7:30 – 8:00 AM8:00 AM – 5:00 PM| Hall | King 5 | King 4 | Ball Room 3 | Ballroom 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8-10 am | Male | ECHO Training | Healthcare Management | Non-Oncological |
| 10-12 pm | Pediatric (PIN) | ECHO Training | Open Meeting | Open Meeting |
| 12 -1 pm | Lunch & Networking (King 1 & 2) | |||
| 1-3 pm | Surgery | Patient Navigation Workshop | Startups | Female |
| 3-5 pm | Practice Committe | Patient Navigation Workshop | Humanities | Open Meeting |
4:00 – 5:00 PM6:00 – 8:00 PM7:30 – 8:00 AM8:00 – 8:15 AMKyle Orwig, PhD
Director, UPMC Magee Center for Reproduction and Transplantation, Magee-Womens Research Institute, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, USA
Mahmoud Salama MD, PhD
Director of the Oncofertility Consortium, Michigan State University, USA
8:15 – 9:00 AMTeresa K. Woodruff, PhD
Provost & Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, Michigan State University
9:00 – 9:30 AMKatsuhiko Hayashi, PhD
Kyushu University, Japan
9:30 – 10:00 AMSo-Youn Kim, PhD
University of Nebraska, USA
10:00 – 10:30 AM10:30 – 11:00 AMJing Xu, PhD
Oregon HSU, USA
11:00 – 11:30 AMRod Mitchell, PhD
University of Edinburgh, UK
11:30 – 12:00 PMKathleen Hwang, MD
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, USA
12:00 – 1:00 PM1:00 – 1:30 PMEileen McMahon, RN(EC), MN, PNC(C)
Mount Sinai Fertility, Canada
1:30 - 2:00 PMKristen Carpenter, PhD
Psychologist, Director, Women’s Behavioral Health, Women’s Integrated Sexual Health (WISH) Program, Board of Directors of the Scientific Network on Female Sexual Health & Cancer, USA
2:00 – 2:45 PMT. Brooke McClendon, PhD
Program Coordinator UPMC, USA
Leslie Appiah, MD
University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Center, USA
Maria Bourlon, MD
Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición, Mexico
Olivia Frias
Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, USA
Amy Jutca
Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, USA
2:45 – 3:15 PM3:15 – 3:45 PMBrooke Cherven, PhD, MPH, RN
Emory School of Medicine, USA
3:45 - 5:00 PM5:00 – 7:00 PM7:30 – 8:00 AM8:00 – 8:30 AMMichel De Vos, MD, PhD
Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Belgium
8:30 – 9:00 AMEllen Goosens, PhD
Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Belgium
9:00 – 10:00 AM10:00 – 10:30 AM10:30 – 11:00 AMDavid Ball, PhD
HCLD, Lab Director, Seattle Reproductive Medicine, USA
11:00 – 11:30 AMPei-Hsuan (Chris) Hung
FDA Inspector, USA
11:30 – 12:00 PMDunja-Maria Baston-Büst, PhD
Universitätsklinikum Düsseldorf, Germany
12:00 – 1:00 PM1:00 – 2:00 PMJulie Rios, MD
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, USA
Jen Levine, MD
Columbia University, USA
Joseph Bertino, PhD, HEC-C
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, USA
2:00-2:30 PMKristin Smith
Northwestern University, USA
Joyce Reinecke, JD
Alliance for Fertility Preservation, USA
2:30 – 3:00 PMAlicyn Simpson
UPMC Community Navigator for Gender Diverse Individuals, USA
3:00 – 3:30 PMEmilie Johnson, MD
Lurie Children’s Hospital, USA
3:30-3:45 PMJulie Rios, MD
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, USA
3:45PMEileen McMahon is a Nurse Practitioner at Hannam Fertility Centre in Toronto, Ontario. She graduated from the University of Toronto with a baccalaureate and Master’s degree in Nursing as well as a post-Master’s Nurse Practitioner Diploma. She holds a Clinical Appointment as an Adjunct Lecturer in the Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto, holds specialty certification in Perinatal Nursing from the Canadian Nurses Association, and is a certified Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner.
Eileen served on the Canadian Fertility & Andrology Society Board of Directors from 2016-2021 and was their first nurse President from September 2019 to September 2020.
Eileen has dedicated herself to identifying best practices for the delivery of outstanding healthcare in an empathetic and inclusive manner. She has a particular interest in fertility preservation.
Ellen Goossens, PhD is affiliated to the faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, where she is professor in reproductive biology and exchange coordinator for Master students in Biomedical Sciences.
She graduated in Biomedical Sciences at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel in 2000. She is trained in male fertility preservation under supervision of Prof. Dr. Herman Tournaye and Prof. Dr. André Van Steirteghem at the laboratory Biology of the Testis of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, where she obtained her doctoral degree in 2006. She undertook postdoctoral training in the same lab and became lab coordinator in 2012. Currently, she is chair of the research group Biology of the Testis. Her research focusses on spermatogenesis with a special interest in spermatogonial stem cells. The overall aim is to develop strategies to prevent male infertility after spermatogonial stem cell loss. She has experience with cryopreservation, transplantation and in-vitro differentiation of testicular tissue and cells.
Ellen Goossens is member of the Male Oncofertility Scientific Committee of the Oncofertility Consortium and is basic science officer of the ESHRE Special Interest Group Andrology. She has published more than 100 papers in (inter)national journals and contributed to 7 book chapters. She has been invited to speak at many national and international conferences. In 2011, she was awarded the prize of the Royal Belgian Academy for Medicine for her work on prevention of infertility after chemo- or radiotherapy.
Dr. Kristen Carpenter is a clinical health psychologist and Associate Professor in the Departments of Psychiatry & Behavioral Health, Psychology (joint), and Obstetrics & Gynecology (joint) at The Ohio State University, as well as a member of the OSU Comprehensive Cancer Center (CCC). She is Chief Psychologist and Director of Ambulatory Services in the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Health. She leads OSU’s Women’s Behavioral Health program; in this capacity, she provides clinical care to women with sexual dysfunction, education on female sexual health to staff throughout the OSU Wexner Medical Center and James Cancer Hospital (e.g., physicians, nurses, social workers), and provides clinical training to psychology doctoral trainees. She has served on the Steering Committee of the Scientific Network on Female Sexual Health and Cancer since its inception. Dr. Carpenter’s research involves understanding the role of cognitive, affective, and interpersonal processes in women’s sexual, psychological, and physical health outcomes; her research program has been continuously funded for over 15 years. Dr. Carpenter studied psychology as an undergraduate at Northwestern University and, following four years of work in healthcare management consulting, obtained Masters and Doctoral degrees in Psychology from the Ohio State University. She completed her clinical internship at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois and postdoctoral training at the University of California-Los Angeles and the Ohio State University.
Dr. Cherven is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at Emory University School of Medicine and a Nurse Scientist in the Aflac Cancer & Blood Disorders Center at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Her research focuses on reproductive health among adolescent and young adult cancer survivors and is informed by her clinical experience as a pediatric oncology nurse with the Aflac Cancer Survivor and Fertility Preservation programs. With support from an NIH/NINR K23 Career Development Award, she is identifying decisional and contextual factors that influence pursuit of a fertility status assessment among young adult female cancer survivors. This work will inform the development of future psychoeducational and decisional support interventions for survivors who interested in fertility assessment. In her role as Nurse Scientist, she provides research mentorship to nurses and advanced practice providers in the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center. Dr. Cherven also serves as the Vice Chair for the Children’s Oncology Group Adolescent and Young Adult Sexual Health Task Force.
Jing Xu earned her Ph.D. degree in biochemistry and molecular biology, and obtained the postdoctoral training in neuroendocrinology and reproductive biology at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU). She was appointed as a BIRCWH (NIH/ORWH and NICHD Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women's Health) Scholar in 2012 and became a faculty member at OHSU in 2016 as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, and the Division of Reproductive & Developmental Sciences, Oregon National Primate Research Center. She has been a member of the Oncofertility Consortium since 2008.
Using a nonhuman primate model, her research investigated the production and direct actions of paracrine/autocrine factors, including peptide hormones (e.g., anti-Müllerian hormone) and steroids, in the ovary. The goal is to unravel their roles in controlling follicular cell proliferation, differentiation and function, as well as oocyte maturation. Data could portend novel therapeutic approaches via manipulating local factors to regulate folliculogenesis clinically in women with ovarian dysfunction.
Her laboratory developed three-dimensional culture techniques to grow primate ovarian tissue and follicles achieving function in production of steroid hormones and peptide factors, as well as oocyte maturation for subsequent in vitro fertilization and early embryonic development. The culture system provides a valuable model to monitor and manipulate molecular signaling pathways and related factors to obtain knowledge of their roles in ovarian follicle growth and function. Translational efforts were also made on human in vitro follicle maturation. By achieving the goal of producing competent oocytes, this technique may offer a means to enhance fertility preservation options in female patients.
- I started my career in REI in 2007 as a doctoral student (PhD Thesis in 2010)
- since 2015 assistant head of the IVF lab of the UniKiD
- fertility preservation (MII oocytes and sperm in the IVF lab), ovarian tissue has been sent to an external cryobank
- in 2018 the cryobank for fertility preservation started at the university (focused on ovarian tissue)
- since 2018 assistant head of the cryobank (including freezing and thawing of ovarian tissue and transplantation nationwide)
- member of the ESHRE, AGRBM (German society of reproductive biologists), NfM (network of scientists working in the medicine), president of the DGRM (German society of reproductive medicine) 2022/2023
- ESHRE clinical embryologist and AGRBM reproductive biologist
- supervisor of the AGRBM
- author of scientific articles, book chapters, national guidelines
- married and mother of a girl and a boy
Nonso Daniels is a Clinical Embryologist with extensive experience spanning almost two decades. He is the President, Nigeria Oncofertility Network which is at the fore front of advocacy to increase access to fertility preservation technologies.
Nonso obtained his Masters in Clinical Embryology with Distinction from the University of Leeds, United Kingdom and he has organized, attended and spoken at numerous conferences locally and internationally. His areas of core interest include Fertility preservation for female cancer survivors, Ovarian Tissue Cryopreservation, Follicle Biology and The Effects of Environmental toxins on Reproductive health.
