The
World Endometriosis Research Foundation
The
World Endometriosis Research Foundation (WERF) was founded
in 2006.
WERF is a registered charity
in the United Kingdom and a 501(c)3
organisation in the USA. It operates globally
under the management of the international WERF board of trustees.
WERF functions according
to rules of fairness, inclusion, democracy, transparency,
as well as fiscal responsibility and accountability.
To ensure this, appropriate financial operations including
accountants, processes, and audits have been put in
place.
WERF mission
Background
WERF was created following a series of joint
meetings among the Special Interest Groups on Endometriosis
of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology
(ESHRE), the American Society for Reproductive Medicine
(ASRM), and the World Endometriosis Society (WES).
The
reason for these meetings was to explore collaboration
and ways to share vital resources within the endometriosis
community so that answers to important clinical questions
can be developed through more and better endometriosis
research.
All three organisations recognised
the lack of large scale international clinical trials,
the lack of overall funding for endometriosis research
and, not least, the isolation of programmes within countries,
inadequate communications among centres and inefficiencies
of research when information and data are not shared.
Seed money for WERF was
provided equally by the ASRM, ESHRE and WES in 2006,
and the ASRM and ESHRE have continued to provide an annual contribution since then. In 2008 the SGI made a contribution as well.
The WERF board may consist of up to 11 members with no less than seven. Currently it has eight board members representing all three of the founding organisations.
The president of the board will always be the immediate
past president of the WES. Board terms are three years
and any board member can sit for a maximum of two terms.
The
Board: 2009 - 2012
Professor G David
Adamson(president)
USA
Professor Linda Giudice
(vice-president)
USA
Dr Stephen Kennedy
(treasurer/secretary)
United Kingdom
Professor Thomas D’Hooghe
Belgium
Professor Carlos A Petta
Brazil
Professor Robert
Schenken
USA
Dr Martyn Stafford-Bell
Australia
Peer review board
Audit committee
Administration
Lone
Hummelshoj (Chief Executive)
United Kingdom
Diane Hicks (Fundraising Manager)
United Kingdom
ASRM
The American Society for Reproductive
Medicine (ASRM) was founded in 1944 as a multi-disciplinary
society to help form key legislation and fight for reproductive
rights when public policy in reproductive matters did
not exist. Since 1950 it has published Fertility and
Sterility, and it also produces guidelines, minimum
standards, committee opinions, and technical and educational
bulletins.
www.asrm.org
ESHRE
The European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology
(ESHRE) was founded in 1985 to promote the study and
treatment of reproductive biology and medicine. It promotes
research, organises education and advanced medical training
activities, and publishes Human Reproduction.
www.eshre.com
World
Endometriosis Society
The World Endometriosis Society (WES) was founded in
1998 to foster research and promote the exchange of
clinical experience, scientific thought and investigation
among those interested
in advancing the field of endometriosis. It organises the World Congresses on Endometriosis every 3 years and provides a bi-monthly e-Journal with news and updates in the field of endometriosis to its members.
www.endometriosis.ca
