Multidisciplinary Approaches: Workshop Report

Abstract

It may seem almost axiomatic to state that a multidisciplinary approach to the study of male-mediated developmental toxicity (or other research topics) is necessary, or useful, or desirable, much as we routinely state that “further research is needed” in the conclusions of scientific papers. On a practical level, however, it is arguable that little consideration has been given to questions such as: Why and in what situations are multidisciplinary approaches needed or advantageous? What are the major obstacles to putting such approaches into effect? What recommendations can be made to improve the implementation of multidisciplinary approaches? In an attempt to focus on these questions, the group drew extensively on individual experiences in a number of different disciplines, as well as on the collective experience of participants at this multidisciplinary conference.

Significant contributions to this workshop were made by A. Olshan, L. Anderson, K.S. Kasprzak, G. Bunin, M. Kharrazi, Jianping Qin and Xiping Xu, among others.