He is a member of the editorial board, Endocrinology and an Executive committee member of the Association for Fertility and Reproduction Health, Clinical Embryologists’ Association of Nigeria. He is also an Associate of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) and the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE)
Dr. Figueiredo received his D.V.M. degree from the School of Veterinary Medicine at Federal University of Viçosa, Brazil, in 1989, his M.S. degree from the Department of Animal Science at Federal University of Viçosa, Brazil, in 1991, and his Ph.D. in Veterinary Science from the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics at University of Liège, Belgium in 1995. He is currently an Associate Professor of Veterinary Medicine and Chief of the Laboratory "Manipulation of Oocytes and Preantral Follicles (LAMOFOPA) at the State University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil, the Coordinator of the Brazilian network for preantral follicle research, and a Researcher level 1A at National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq), Ministry of Science and Technology, Brazil. He has been a member of the Brazilian Embryo Transfer Society since 1999 and was the president of the same society from 2002-2003. The focus of his research area is on in vitro folliculogenesis, especially in large domestic mammals.
Proposed updated talk title- “Approaches to improve the efficiency of in vitro survival, growth and maturation of oocytes using animal models (ruminants)”
Marie-Madeleine Dolmans is head of the Gynecology Research Laboratory at the Université Catholique de Louvain in Brussels since 2012, and “Chef de Clinique associé” at the Cliniques Universitaires Saint Luc, Brussels, Belgium. She works part time in research and part time in clinics. She has been invited speaker at many international fertility congresses, including ESHRE, COGI, ESGE and the European Congress of Endocrinology. She is vice president of the International Society for Fertility Preservation, serves on the editorial board of Fertility and Sterility and the Journal of Assisted Reproduction, and is a reviewer for other international scientific journals. Her extensive publication work covers fertility aspects of ovarian tissue cryopreservation, fibroids and endometriosis.
Courtney Finlayson MD, Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Dr. Finlayson is a pediatric endocrinologist at Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago. She earned her medical degree from Northwestern University, completed residency in Pediatrics at Rush University and fellowship in Pediatric Endocrinology at Lurie Children’s Hospital, during which time she was a research fellow with Dr. J. Larry Jameson. Dr. Finlayson is the pediatric endocrinologist for the multi-disciplinary Gender & Sex Development Program at Lurie Children’s Hospital and the medical director specifically for the Sex Development Program. This program cares for two groups of patients: children with gender non-conformity and children with differences of sex development. She is currently engaged in multiple research projects to improve care and quality of life of these individuals. Much of this research focuses on fertility preservation in youth who are transgender or who have differences in sex development.
Molly Moravek, MD, MPH, MSCI, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, and the Department of Urology. Dr. Moravek received her bachelor's degree at the University of Michigan, then attended the University of Michigan Medical School, where she received both her medical degree and a master’s degree in public health. She completed her residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Michigan, and her fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at Northwestern University, where she also received a master’s degree in clinical investigation. Following fellowship, Dr. Moravek was recruited back to the University of Michigan, where she serves as the director of the Fertility Preservation Program and the IVF Medical Director. Dr. Moravek is also the vice-chair of the Pediatric Initiative Network of the Oncofertility Consortium. Dr. Moravek also has a clinical interest in transgender care, and provides gender-affirming hormone therapy and fertility counseling and treatment for transgender and gender non-conforming patients. She has an NIH-funded mouse model of gender-affirming testosterone, in which she is studying reproductive outcomes. She is also currently developing a multi-institutional database to track IVF outcomes in transmasculine individuals to identify best practices.
Dr Mohamed Khrouf is Professor Associate in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Faculté de Médecine de Tunis and since 2017, he is working in FERTILLIA ART Center (Clinique La Rose). His clinical work is focused on Reproductive Medicine including diagnosis of infertility, assisted reproduction technology, gynecological endocrinology and infertility surgery. Dr Mohamed Khrouf has also an animal experimentation competence used for exploring the pathophysiology of uterine adhesions.
He taught at Master Degree in Medicine and Biology of Reproduction at Faculté de Médecine de Tunis.
He is cofounder and one of the main actors of the Tunisian Fertility preservation program. He is also a member of Global Oncofertility Consortium Dr Mohamed KHROUF is involved in Continuous Medical Education, with multiples conferences and lectures in the national and international Level and also publications. He is running a learning program in ART based on Simulation at Medical Simulation Center. He is past vice president of the Tunisian Society of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Current editor in chief of African Federation of Fertility Societies and Member of Editorial Board of the journal Endocrinology.
Monica M. Laronda PhD is the Director of Research for the Fertility & Hormone Preservation & Restoration Program at the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago. She is the Warren & Eloise Batts Scholar at the Stanley Manne Children's Research Institute and Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University.
Rod is Professor of Developmental Endocrinology at the MRC Centre for Reproductive Health at the University of Edinburgh. He is also a Consultant Paediatric Endocrinologist at The Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh.
Rod is Professor of Developmental Endocrinology at the MRC Centre for Reproductive Health at the University of Edinburgh. He is also a Consultant Paediatric Endocrinologist at The Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh.
Website: ed.ac.uk/centre-reproductive-health/dr-rod-mitchell
E-mail: rod.mitchell@ed.ac.uk
Twitter: @RodTMitchell
David Pépin is an Assistant Professor in the Department Surgery at the Massachusetts General Hospital / Harvard Medical School, and the Associate Director of the Pediatric Surgical Research Laboratories. Dr. Pépin was trained as a reproductive and ovarian cancer biologist, and his laboratory focuses on the role of AMH/MIS in reproduction and its applications in contraception, oncofertility, and the treatment of endocrine-related cancers.
Dr. Romina Pesce is a medical doctor, specialized in Gynaecology and Obstetrics, in Reproductive Medicine and in Gynaecological Endocrinology. She also holds Master of Science degrees in Human Reproduction and in Clinical Medical Research, and Postgraduate Diplomas in Medical genetics and Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis. Dr Pesce is Head of the Reproduction and ART Unit at Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, and Assistant Professor of Gynaecology in its associated university. She is also board member of the Argentine Society of Reproductive Medicine (SAMER) and member of the Cochrane Collaboration Menstrual Disorders and Subfertility Group. She is Director of several postgraduate courses and fellowships, and author of different scientific studies and book chapters in general gynaecology and human reproduction.
Satish K. Adiga is Professor and Head of the ART Laboratory and Centre for Fertility Preservation at Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal India. His research interests are fertility preservation, preimplantation biology and non-invasive gamete and embryo selection.
Dr. Gomez-Lobo is an obstetrician gynecologist who specializes in pediatric and adolescent gynecology. After receiving her Doctor of Medicine Degree from Georgetown University, she completed her internship at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and residency at Tufts University. Prior to her recruitment to NICHD, Dr. Gomez-Lobo was the Director and Fellowship Director of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology and Professor of Ob/Gyn at Georgetown University and provided care at MedStar Washington Hospital Center (MWHC), Children’s National Medical Center and MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. She started the fourth pediatric and adolescent gynecology fellowship in North America and served as President of the North American Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology in 20016-2017. She currently serves as Associate Editor of the Journal of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology, as well as chair of the Oncofertility Pediatric Interest Network Research Sub-Committee. She is the site PI for the Disorders of Sex Development-Translational Research Network at Children’s National Medical Center. She has published and lectured extensively regarding the issues in the field of pediatric gynecology, as well as obstetrics and gynecology issues in transplant recipients.
She currently serves as Senior Clinician and Director of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology (PAG) Program within NICHD. Her areas of focus include fertility preservation, differences in sex development and congenital anomalies of the reproductive tract.
Associate Professor Karla Hutt is an ARC Future Fellow at Monash University. She obtained her PhD from the Australian National University in 2006, where her studies focussed on understanding ovarian development. She then undertook her postdoctoral studies at the University of Kansas Medical Center (USA), investigating the impact of environmental toxicants on oocyte and embryo quality. In 2008 she returned to Australia to join Prince Henry’s Institute. She subsequently joined the Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology at Monash University in 2015, where she leads the Ovarian Biology Laboratory. Her lab investigates the biological, cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the loss of oocyte number and quality during reproductive aging, cancer treatment and infection, with the goal of using these insights to develop innovative strategies to protect the ovary from damage and preserve optimal fertility. Her research is supported by grants and fellowships from the ARC, NHMRC and NBCF.
Gynecologist, Member of the first MS-RSM cohort in CRS who conducted research with Dr. Mary Ellen Pavone, MD. Joining our community from Uruguay, Dana conducted her thesis work on "Assessing the impact of delayed blastulation using time lapse morphokinetics and preimplantation genetic testing in an IVF patient population". Currently, she is supporting her own research questions in Oncofertility in ovarian tissue vitrification to preserve fertility in collaboration with institutions in Uruguay and with CRS partners at Northwestern. At the same time providing Oncofertility assessment in multiple institutions of her country.
Leena Nahata, M.D. is an Associate Professor of Clinical Pediatrics at The Ohio State University, board-certified pediatric endocrinologist at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, and the founder and Medical Director of the Fertility and Reproductive Health Program at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. As an NIH-funded Principal Investigator in the Center for Biobehavioral Health at the Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, she is conducting several clinical research studies to examine outcomes and predictors of fertility preservation utilization in pediatric populations at risk for infertility, including youth with cancer, differences of sex development, and gender dysphoria. She is a member of the Children’s Oncology Group and PanCareLIFE male fertility preservation task forces, and the Reproductive Health chapter lead for the World Professional Association for Transgender Health Standards of Care Version 8.
Dr. Mary Ellen Pavone is an Associate Professor in the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility within the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. She completed her fellowship training in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at Northwestern. She has experience performing clinical, translational and basic science research. She also serves as the medical director of IVF. Her research interests include fertility preservation, improving surgical outcomes in infertility patients, optimizing IVF outcomes and recurrent pregnancy loss.
Dr. Quinn is the Livia Wan Endowed Chair and Vice Chair of Research in the Department of OB-GYN and Professor in Population Health and the Division of Medical Ethics in the New York University Grossman School of Medicine. She is a member of the NYU faculty senate and chairs the APT committee. Her research focuses on patient-provider communication primarily in reproductive health and cancer in adolescent and young adults, LGBTQ health issues, uptake of genetic technologies, clinical trials and access to care for minority and underserved populations. Prior to joining NYU in 2017, she was at Moffitt Cancer Center and the University of South Florida for 17 years. She is the author of over 300 peer reviewed papers and book chapters and has received more than 10 million dollars in federal and foundation grant funding.
