a member of the meeting’s local organizing committee, will become President-Elect of the Society. Elected by the Society membership to a three-year term (President-Elect, President, Past-President), LaBonne will help lead SDB’s important efforts in research, education, and scientific outreach. LaBonne is the Erastus Otis Haven Professor of Molecular Biosciences and is completing her 6th year as Chair of the department of Molecular Biosciences.
During the meeting, researchers will report advances in many aspects of developmental biology including stem cell biology, regeneration biology, birth defects, and the evolution of animal body plans.
“Embryonic development is the ultimate creation story. Each of us was once a single cell that went on to create trillions of cells of different types that self organized into organs, and ultimately an organism. The sheer wonder of this process has fascinated scientists since the time of Aristotle.” – Carole LaBonne, Erastus Otis Haven Professor of Molecular Biosciences and Chair of the department of Molecular Biosciences
LaBonne’s laboratory studies stem cell populations that drove the evolution of vertebrates including humans using a variety of research organisms including Xenopus, Sea lamprey and Axololtls which each occupy key positions in vertebrate phylogeny. An international leader in her field, LaBonne also co-directs an Advanced Research Training course at the University of Chicago affiliated Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, MA. This renowned course. Embryology: Concepts and Techniques in Modern Developmental Biology, has been running since 1893 and trains the top students and post docs from around the world. The course counts 14 Nobel laureates amongst its former students and faculty. LaBonne will become only the 10th scientist and third woman to both hold the SDB Presidency and Direct the Embryology course.