In this highly insightful episode of The Future Conceived, host Cam Schmidt talks with Dr. Carmen Williams, Senior Investigator at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and the 2025 winner of the SSR Research Award.

Dr. Williams, whose lab investigates the critical events of fertilization, shares groundbreaking findings on calcium signaling during egg activation. You will learn:

• Why the simple components of in vitro culture media, specifically calcium and magnesium ratios, dramatically control the frequency of calcium oscillations and influence the quality and development of the resulting embryo.
• New, compelling evidence linking these early calcium signals to metabolism (TCA cycle) and ribosomal RNA synthesis in the early embryo.
• The continued importance of research into endocrine disruptors, particularly plant estrogens, and their impact on reproductive tract differentiation.

Dr. Williams also discusses her journey from electrical engineering to clinical medicine to basic science, and closes with a powerful message acknowledging the essential role of trainees in driving scientific success.