Mitchell P. Rosen, MD is a Professor at University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) in the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences and is founding director of the fertility preservation program. He holds board certification in both Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. He is director of the department’s reproductive laboratory and holds high complexity lab director (HCLD) certification. His dual expertise in clinical and laboratory medicine lends unique perspective to his practice as well as his research. His career interests have been to optimize ovarian stimulation protocols and improve fertility preservation outcomes. His research has had a significant contribution to the field in both infertility and fertility preservation. His work has led to numerous publications in multiple journals, textbook chapters and invited lectures.
Dr. Rosen received his medical training at St. Louis University and completed his residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Texas Medical Branch. He subsequently received his subspecialty training in reproductive endocrinology and infertility as well as embryology at UCSF.
Stacy Whiteside APRN, MS, CPNP-AC/PC, CPON received both her undergraduate and graduate degrees in nursing from the Ohio State University. She has spent her entire nursing career in the Hematology/Oncology/BMT/Apheresis department at Nationwide Children's Hospital. Stacy has been a passionate advocate for adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with cancer for many years, most recently focusing on the reproductive health of children and AYAs after cancer. On the national level, she serves as the nursing representative to the Children's Oncology Group AYA Committee, and is the chair of the patient navigation committee of the Oncofertility Consortium Pediatric Initiative Network. As a founding member of the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Fertility and Reproductive Health program, Stacy currently serves as the fertility patient navigator providing counseling and fertility preservation options for all patients with medical conditions or treatments that may impact their future fertility and reproductive health.
Kristin Smith, the Program Manager for Fertility Preservation, consults with all young, newly diagnosed oncology patients at Northwestern’s Lurie Cancer Center to help each patient understand their individual fertility risk associated with treatment as well as options for fertility preservation. She works extensively with young adult oncology survivors to help each patient explore their unique family building options and reproductive health post treatment. Kristin helps run the Oncofertility Professional Engagement Network (OPEN) of the Oncofertility Consortium by providing support across the world to providers who participate the network and also answers the national fertility hotline and email to triage patients for fertility preservation across the United States.
Dr Chris Venter completed his pre-and post-graduate studies at the University of Pretoria 1994 and 2002 respectively. After qualifying he did a preceptorship in Endoscopic Surgery at Leuven University in Belgium, under the mentorship of Prof Phillippe Koninckx. He practiced for 12 years as general Obstetrician in the private sector, before deciding to sub-specialize in Reproductive Medicine. He completed his Fellowship Training at the University of Stellenbosch under the mentorship of Prof Thinus Kruger. During this period, his Research was aimed at looking at the role of pre-genetic screening in embryo selection. He joined the Vitalab Reproductive Centre in 2013. He specializes in all aspects of infertility care. His clinical interest is Recurrent Implantation Failure and the role that Endometrial Receptivity plays. He is an Associated Lecturer at the University of the Orange Free State, serves on both the editorial board of the Endocrinology International Journal and SASREG executive board, since 2014. His personal interest is in raising awareness for Oncofertility in South Africa.
Teresa K. Woodruff, Ph.D., is Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs at Michigan State University. She is an MSU Foundation Professor in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Biology, and the Department of Biomedical Engineering.
Woodruff is an internationally recognized expert in ovarian biology and reproductive science. In 2006, she coined the term “oncofertility” to describe the merging of two fields: oncology and fertility. In addition, she championed the new National Institutes of Health (NIH) policy mandating the use of females in fundamental research.
As a leading research scientist, Woodruff was awarded the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science Mentoring by President Obama in an oval office ceremony in 2011. Most recently, Woodruff was a recipient of the Endocrine Society’s 2021 Laureate Award, a top honor that recognizes the highest achievements in the field of endocrinology. She holds 13 U.S. Patents and is an elected fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2020), the National Academy of Medicine (2018), the National Academy of Inventors (2018), the American Institute for Medical and Biomedical Engineers (2017), and the American Association for the Advancement of Science (2006).
Dr. Shuo Xiao is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Ernest School of Pharmacy, Rutgers University. Dr. Xiao received his medical degree in Preventive Medicine and Master in Nutrition and Food Toxicology from Peking University Health Science Center in China. He earned his PhD in Toxicology from Dr. Xiaoqin Ye’s lab at the University of Georgia (UGA) in 2013. He completed his postdoctoral training in 2016 in Dr. Teresa Woodruff’s lab at Northwestern University. Dr. Xiao started his independent faculty position as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Environmental Health Sciences at the University of South Carolina in 2017. In the summer of 2020, he moved to Rutgers University. Dr. Xiao’s research is focused on the mechanisms by which environmental chemicals and clinical drugs induce female ovarian toxicities and infertility, and also how to use multiple cutting-edge technologies such as the 3D in vitro ovarian tissue culture and microfluidics to establish a high-throughput platform for the ovarian toxicity screening and novel contraceptive discovery.
Dr. Zelinski received her B.S. degree from the University of Wisconsin, and her M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from Oregon State University in Animal Reproduction and Biochemistry. She was a post-doctoral fellow at the Oregon National Primate Research Center where she subsequently initiated her career as an independent investigator. Dr. Zelinski is currently Professor in the Division of Reproductive & Developmental Sciences at the Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR and in the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR.
Her research is centered on understanding the basic mechanisms underlying the development and function of primate ovarian follicles with the goal of applying this knowledge through translational research in important areas of women’s reproductive health. She has 30 years of experience using nonhuman primate models of infertility and contraception that include pioneering research in development of assisted reproductive technologies in macaques, ovarian-based female contraceptives and ovarian aging. Her current research interests are focused on investigating ovarian tissue cryopreservation, 3-dimensional culture of macaque preantral follicles and ferto-protective agents as options for female fertility preservation that have included collaborative efforts within the Oncofertility Consortium.
She has received continuous funding from the NIH since 1998. She was a recipient of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine Program Prize paper four times, and was a finalist with her colleagues an additional 4 times, which testifies to the importance of the nonhuman primate model for women’s reproductive research. She has been an invited speaker at many national and international meetings, has numerous manuscripts in peer-reviewed journals, and served as Secretary, Program Chair and on the Board of Directors of the Society for the Study of Reproduction from which she received the Distinguished Service Award in 2014. She was recently selected in 2021 as a co-Editor-in-Chief of Biology of Reproduction. She is also passionate about bringing science to the public wherein she directs and participants in many educational outreach activities for adults, high school and middle school students.
Dr Anazodo trained in Paediatric and Adolescent Oncology in the United Kingdom and completed her training with a clinical fellowship in the Kids Cancer Centre at Sydney Children’s Hospital. During her training and fellowship Dr Anazodo completed a postgraduate diploma in Adolescent Oncology.
Dr Anazodo was appointed as Director of Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Cancer at Sydney Children’s and Prince of Wales Hospital in October 2010 and has subsequently developed a comprehensive AYA cancer service across both the paediatric and adult cancer centre. Her appointment across the paediatric and adult campus has also provided opportunities for clinical and research collaboration. Dr Anazodo has been part of the AYA national leadership group working with national and state partners to develop specialist Youth Cancer Services (YCS) across Australia providing vital treatment and support to young patients.
Dr Anazodo leads the Future Fertility research program on reproductive concerns of cancer patients and in addition to the medical and psychological studies she has been instrumental in the development of Medicare item numbers for public funding for oncofertility care in Australia and leads international work on oncofertility models of care and a global competency framework. Dr Anazodo is the chair for the Australian AYA fertility preservation group and guidelines group.
Professor Robert Gilchrist is a research scientist and a Senior Research Fellow of the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) of Australia. He is Director of Research of the School of Women’s and Children’s Heath, UNSW and Head of Research of the Fertility & Research Centre (Royal Hospital for Women/UNSW), and is a Fellow of the Society for Reproductive Biology. He has had a range of associations with the IVF sector spanning 20+ years, including as Scientific Advisory Board member and/or consultant to; City Fertility, IVF Australia, CooperSurgical, Repromed, Fertility SA, Cook Medical, NZ Ministry of Health and the ARC Centre of Excellent in Biotechnology and Development.
Professor Gilchrist is a reproductive biologist whose research encompasses basic and applied aspects of ovarian folliculogenesis, oocyte maturation and preimplantation embryo development. He heads the Oocyte Biology Research Group at the UNSW. He conducts discovery research on oocyte-somatic cell interactions as a determinant of subsequent embryonic development. He has made important scientific contributions demonstrating that oocyte paracrine signalling determines cumulus cell differentiation and function. Dr Gilchrist also studies new biomarkers of oocyte quality. In addition, he manages an applied research program with the objectives of improving oocyte in vitro maturation (IVM) technologies in animals and women. One of his IVM inventions is now used clinically and a number are undergoing clinical evaluation. He has published 134 peer-reviewed papers including 23 reviews/chapters. He currently has an H-index of 47 with >6,900 citations [Scopus].
Kara Goldman MD is a board-certified reproductive endocrinologist and assistant professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Northwestern Medicine. She completed residency at Northwestern University followed by fellowship training in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at New York University, where she joined the faculty until returning to Northwestern as Medical Director of Fertility Preservation. She was recently elected Vice Chair of the ASRM Fertility Preservation Special Interest Group (FPSIG) and serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics. Dr. Goldman's research focuses on fertility preservation and the role of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway in physiologic and iatrogenic ovarian aging, and her work has been twice nominated and once awarded the ASRM Scientific Program Prize Paper Award and was awarded the ASRM FPSIG Prize Paper Award. She is actively engaged in advocacy efforts and serves on the medical advisory board of the charitable foundation Team Maggie's Dream, providing resources and financial support for patients requiring urgent fertility preservation. She is committed to improving education and awareness surrounding both iatrogenic and physiologic ovarian aging and improving access to fertility preservation.
She is especially skilled at treating reproductive diseases by minimally invasive surgery and invents a serious of novel minimally invasive technique for female fertility preservation. Dedicated to fundamental and clinical research on female fertility preservation, she pioneers in carrying out ovarian tissue cryopreservation and oocyte cryopreservation. As founder of the Premature Ovarian Failure Center and director of the first Fertility Preservation Center in China, she has rich experience in diagnosis and treatment of POI and elderly patients demanding pregnancy. In 2016, her team is the first to achieve healthy live birth from a polycystic kidney family by MALBAC-PGD. In 2019, her team achieved the first healthy live birth by ovarian tissue cryopreservation and transplantation in China.
