It is a genuine honor and a privilege of distinction to provide the foreword for the proceedings that follow. This marvelous symposium reflects the unique qualities of its two principal sponsors. Whenever the Oregon Regional Primate Research Center is involved in matters of science, we see a consistent record of exceptional quality in both the work is unequaled and the people who do it. Likewise, Serono Symposia, USA in assuring a world-class speakers' forum, utterly without taint of commercial influence. The proceedings published herein are a remarkable testimony, not only to the contributors, but to Drs. Brenner, Wolf, Stouffer, and Burnett, who have shepherded its conception, presentation, and publication. Readers will notice immediately one of the universal strengths of this total composition; that is, the diversity of investigational interests among attendees. Presentations on the core topic of primate in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer were joined by specialist presentations in related areas, including human-assisted reproductive technologies, reproductive physiology of the great apes, sperm biology, implantation mechanisms, cryobiology, coculture systems for embryogenesis, micromanipulation technologies, and genetic diagnosis of heritable diseases in the pre embryo. Even though pro-fertility issues understandably dominated this forum, there was significant attention given to fertility-control research, especially the role of primates in this endeavor (more on this subject below).
