Banner for the Spermatology 2026 Conference, Outline of Univery of Birmingham Campus, XVth International Symposium, Hosted by University of Birmingham, Wednesday 29 July - Sunday 2 August 2026

Conference Programme


Wednesday 29th July

Opening Reception
Time Session                                                                                                                                          
17:00 - 17:15 Introductory Address
Jackson Kirkman-Brown, University of Birmingham, UK
17:15 - 17:30 Welcome to UOB
VC Rep, University of Birmingham, UK
17:30 - 18:15 TBC
18:15 - 18:30 TBC
19:00 - Welcome Drinks Reception and Buffet


Thursday 30th July

Spermatogenesis & Genetics
Time Session                                                                                                                                                      
8:00 - 9:00 Registration and Refreshments
9:00 - 9:45 TBC
9:45 - 10:15 Free Communication
10:15 - 10:45 Free Communication
10:45 - 11:15 Refreshment Break
11:15 - 12:00 TBC
12:00 - 12:15 Free Communication
12:15 - 14:15 Lunch
14:15 - 15:00 TBC
15:00 - 15:30 Free Communication
15:30 - 16:00 Refreshment Break
16:00 - 16:45 TBC
16:45 - 17:15 Free Communication
18:30 - Evening Meal at The Vale


Friday 31st July

Ejaculation, Delivery and the Fertilisation Environment
Time Session                                                                                                                                                      
8:30 - 9:00 Registration and Refreshments
9:00 - 9:45 Are your sperm sneaky? A squid story
Noritaka Hirohashi, Shimane University, Japan
9:45 - 10:15 Free Communication
10:15 - 10:45 Free Communication
10:45 - 11:15 Refreshment Break
11:15 - 12:00 TBC
12:00 - 12:15 Free Communication
12:15 - 14:15 Lunch
14:15 - 15:00 Channels maketh the sperm (function)
Polina Lishko, Washington University School of Medicine, US
15:00 - 15:30 Free Communication
15:30 - 16:00 Refreshment Break
16:00 - 16:45 The viscous environment – governing internal fertilisations
Meurig Gallagher, University of Birmingham, UK
16:45 - 17:15 Free Communication
19:00 - Evening Meal at The Vale


Saturday 1st August

Sperm Function: before the oocyte and beyond
Time Session                                                                                                                                                     
8:30 - 9:00 Registration and Refreshments
9:00 - 9:45 A billion cells – many hundred ways - diversity across species
Gerhard van der Horst, University of the Westen Cape,  South Africa
9:45 - 10:15 Free Communication
10:15 - 10:45 Free Communication
10:45 - 11:15 Refreshment Break
11:15 - 12:00 TBC
12:00 - 12:15 Free Communication
12:15 - 14:15 Lunch and Close of Exhibit
14:15 - 15:00 TBC
15:00 - 15:30 Free Communication
15:30 - 16:00 Refreshment Break
16:00 - 16:45 TBC
16:45 - 17:15 Free Communication
19:00 - Formal Dinner in The Great Hall


Sunday 2nd August

Sperm: Tiny Cell-Big Picture
Time Session                                                                                                                                                    
8:30 - 9:00    Registration and Refreshments                     
9:00 - 9:45 Contraception – new perspectives
Chris Barratt, University of Dundee, UK
9:45 - 10:30 Disentangling paternal effects, sperm quality and aging
Irem Sepil, University of Oxford, UK
10:30 - 11:00 Refreshment Break
11:00 - 11:45 TBC
11:45 - 12:00 TBC
12:00 - 12:15 Closing Ceremony
Jackson Kirkman-Brown & Meurig Gallagher, University of Birmingham, UK
12:15 - Lunch

As part of the organisation of this conference, the University of Birmingham is collecting income via registration fees and sponsorships on behalf of the Spermatology 2026 organising committee.

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