Dr. Orwig is a Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. He is also the director of the Fertility Preservation Program and the Center for Reproduction and Transplantation at Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC. Research in the Orwig laboratory focuses on stem cells, germ lineage development, fertility and infertility. Our progress investigating reproductive function in fertile individuals provides a basis for understanding the mechanisms of infertility caused by disease, medical treatments, genetic defects or aging. Infertility impacts one in seven couples in the United States and can have a devastating impact on relationships, emotional well-being and overall health. The Orwig lab is ideally located in Magee-Womens Research Institute and Magee-Womens Hospital of the University of Pittsburgh and is committed to translating lab bench discoveries to the clinic for diagnosis, prevention and treatment of infertility.
Fertility Preservation Program in Pittsburgh http://www.fertilitypreservationpittsburgh.org
Orwig Research Group http://www.orwiglab.org
Dr. Leslie Appiah is an Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at The University of Colorado School of Medicine and Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology at Children’s Hospital Colorado. She serves as Division Chief of General Obstetrics and Gynecology in the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Director of the Fertility Preservation and Reproductive Late Effects program at the University of Colorado Cancer Center and Children’s Hospital Colorado Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders. Dr. Appiah attended medical school at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School and completed residency at Sinai Medical Center in Baltimore, MD. She subsequently completed a research fellowship in reproductive genetics and clinical fellowship in pediatric and adolescent gynecology at Texas Children’s Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine. Dr. Appiah is a recent Clinical Reproductive Scientist Training Scholar through the National Institutes of Child Health and Disease and the American Society for Reproductive Medicine.
Dr. Appiah is well-published and speaks extensively in the United States and internationally. She holds several national committee chair positions in reproductive medicine. She is co-founder of the Pediatric Initiative Network of the Oncofertility Consortium where she served as chair for 5 years and is currently chair of the Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Reproductive Late Effects Committee of the Oncofertility Consortium. She also has the privilege of serving on the Children’s Oncology Group Long-Term Follow-up Guidelines Ovarian Endocrine Task Force. Dr. Appiah’s clinical and research interests include fertility preservation in pediatric, adolescent and young adult (AYA) patients with cancer, reproductive late effects in cancer survivorship, and hormone replacement therapy in the medically complex patient. She is passionate about her work and believes her role as a provider is to support patients through their medical journey with compassion, expertise and dedication.
Lauren is the Program Administrator for the Center for Reproductive Science at Northwestern University. Lauren graduated from the University of Southern California in 2008 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Business Administration and went on to complete a Masters in Public Policy and Administration from Northwestern University. In 2011, Lauren joined Dr. Teresa Woodruff's team and has worked closely with Dr. Woodruff and Dr. Francesca Duncan in a variety of capacities since then. Prior to her role with CRS, Lauren worked as the Research Project Manager for Oncofertility Consortium (OC) from 2014-2020 and provided programmatic support for the OC’s administrative activities, which also included comprehensive grant and research administration support. During this time, Lauren also organized the annual Oncofertility Consortium Conference and handled all aspects of the event including fundraising and development. She also managed the Oncofertility Professional Engagement Network (OPEN), a community of oncofertility professionals from around the globe who share resources, best practices, methodologies, and experiences. She has a number of publications resulting from her work with the Oncofertility Consortium and OPEN. Lauren now oversees CRS’s grant, development, and promotion portfolio. She is actively looking for ways to support CRS through grants, industry, and other support mechanisms. Lauren’s work promotes CRS programs to all relevant stakeholders and helps CRS sustain valuable research efforts in the reproductive health sciences community.
Medical Oncologist, Urologic Oncology, Global Oncology
- 2007 Graduated with Honors for Medical School. Universidad Panamericana.
- 2012 Internal Medicine Degree. Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán.
- 2015 Medical Oncology Degree. Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán.
- 2015 Fellow at the Genitourinary Cancers Program, University of Colorado, EUA.
- 2017 Masters Degree in Science, graduated with Honors, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM)
- 2017 JCO Global Oncology ASCO Fellowship.
- Associate Professor of Medical Oncology. Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán / UNAM.
- Course Director of Genitourinary Oncology Fellowship, UNAM. 2017-2021.
- Mentor at ASCO´s Women´s Networking Center 2016-2020
- Member of the 2018 ASCO´s Global Oncology Taskforce.
- Ambassador of the Oncofertility Consortium in México 2018-2021
- Faculty of the European School of Oncology 2018-2021.
- National Researcher title in Mexico. (SNI).
- 2018-2019 Chief of the Genitourinary Cancer Section Cooperative Group. Mexican Society of Medical Oncology.
Dr. Duncan earned her doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania and completed a post-doctoral fellowship at Northwestern University. She is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the Co-Director of the Center for Reproductive Science at Northwestern University. She leads an independent laboratory focused on understanding the cellular mechanisms of how aging – both physiologic and iatrogenic - impacts reproductive potential at the levels of the gamete and ovary. Dr. Duncan is an active member of the Oncofertility Consortium – an international group committed to exploring and expanding the fertility preservation options for those with fertility-threatening conditions. She served as the Oncofertilty Consortium’s Basic Science Subgroup Leader and was part of the research team of the Center for Reproductive Health After Disease. Since 2009, she has co-authored >30 publications on fertility preservation-related topics including ovarian tissue transport, in vitro follicle growth, ovarian bioprosthetics, and non-invasive markers of egg quality. She co-authored the first chapter on Fertility Preservation in the revered medical textbook: Yen and Jaffe’s Reproductive Endocrinology. She is the recipient of several honors and awards, including a 2017 Fulbright fellowship and the 2019 Society for the Study of Reproduction Virendra B. Mahesh New Investigator award.
Dr. Greenblatt is the former Head of both the Mount Sinai Hospital Division of Reproductive Sciences and the Clinical Director of Mount Sinai Fertility and IVF (1990-2000). She is a Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Toronto. Dr. Greenblatt completed her medical school (McGill University) and Obstetrics/ Gynaecology Residency (University of Western Ontario) in Canada. Funded by the Medical Research Council of Canada, she pursued fellowship training in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at the University of California, San Francisco and in 1990, Dr. Greenblatt joined the Faculty of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Toronto. Dr. Greenblatt is a fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Canada (Ob/Gyn) as well the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ABOG). She is a Founder of the GREI program, Royal College of Surgeons of Canada. Dr. Greenblatt is a previous board member of Fertile Future, as well as a member of the Fertility Preservation Program for both the Hospital for Sick Children as well as the Princess Margaret Hospital Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) program.
Dr. Greenblatt’s main clinical and research interests focus on:
· Fertility Preservation.
· Improving outcomes from assisted
reproductive technologies (ART’s)
Joshua Halpern is a urologist and assistant professor at Northwestern Medicine who specializes in Male Fertility and Sexual Function. After completing his medical studies and urologic training at Weill Cornell / New York Presbyterian Hospital in New York City, he went on to complete fellowship training in Andrology and Male Infertility at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, where he is now on faculty. Dr. Halpern also completed a Masters in Health Policy and Economics at Weill Cornell Medicine, and his research focuses on improvement in the delivery and outcomes of care for men with infertility.
Dr. Kazuhiro Kawamura is Director of Advanced Reproductive Medicine Research Center of International University Health and Welfare School of Medicine. He is also professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology of InternationalUniversity of Health and Welfare School of Medicine. He received his medical and philosophy degrees from the Akita University School of Medicine. His OB/GYN and Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility training was at the Akita University School of Medicine. He was also a Postdoctoral Fellow at Stanford University School of Medicine with Dr. Aaron JW Hsueh. In addition to teaching and clinical practice, he has published over 150 original articles in ovarian physiology and Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. He collaborated with Dr. Hsueh to establish an in vitro activation (IVA) method to treat infertility in patients with primary ovarian insufficiency (premature ovarian failure) and achieved successful pregnancies/deliveries. Now, he is expandingthe IVA treatment and studying to improve the clinical outcome of IVA using different approaches.
Dr. Kristensen isa biologistwith a PhD in reproductive biology. Herprimary area of interestisfertility preservationin girls and young women, and she haveextensive experience with cryopreservation of human ovarian tissue being part of the Danish Fertility Preservation Program for the last 10 years.Current positions include basic science officer in the ESHRE SIG on Fertility Preservation, Associate Editor on Human Reproduction, and Executive Board member of ReproUnion. She has organized and lectured over 20workshops on ovarian tissue cryopreservationthe last 10 years.Dr. Kristensen’sresearch isfocused on human follicle development and the regulatory mechanisms underlying early folliculogenesiswith a special interest in members of the TGF-beta signaling pathway, but it also includes development of 3D culture systems for isolated preantralfollicles, and optimizing follicle survival in transplanted frozen-thawed ovarian tissue.
Dr. Rowellisan attending pediatric surgeon at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicagoand is an Associate Professor of Surgery at the Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine. She is the Medical Director of the Fertility and Hormone Preservation and Restoration Program at Lurie Children’sand Co-Director for Pediatric Surgery for the Chicago Institute for Fetal Health.Her clinical interests include surgery for pediatric ovarian and testicular tissue removal forcryopreservation, and surgery for congenital anomalies of the abdomen and chest. She is a member of the Ethics Advisory Board at Lurie Children’sand teaches the Surgical Ethics course for 3rdyear medical students. Her research focuses on surgical technique and tissue processing for tissue cryopreservation, particularly for pre-pubertal pediatric patientsatrisk for infertility due to their medical diagnosis or treatment.
Eileen McMahon is a Nurse Practitioner at Hannam Fertility Centre in Toronto, Ontario. She graduated from the University of Toronto with a baccalaureate and Master’s degree in Nursing as well as a post-Master’s Nurse Practitioner Diploma. She holds a Clinical Appointment as an Adjunct Lecturer in the Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto, holds specialty certification in Perinatal Nursing from the Canadian Nurses Association, and is a certified Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner.
Eileen served on the Canadian Fertility & Andrology Society Board of Directors from 2016-2021 and was their first nurse President from September 2019 to September 2020.
Eileen has dedicated herself to identifying best practices for the delivery of outstanding healthcare in an empathetic and inclusive manner. She has a particular interest in fertility preservation.
Ellen Goossens, PhD is affiliated to the faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, where she is professor in reproductive biology and exchange coordinator for Master students in Biomedical Sciences.
She graduated in Biomedical Sciences at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel in 2000. She is trained in male fertility preservation under supervision of Prof. Dr. Herman Tournaye and Prof. Dr. André Van Steirteghem at the laboratory Biology of the Testis of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, where she obtained her doctoral degree in 2006. She undertook postdoctoral training in the same lab and became lab coordinator in 2012. Currently, she is chair of the research group Biology of the Testis. Her research focusses on spermatogenesis with a special interest in spermatogonial stem cells. The overall aim is to develop strategies to prevent male infertility after spermatogonial stem cell loss. She has experience with cryopreservation, transplantation and in-vitro differentiation of testicular tissue and cells.
Ellen Goossens is member of the Male Oncofertility Scientific Committee of the Oncofertility Consortium and is basic science officer of the ESHRE Special Interest Group Andrology. She has published more than 100 papers in (inter)national journals and contributed to 7 book chapters. She has been invited to speak at many national and international conferences. In 2011, she was awarded the prize of the Royal Belgian Academy for Medicine for her work on prevention of infertility after chemo- or radiotherapy.
Dr. Kristen Carpenter is a clinical health psychologist and Associate Professor in the Departments of Psychiatry & Behavioral Health, Psychology (joint), and Obstetrics & Gynecology (joint) at The Ohio State University, as well as a member of the OSU Comprehensive Cancer Center (CCC). She is Chief Psychologist and Director of Ambulatory Services in the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Health. She leads OSU’s Women’s Behavioral Health program; in this capacity, she provides clinical care to women with sexual dysfunction, education on female sexual health to staff throughout the OSU Wexner Medical Center and James Cancer Hospital (e.g., physicians, nurses, social workers), and provides clinical training to psychology doctoral trainees. She has served on the Steering Committee of the Scientific Network on Female Sexual Health and Cancer since its inception. Dr. Carpenter’s research involves understanding the role of cognitive, affective, and interpersonal processes in women’s sexual, psychological, and physical health outcomes; her research program has been continuously funded for over 15 years. Dr. Carpenter studied psychology as an undergraduate at Northwestern University and, following four years of work in healthcare management consulting, obtained Masters and Doctoral degrees in Psychology from the Ohio State University. She completed her clinical internship at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois and postdoctoral training at the University of California-Los Angeles and the Ohio State University.
Dr. Cherven is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at Emory University School of Medicine and a Nurse Scientist in the Aflac Cancer & Blood Disorders Center at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Her research focuses on reproductive health among adolescent and young adult cancer survivors and is informed by her clinical experience as a pediatric oncology nurse with the Aflac Cancer Survivor and Fertility Preservation programs. With support from an NIH/NINR K23 Career Development Award, she is identifying decisional and contextual factors that influence pursuit of a fertility status assessment among young adult female cancer survivors. This work will inform the development of future psychoeducational and decisional support interventions for survivors who interested in fertility assessment. In her role as Nurse Scientist, she provides research mentorship to nurses and advanced practice providers in the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center. Dr. Cherven also serves as the Vice Chair for the Children’s Oncology Group Adolescent and Young Adult Sexual Health Task Force.
Jing Xu earned her Ph.D. degree in biochemistry and molecular biology, and obtained the postdoctoral training in neuroendocrinology and reproductive biology at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU). She was appointed as a BIRCWH (NIH/ORWH and NICHD Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women's Health) Scholar in 2012 and became a faculty member at OHSU in 2016 as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, and the Division of Reproductive & Developmental Sciences, Oregon National Primate Research Center. She has been a member of the Oncofertility Consortium since 2008.
Using a nonhuman primate model, her research investigated the production and direct actions of paracrine/autocrine factors, including peptide hormones (e.g., anti-Müllerian hormone) and steroids, in the ovary. The goal is to unravel their roles in controlling follicular cell proliferation, differentiation and function, as well as oocyte maturation. Data could portend novel therapeutic approaches via manipulating local factors to regulate folliculogenesis clinically in women with ovarian dysfunction.
Her laboratory developed three-dimensional culture techniques to grow primate ovarian tissue and follicles achieving function in production of steroid hormones and peptide factors, as well as oocyte maturation for subsequent in vitro fertilization and early embryonic development. The culture system provides a valuable model to monitor and manipulate molecular signaling pathways and related factors to obtain knowledge of their roles in ovarian follicle growth and function. Translational efforts were also made on human in vitro follicle maturation. By achieving the goal of producing competent oocytes, this technique may offer a means to enhance fertility preservation options in female patients.
- I started my career in REI in 2007 as a doctoral student (PhD Thesis in 2010)
- since 2015 assistant head of the IVF lab of the UniKiD
- fertility preservation (MII oocytes and sperm in the IVF lab), ovarian tissue has been sent to an external cryobank
- in 2018 the cryobank for fertility preservation started at the university (focused on ovarian tissue)
- since 2018 assistant head of the cryobank (including freezing and thawing of ovarian tissue and transplantation nationwide)
- member of the ESHRE, AGRBM (German society of reproductive biologists), NfM (network of scientists working in the medicine), president of the DGRM (German society of reproductive medicine) 2022/2023
- ESHRE clinical embryologist and AGRBM reproductive biologist
- supervisor of the AGRBM
- author of scientific articles, book chapters, national guidelines
- married and mother of a girl and a boy
Nonso Daniels is a Clinical Embryologist with extensive experience spanning almost two decades. He is the President, Nigeria Oncofertility Network which is at the fore front of advocacy to increase access to fertility preservation technologies.
Nonso obtained his Masters in Clinical Embryology with Distinction from the University of Leeds, United Kingdom and he has organized, attended and spoken at numerous conferences locally and internationally. His areas of core interest include Fertility preservation for female cancer survivors, Ovarian Tissue Cryopreservation, Follicle Biology and The Effects of Environmental toxins on Reproductive health.
He is a member of the editorial board, Endocrinology and an Executive committee member of the Association for Fertility and Reproduction Health, Clinical Embryologists’ Association of Nigeria. He is also an Associate of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) and the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE)
Dr. Figueiredo received his D.V.M. degree from the School of Veterinary Medicine at Federal University of Viçosa, Brazil, in 1989, his M.S. degree from the Department of Animal Science at Federal University of Viçosa, Brazil, in 1991, and his Ph.D. in Veterinary Science from the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics at University of Liège, Belgium in 1995. He is currently an Associate Professor of Veterinary Medicine and Chief of the Laboratory "Manipulation of Oocytes and Preantral Follicles (LAMOFOPA) at the State University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil, the Coordinator of the Brazilian network for preantral follicle research, and a Researcher level 1A at National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq), Ministry of Science and Technology, Brazil. He has been a member of the Brazilian Embryo Transfer Society since 1999 and was the president of the same society from 2002-2003. The focus of his research area is on in vitro folliculogenesis, especially in large domestic mammals.
Proposed updated talk title- “Approaches to improve the efficiency of in vitro survival, growth and maturation of oocytes using animal models (ruminants)”
Marie-Madeleine Dolmans is head of the Gynecology Research Laboratory at the Université Catholique de Louvain in Brussels since 2012, and “Chef de Clinique associé” at the Cliniques Universitaires Saint Luc, Brussels, Belgium. She works part time in research and part time in clinics. She has been invited speaker at many international fertility congresses, including ESHRE, COGI, ESGE and the European Congress of Endocrinology. She is vice president of the International Society for Fertility Preservation, serves on the editorial board of Fertility and Sterility and the Journal of Assisted Reproduction, and is a reviewer for other international scientific journals. Her extensive publication work covers fertility aspects of ovarian tissue cryopreservation, fibroids and endometriosis.
Courtney Finlayson MD, Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Dr. Finlayson is a pediatric endocrinologist at Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago. She earned her medical degree from Northwestern University, completed residency in Pediatrics at Rush University and fellowship in Pediatric Endocrinology at Lurie Children’s Hospital, during which time she was a research fellow with Dr. J. Larry Jameson. Dr. Finlayson is the pediatric endocrinologist for the multi-disciplinary Gender & Sex Development Program at Lurie Children’s Hospital and the medical director specifically for the Sex Development Program. This program cares for two groups of patients: children with gender non-conformity and children with differences of sex development. She is currently engaged in multiple research projects to improve care and quality of life of these individuals. Much of this research focuses on fertility preservation in youth who are transgender or who have differences in sex development.
Molly Moravek, MD, MPH, MSCI, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, and the Department of Urology. Dr. Moravek received her bachelor's degree at the University of Michigan, then attended the University of Michigan Medical School, where she received both her medical degree and a master’s degree in public health. She completed her residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Michigan, and her fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at Northwestern University, where she also received a master’s degree in clinical investigation. Following fellowship, Dr. Moravek was recruited back to the University of Michigan, where she serves as the director of the Fertility Preservation Program and the IVF Medical Director. Dr. Moravek is also the vice-chair of the Pediatric Initiative Network of the Oncofertility Consortium. Dr. Moravek also has a clinical interest in transgender care, and provides gender-affirming hormone therapy and fertility counseling and treatment for transgender and gender non-conforming patients. She has an NIH-funded mouse model of gender-affirming testosterone, in which she is studying reproductive outcomes. She is also currently developing a multi-institutional database to track IVF outcomes in transmasculine individuals to identify best practices.
Dr Mohamed Khrouf is Professor Associate in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Faculté de Médecine de Tunis and since 2017, he is working in FERTILLIA ART Center (Clinique La Rose). His clinical work is focused on Reproductive Medicine including diagnosis of infertility, assisted reproduction technology, gynecological endocrinology and infertility surgery. Dr Mohamed Khrouf has also an animal experimentation competence used for exploring the pathophysiology of uterine adhesions.
He taught at Master Degree in Medicine and Biology of Reproduction at Faculté de Médecine de Tunis.
He is cofounder and one of the main actors of the Tunisian Fertility preservation program. He is also a member of Global Oncofertility Consortium Dr Mohamed KHROUF is involved in Continuous Medical Education, with multiples conferences and lectures in the national and international Level and also publications. He is running a learning program in ART based on Simulation at Medical Simulation Center. He is past vice president of the Tunisian Society of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Current editor in chief of African Federation of Fertility Societies and Member of Editorial Board of the journal Endocrinology.
Monica M. Laronda PhD is the Director of Research for the Fertility & Hormone Preservation & Restoration Program at the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago. She is the Warren & Eloise Batts Scholar at the Stanley Manne Children's Research Institute and Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University.
Rod is Professor of Developmental Endocrinology at the MRC Centre for Reproductive Health at the University of Edinburgh. He is also a Consultant Paediatric Endocrinologist at The Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh.
Rod is Professor of Developmental Endocrinology at the MRC Centre for Reproductive Health at the University of Edinburgh. He is also a Consultant Paediatric Endocrinologist at The Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh.
Website: ed.ac.uk/centre-reproductive-health/dr-rod-mitchell
E-mail: rod.mitchell@ed.ac.uk
Twitter: @RodTMitchell
David Pépin is an Assistant Professor in the Department Surgery at the Massachusetts General Hospital / Harvard Medical School, and the Associate Director of the Pediatric Surgical Research Laboratories. Dr. Pépin was trained as a reproductive and ovarian cancer biologist, and his laboratory focuses on the role of AMH/MIS in reproduction and its applications in contraception, oncofertility, and the treatment of endocrine-related cancers.
Dr. Romina Pesce is a medical doctor, specialized in Gynaecology and Obstetrics, in Reproductive Medicine and in Gynaecological Endocrinology. She also holds Master of Science degrees in Human Reproduction and in Clinical Medical Research, and Postgraduate Diplomas in Medical genetics and Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis. Dr Pesce is Head of the Reproduction and ART Unit at Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, and Assistant Professor of Gynaecology in its associated university. She is also board member of the Argentine Society of Reproductive Medicine (SAMER) and member of the Cochrane Collaboration Menstrual Disorders and Subfertility Group. She is Director of several postgraduate courses and fellowships, and author of different scientific studies and book chapters in general gynaecology and human reproduction.
Satish K. Adiga is Professor and Head of the ART Laboratory and Centre for Fertility Preservation at Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal India. His research interests are fertility preservation, preimplantation biology and non-invasive gamete and embryo selection.
Dr. Gomez-Lobo is an obstetrician gynecologist who specializes in pediatric and adolescent gynecology. After receiving her Doctor of Medicine Degree from Georgetown University, she completed her internship at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and residency at Tufts University. Prior to her recruitment to NICHD, Dr. Gomez-Lobo was the Director and Fellowship Director of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology and Professor of Ob/Gyn at Georgetown University and provided care at MedStar Washington Hospital Center (MWHC), Children’s National Medical Center and MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. She started the fourth pediatric and adolescent gynecology fellowship in North America and served as President of the North American Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology in 20016-2017. She currently serves as Associate Editor of the Journal of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology, as well as chair of the Oncofertility Pediatric Interest Network Research Sub-Committee. She is the site PI for the Disorders of Sex Development-Translational Research Network at Children’s National Medical Center. She has published and lectured extensively regarding the issues in the field of pediatric gynecology, as well as obstetrics and gynecology issues in transplant recipients.
She currently serves as Senior Clinician and Director of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology (PAG) Program within NICHD. Her areas of focus include fertility preservation, differences in sex development and congenital anomalies of the reproductive tract.
Associate Professor Karla Hutt is an ARC Future Fellow at Monash University. She obtained her PhD from the Australian National University in 2006, where her studies focussed on understanding ovarian development. She then undertook her postdoctoral studies at the University of Kansas Medical Center (USA), investigating the impact of environmental toxicants on oocyte and embryo quality. In 2008 she returned to Australia to join Prince Henry’s Institute. She subsequently joined the Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology at Monash University in 2015, where she leads the Ovarian Biology Laboratory. Her lab investigates the biological, cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the loss of oocyte number and quality during reproductive aging, cancer treatment and infection, with the goal of using these insights to develop innovative strategies to protect the ovary from damage and preserve optimal fertility. Her research is supported by grants and fellowships from the ARC, NHMRC and NBCF.
Gynecologist, Member of the first MS-RSM cohort in CRS who conducted research with Dr. Mary Ellen Pavone, MD. Joining our community from Uruguay, Dana conducted her thesis work on "Assessing the impact of delayed blastulation using time lapse morphokinetics and preimplantation genetic testing in an IVF patient population". Currently, she is supporting her own research questions in Oncofertility in ovarian tissue vitrification to preserve fertility in collaboration with institutions in Uruguay and with CRS partners at Northwestern. At the same time providing Oncofertility assessment in multiple institutions of her country.
Leena Nahata, M.D. is an Associate Professor of Clinical Pediatrics at The Ohio State University, board-certified pediatric endocrinologist at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, and the founder and Medical Director of the Fertility and Reproductive Health Program at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. As an NIH-funded Principal Investigator in the Center for Biobehavioral Health at the Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, she is conducting several clinical research studies to examine outcomes and predictors of fertility preservation utilization in pediatric populations at risk for infertility, including youth with cancer, differences of sex development, and gender dysphoria. She is a member of the Children’s Oncology Group and PanCareLIFE male fertility preservation task forces, and the Reproductive Health chapter lead for the World Professional Association for Transgender Health Standards of Care Version 8.
Dr. Mary Ellen Pavone is an Associate Professor in the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility within the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. She completed her fellowship training in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at Northwestern. She has experience performing clinical, translational and basic science research. She also serves as the medical director of IVF. Her research interests include fertility preservation, improving surgical outcomes in infertility patients, optimizing IVF outcomes and recurrent pregnancy loss.
Dr. Quinn is the Livia Wan Endowed Chair and Vice Chair of Research in the Department of OB-GYN and Professor in Population Health and the Division of Medical Ethics in the New York University Grossman School of Medicine. She is a member of the NYU faculty senate and chairs the APT committee. Her research focuses on patient-provider communication primarily in reproductive health and cancer in adolescent and young adults, LGBTQ health issues, uptake of genetic technologies, clinical trials and access to care for minority and underserved populations. Prior to joining NYU in 2017, she was at Moffitt Cancer Center and the University of South Florida for 17 years. She is the author of over 300 peer reviewed papers and book chapters and has received more than 10 million dollars in federal and foundation grant funding.
Mitchell P. Rosen, MD is a Professor at University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) in the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences and is founding director of the fertility preservation program. He holds board certification in both Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. He is director of the department’s reproductive laboratory and holds high complexity lab director (HCLD) certification. His dual expertise in clinical and laboratory medicine lends unique perspective to his practice as well as his research. His career interests have been to optimize ovarian stimulation protocols and improve fertility preservation outcomes. His research has had a significant contribution to the field in both infertility and fertility preservation. His work has led to numerous publications in multiple journals, textbook chapters and invited lectures.
Dr. Rosen received his medical training at St. Louis University and completed his residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Texas Medical Branch. He subsequently received his subspecialty training in reproductive endocrinology and infertility as well as embryology at UCSF.
Stacy Whiteside APRN, MS, CPNP-AC/PC, CPON received both her undergraduate and graduate degrees in nursing from the Ohio State University. She has spent her entire nursing career in the Hematology/Oncology/BMT/Apheresis department at Nationwide Children's Hospital. Stacy has been a passionate advocate for adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with cancer for many years, most recently focusing on the reproductive health of children and AYAs after cancer. On the national level, she serves as the nursing representative to the Children's Oncology Group AYA Committee, and is the chair of the patient navigation committee of the Oncofertility Consortium Pediatric Initiative Network. As a founding member of the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Fertility and Reproductive Health program, Stacy currently serves as the fertility patient navigator providing counseling and fertility preservation options for all patients with medical conditions or treatments that may impact their future fertility and reproductive health.
Kristin Smith, the Program Manager for Fertility Preservation, consults with all young, newly diagnosed oncology patients at Northwestern’s Lurie Cancer Center to help each patient understand their individual fertility risk associated with treatment as well as options for fertility preservation. She works extensively with young adult oncology survivors to help each patient explore their unique family building options and reproductive health post treatment. Kristin helps run the Oncofertility Professional Engagement Network (OPEN) of the Oncofertility Consortium by providing support across the world to providers who participate the network and also answers the national fertility hotline and email to triage patients for fertility preservation across the United States.
Dr Chris Venter completed his pre-and post-graduate studies at the University of Pretoria 1994 and 2002 respectively. After qualifying he did a preceptorship in Endoscopic Surgery at Leuven University in Belgium, under the mentorship of Prof Phillippe Koninckx. He practiced for 12 years as general Obstetrician in the private sector, before deciding to sub-specialize in Reproductive Medicine. He completed his Fellowship Training at the University of Stellenbosch under the mentorship of Prof Thinus Kruger. During this period, his Research was aimed at looking at the role of pre-genetic screening in embryo selection. He joined the Vitalab Reproductive Centre in 2013. He specializes in all aspects of infertility care. His clinical interest is Recurrent Implantation Failure and the role that Endometrial Receptivity plays. He is an Associated Lecturer at the University of the Orange Free State, serves on both the editorial board of the Endocrinology International Journal and SASREG executive board, since 2014. His personal interest is in raising awareness for Oncofertility in South Africa.
Teresa K. Woodruff, Ph.D., is Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs at Michigan State University. She is an MSU Foundation Professor in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Biology, and the Department of Biomedical Engineering.
Woodruff is an internationally recognized expert in ovarian biology and reproductive science. In 2006, she coined the term “oncofertility” to describe the merging of two fields: oncology and fertility. In addition, she championed the new National Institutes of Health (NIH) policy mandating the use of females in fundamental research.
As a leading research scientist, Woodruff was awarded the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science Mentoring by President Obama in an oval office ceremony in 2011. Most recently, Woodruff was a recipient of the Endocrine Society’s 2021 Laureate Award, a top honor that recognizes the highest achievements in the field of endocrinology. She holds 13 U.S. Patents and is an elected fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2020), the National Academy of Medicine (2018), the National Academy of Inventors (2018), the American Institute for Medical and Biomedical Engineers (2017), and the American Association for the Advancement of Science (2006).
Dr. Shuo Xiao is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Ernest School of Pharmacy, Rutgers University. Dr. Xiao received his medical degree in Preventive Medicine and Master in Nutrition and Food Toxicology from Peking University Health Science Center in China. He earned his PhD in Toxicology from Dr. Xiaoqin Ye’s lab at the University of Georgia (UGA) in 2013. He completed his postdoctoral training in 2016 in Dr. Teresa Woodruff’s lab at Northwestern University. Dr. Xiao started his independent faculty position as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Environmental Health Sciences at the University of South Carolina in 2017. In the summer of 2020, he moved to Rutgers University. Dr. Xiao’s research is focused on the mechanisms by which environmental chemicals and clinical drugs induce female ovarian toxicities and infertility, and also how to use multiple cutting-edge technologies such as the 3D in vitro ovarian tissue culture and microfluidics to establish a high-throughput platform for the ovarian toxicity screening and novel contraceptive discovery.
Dr. Zelinski received her B.S. degree from the University of Wisconsin, and her M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from Oregon State University in Animal Reproduction and Biochemistry. She was a post-doctoral fellow at the Oregon National Primate Research Center where she subsequently initiated her career as an independent investigator. Dr. Zelinski is currently Professor in the Division of Reproductive & Developmental Sciences at the Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR and in the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR.
Her research is centered on understanding the basic mechanisms underlying the development and function of primate ovarian follicles with the goal of applying this knowledge through translational research in important areas of women’s reproductive health. She has 30 years of experience using nonhuman primate models of infertility and contraception that include pioneering research in development of assisted reproductive technologies in macaques, ovarian-based female contraceptives and ovarian aging. Her current research interests are focused on investigating ovarian tissue cryopreservation, 3-dimensional culture of macaque preantral follicles and ferto-protective agents as options for female fertility preservation that have included collaborative efforts within the Oncofertility Consortium.
She has received continuous funding from the NIH since 1998. She was a recipient of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine Program Prize paper four times, and was a finalist with her colleagues an additional 4 times, which testifies to the importance of the nonhuman primate model for women’s reproductive research. She has been an invited speaker at many national and international meetings, has numerous manuscripts in peer-reviewed journals, and served as Secretary, Program Chair and on the Board of Directors of the Society for the Study of Reproduction from which she received the Distinguished Service Award in 2014. She was recently selected in 2021 as a co-Editor-in-Chief of Biology of Reproduction. She is also passionate about bringing science to the public wherein she directs and participants in many educational outreach activities for adults, high school and middle school students.
Dr Anazodo trained in Paediatric and Adolescent Oncology in the United Kingdom and completed her training with a clinical fellowship in the Kids Cancer Centre at Sydney Children’s Hospital. During her training and fellowship Dr Anazodo completed a postgraduate diploma in Adolescent Oncology.
Dr Anazodo was appointed as Director of Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Cancer at Sydney Children’s and Prince of Wales Hospital in October 2010 and has subsequently developed a comprehensive AYA cancer service across both the paediatric and adult cancer centre. Her appointment across the paediatric and adult campus has also provided opportunities for clinical and research collaboration. Dr Anazodo has been part of the AYA national leadership group working with national and state partners to develop specialist Youth Cancer Services (YCS) across Australia providing vital treatment and support to young patients.
Dr Anazodo leads the Future Fertility research program on reproductive concerns of cancer patients and in addition to the medical and psychological studies she has been instrumental in the development of Medicare item numbers for public funding for oncofertility care in Australia and leads international work on oncofertility models of care and a global competency framework. Dr Anazodo is the chair for the Australian AYA fertility preservation group and guidelines group.
Professor Robert Gilchrist is a research scientist and a Senior Research Fellow of the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) of Australia. He is Director of Research of the School of Women’s and Children’s Heath, UNSW and Head of Research of the Fertility & Research Centre (Royal Hospital for Women/UNSW), and is a Fellow of the Society for Reproductive Biology. He has had a range of associations with the IVF sector spanning 20+ years, including as Scientific Advisory Board member and/or consultant to; City Fertility, IVF Australia, CooperSurgical, Repromed, Fertility SA, Cook Medical, NZ Ministry of Health and the ARC Centre of Excellent in Biotechnology and Development.
Professor Gilchrist is a reproductive biologist whose research encompasses basic and applied aspects of ovarian folliculogenesis, oocyte maturation and preimplantation embryo development. He heads the Oocyte Biology Research Group at the UNSW. He conducts discovery research on oocyte-somatic cell interactions as a determinant of subsequent embryonic development. He has made important scientific contributions demonstrating that oocyte paracrine signalling determines cumulus cell differentiation and function. Dr Gilchrist also studies new biomarkers of oocyte quality. In addition, he manages an applied research program with the objectives of improving oocyte in vitro maturation (IVM) technologies in animals and women. One of his IVM inventions is now used clinically and a number are undergoing clinical evaluation. He has published 134 peer-reviewed papers including 23 reviews/chapters. He currently has an H-index of 47 with >6,900 citations [Scopus].
Kara Goldman MD is a board-certified reproductive endocrinologist and assistant professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Northwestern Medicine. She completed residency at Northwestern University followed by fellowship training in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at New York University, where she joined the faculty until returning to Northwestern as Medical Director of Fertility Preservation. She was recently elected Vice Chair of the ASRM Fertility Preservation Special Interest Group (FPSIG) and serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics. Dr. Goldman's research focuses on fertility preservation and the role of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway in physiologic and iatrogenic ovarian aging, and her work has been twice nominated and once awarded the ASRM Scientific Program Prize Paper Award and was awarded the ASRM FPSIG Prize Paper Award. She is actively engaged in advocacy efforts and serves on the medical advisory board of the charitable foundation Team Maggie's Dream, providing resources and financial support for patients requiring urgent fertility preservation. She is committed to improving education and awareness surrounding both iatrogenic and physiologic ovarian aging and improving access to fertility preservation.
She is especially skilled at treating reproductive diseases by minimally invasive surgery and invents a serious of novel minimally invasive technique for female fertility preservation. Dedicated to fundamental and clinical research on female fertility preservation, she pioneers in carrying out ovarian tissue cryopreservation and oocyte cryopreservation. As founder of the Premature Ovarian Failure Center and director of the first Fertility Preservation Center in China, she has rich experience in diagnosis and treatment of POI and elderly patients demanding pregnancy. In 2016, her team is the first to achieve healthy live birth from a polycystic kidney family by MALBAC-PGD. In 2019, her team achieved the first healthy live birth by ovarian tissue cryopreservation and transplantation in China.
Dr. Orwig is a Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. He is also the director of the Fertility Preservation Program and the Center for Reproduction and Transplantation at Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC. Research in the Orwig laboratory focuses on stem cells, germ lineage development, fertility and infertility. Our progress investigating reproductive function in fertile individuals provides a basis for understanding the mechanisms of infertility caused by disease, medical treatments, genetic defects or aging. Infertility impacts one in seven couples in the United States and can have a devastating impact on relationships, emotional well-being and overall health. The Orwig lab is ideally located in Magee-Womens Research Institute and Magee-Womens Hospital of the University of Pittsburgh and is committed to translating lab bench discoveries to the clinic for diagnosis, prevention and treatment of infertility.
Fertility Preservation Program in Pittsburgh http://www.fertilitypreservationpittsburgh.org
Orwig Research Group http://www.orwiglab.org
Dr. Leslie Appiah is an Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at The University of Colorado School of Medicine and Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology at Children’s Hospital Colorado. She serves as Division Chief of General Obstetrics and Gynecology in the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Director of the Fertility Preservation and Reproductive Late Effects program at the University of Colorado Cancer Center and Children’s Hospital Colorado Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders. Dr. Appiah attended medical school at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School and completed residency at Sinai Medical Center in Baltimore, MD. She subsequently completed a research fellowship in reproductive genetics and clinical fellowship in pediatric and adolescent gynecology at Texas Children’s Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine. Dr. Appiah is a recent Clinical Reproductive Scientist Training Scholar through the National Institutes of Child Health and Disease and the American Society for Reproductive Medicine.
Dr. Appiah is well-published and speaks extensively in the United States and internationally. She holds several national committee chair positions in reproductive medicine. She is co-founder of the Pediatric Initiative Network of the Oncofertility Consortium where she served as chair for 5 years and is currently chair of the Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Reproductive Late Effects Committee of the Oncofertility Consortium. She also has the privilege of serving on the Children’s Oncology Group Long-Term Follow-up Guidelines Ovarian Endocrine Task Force. Dr. Appiah’s clinical and research interests include fertility preservation in pediatric, adolescent and young adult (AYA) patients with cancer, reproductive late effects in cancer survivorship, and hormone replacement therapy in the medically complex patient. She is passionate about her work and believes her role as a provider is to support patients through their medical journey with compassion, expertise and dedication.
Lauren is the Program Administrator for the Center for Reproductive Science at Northwestern University. Lauren graduated from the University of Southern California in 2008 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Business Administration and went on to complete a Masters in Public Policy and Administration from Northwestern University. In 2011, Lauren joined Dr. Teresa Woodruff's team and has worked closely with Dr. Woodruff and Dr. Francesca Duncan in a variety of capacities since then. Prior to her role with CRS, Lauren worked as the Research Project Manager for Oncofertility Consortium (OC) from 2014-2020 and provided programmatic support for the OC’s administrative activities, which also included comprehensive grant and research administration support. During this time, Lauren also organized the annual Oncofertility Consortium Conference and handled all aspects of the event including fundraising and development. She also managed the Oncofertility Professional Engagement Network (OPEN), a community of oncofertility professionals from around the globe who share resources, best practices, methodologies, and experiences. She has a number of publications resulting from her work with the Oncofertility Consortium and OPEN. Lauren now oversees CRS’s grant, development, and promotion portfolio. She is actively looking for ways to support CRS through grants, industry, and other support mechanisms. Lauren’s work promotes CRS programs to all relevant stakeholders and helps CRS sustain valuable research efforts in the reproductive health sciences community.
Medical Oncologist, Urologic Oncology, Global Oncology
- 2007 Graduated with Honors for Medical School. Universidad Panamericana.
- 2012 Internal Medicine Degree. Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán.
- 2015 Medical Oncology Degree. Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán.
- 2015 Fellow at the Genitourinary Cancers Program, University of Colorado, EUA.
- 2017 Masters Degree in Science, graduated with Honors, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM)
- 2017 JCO Global Oncology ASCO Fellowship.
- Associate Professor of Medical Oncology. Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán / UNAM.
- Course Director of Genitourinary Oncology Fellowship, UNAM. 2017-2021.
- Mentor at ASCO´s Women´s Networking Center 2016-2020
- Member of the 2018 ASCO´s Global Oncology Taskforce.
- Ambassador of the Oncofertility Consortium in México 2018-2021
- Faculty of the European School of Oncology 2018-2021.
- National Researcher title in Mexico. (SNI).
- 2018-2019 Chief of the Genitourinary Cancer Section Cooperative Group. Mexican Society of Medical Oncology.
Dr. Duncan earned her doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania and completed a post-doctoral fellowship at Northwestern University. She is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the Co-Director of the Center for Reproductive Science at Northwestern University. She leads an independent laboratory focused on understanding the cellular mechanisms of how aging – both physiologic and iatrogenic - impacts reproductive potential at the levels of the gamete and ovary. Dr. Duncan is an active member of the Oncofertility Consortium – an international group committed to exploring and expanding the fertility preservation options for those with fertility-threatening conditions. She served as the Oncofertilty Consortium’s Basic Science Subgroup Leader and was part of the research team of the Center for Reproductive Health After Disease. Since 2009, she has co-authored >30 publications on fertility preservation-related topics including ovarian tissue transport, in vitro follicle growth, ovarian bioprosthetics, and non-invasive markers of egg quality. She co-authored the first chapter on Fertility Preservation in the revered medical textbook: Yen and Jaffe’s Reproductive Endocrinology. She is the recipient of several honors and awards, including a 2017 Fulbright fellowship and the 2019 Society for the Study of Reproduction Virendra B. Mahesh New Investigator award.
Dr. Greenblatt is the former Head of both the Mount Sinai Hospital Division of Reproductive Sciences and the Clinical Director of Mount Sinai Fertility and IVF (1990-2000). She is a Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Toronto. Dr. Greenblatt completed her medical school (McGill University) and Obstetrics/ Gynaecology Residency (University of Western Ontario) in Canada. Funded by the Medical Research Council of Canada, she pursued fellowship training in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at the University of California, San Francisco and in 1990, Dr. Greenblatt joined the Faculty of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Toronto. Dr. Greenblatt is a fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Canada (Ob/Gyn) as well the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ABOG). She is a Founder of the GREI program, Royal College of Surgeons of Canada. Dr. Greenblatt is a previous board member of Fertile Future, as well as a member of the Fertility Preservation Program for both the Hospital for Sick Children as well as the Princess Margaret Hospital Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) program.
Dr. Greenblatt’s main clinical and research interests focus on:
· Fertility Preservation.
· Improving outcomes from assisted
reproductive technologies (ART’s)
Joshua Halpern is a urologist and assistant professor at Northwestern Medicine who specializes in Male Fertility and Sexual Function. After completing his medical studies and urologic training at Weill Cornell / New York Presbyterian Hospital in New York City, he went on to complete fellowship training in Andrology and Male Infertility at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, where he is now on faculty. Dr. Halpern also completed a Masters in Health Policy and Economics at Weill Cornell Medicine, and his research focuses on improvement in the delivery and outcomes of care for men with infertility.
Dr. Kazuhiro Kawamura is Director of Advanced Reproductive Medicine Research Center of International University Health and Welfare School of Medicine. He is also professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology of InternationalUniversity of Health and Welfare School of Medicine. He received his medical and philosophy degrees from the Akita University School of Medicine. His OB/GYN and Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility training was at the Akita University School of Medicine. He was also a Postdoctoral Fellow at Stanford University School of Medicine with Dr. Aaron JW Hsueh. In addition to teaching and clinical practice, he has published over 150 original articles in ovarian physiology and Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. He collaborated with Dr. Hsueh to establish an in vitro activation (IVA) method to treat infertility in patients with primary ovarian insufficiency (premature ovarian failure) and achieved successful pregnancies/deliveries. Now, he is expandingthe IVA treatment and studying to improve the clinical outcome of IVA using different approaches.
Dr. Kristensen isa biologistwith a PhD in reproductive biology. Herprimary area of interestisfertility preservationin girls and young women, and she haveextensive experience with cryopreservation of human ovarian tissue being part of the Danish Fertility Preservation Program for the last 10 years.Current positions include basic science officer in the ESHRE SIG on Fertility Preservation, Associate Editor on Human Reproduction, and Executive Board member of ReproUnion. She has organized and lectured over 20workshops on ovarian tissue cryopreservationthe last 10 years.Dr. Kristensen’sresearch isfocused on human follicle development and the regulatory mechanisms underlying early folliculogenesiswith a special interest in members of the TGF-beta signaling pathway, but it also includes development of 3D culture systems for isolated preantralfollicles, and optimizing follicle survival in transplanted frozen-thawed ovarian tissue.
Dr. Rowellisan attending pediatric surgeon at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicagoand is an Associate Professor of Surgery at the Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine. She is the Medical Director of the Fertility and Hormone Preservation and Restoration Program at Lurie Children’sand Co-Director for Pediatric Surgery for the Chicago Institute for Fetal Health.Her clinical interests include surgery for pediatric ovarian and testicular tissue removal forcryopreservation, and surgery for congenital anomalies of the abdomen and chest. She is a member of the Ethics Advisory Board at Lurie Children’sand teaches the Surgical Ethics course for 3rdyear medical students. Her research focuses on surgical technique and tissue processing for tissue cryopreservation, particularly for pre-pubertal pediatric patientsatrisk for infertility due to their medical diagnosis or treatment.
Rod is Professor of Developmental Endocrinology at the MRC Centre for Reproductive Health at the University of Edinburgh. He is also a Consultant Paediatric Endocrinologist at The Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh.
Rod is clinical and research lead for fertility preservation in prepubertal boys with cancer. His work combines the clinical service for gonadal tissue cryopreservation with research aimed at developing clinical strategies to protect or restore fertility in patients receiving sterilising therapies.
His research activities are focused on the role of the germ-stem cell niche in prepubertal testis development and function. His research group use in-vitro and transplantation approaches to model prepubertal testicular development in order to determine effects of exposure to chemotherapy on germ cells and to develop strategies to protect the testis from cancer treatments1,2. These models are also being applied to promoting germ cell differentiation in prepubertal testicular tissues obtained from boys prior to their treatment3,4.
Eileen McMahon is a Nurse Practitioner at Hannam Fertility Centre in Toronto, Ontario. She graduated from the University of Toronto with a baccalaureate and Master’s degree in Nursing as well as a post-Master’s Nurse Practitioner Diploma. She holds a Clinical Appointment as an Adjunct Lecturer in the Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto, holds specialty certification in Perinatal Nursing from the Canadian Nurses Association, and is a certified Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner.
Eileen served on the Canadian Fertility & Andrology Society Board of Directors from 2016-2021 and was their first nurse President from September 2019 to September 2020.
Eileen has dedicated herself to identifying best practices for the delivery of outstanding healthcare in an empathetic and inclusive manner. She has a particular interest in fertility preservation.
Ellen Goossens, PhD is affiliated to the faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, where she is professor in reproductive biology and exchange coordinator for Master students in Biomedical Sciences.
She graduated in Biomedical Sciences at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel in 2000. She is trained in male fertility preservation under supervision of Prof. Dr. Herman Tournaye and Prof. Dr. André Van Steirteghem at the laboratory Biology of the Testis of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, where she obtained her doctoral degree in 2006. She undertook postdoctoral training in the same lab and became lab coordinator in 2012. Currently, she is chair of the research group Biology of the Testis. Her research focusses on spermatogenesis with a special interest in spermatogonial stem cells. The overall aim is to develop strategies to prevent male infertility after spermatogonial stem cell loss. She has experience with cryopreservation, transplantation and in-vitro differentiation of testicular tissue and cells.
Ellen Goossens is member of the Male Oncofertility Scientific Committee of the Oncofertility Consortium and is basic science officer of the ESHRE Special Interest Group Andrology. She has published more than 100 papers in (inter)national journals and contributed to 7 book chapters. She has been invited to speak at many national and international conferences. In 2011, she was awarded the prize of the Royal Belgian Academy for Medicine for her work on prevention of infertility after chemo- or radiotherapy.
Dr. Kristen Carpenter is a clinical health psychologist and Associate Professor in the Departments of Psychiatry & Behavioral Health, Psychology (joint), and Obstetrics & Gynecology (joint) at The Ohio State University, as well as a member of the OSU Comprehensive Cancer Center (CCC). She is Chief Psychologist and Director of Ambulatory Services in the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Health. She leads OSU’s Women’s Behavioral Health program; in this capacity, she provides clinical care to women with sexual dysfunction, education on female sexual health to staff throughout the OSU Wexner Medical Center and James Cancer Hospital (e.g., physicians, nurses, social workers), and provides clinical training to psychology doctoral trainees. She has served on the Steering Committee of the Scientific Network on Female Sexual Health and Cancer since its inception. Dr. Carpenter’s research involves understanding the role of cognitive, affective, and interpersonal processes in women’s sexual, psychological, and physical health outcomes; her research program has been continuously funded for over 15 years. Dr. Carpenter studied psychology as an undergraduate at Northwestern University and, following four years of work in healthcare management consulting, obtained Masters and Doctoral degrees in Psychology from the Ohio State University. She completed her clinical internship at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois and postdoctoral training at the University of California-Los Angeles and the Ohio State University.
Dr. Cherven is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at Emory University School of Medicine and a Nurse Scientist in the Aflac Cancer & Blood Disorders Center at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Her research focuses on reproductive health among adolescent and young adult cancer survivors and is informed by her clinical experience as a pediatric oncology nurse with the Aflac Cancer Survivor and Fertility Preservation programs. With support from an NIH/NINR K23 Career Development Award, she is identifying decisional and contextual factors that influence pursuit of a fertility status assessment among young adult female cancer survivors. This work will inform the development of future psychoeducational and decisional support interventions for survivors who interested in fertility assessment. In her role as Nurse Scientist, she provides research mentorship to nurses and advanced practice providers in the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center. Dr. Cherven also serves as the Vice Chair for the Children’s Oncology Group Adolescent and Young Adult Sexual Health Task Force.
Jing Xu earned her Ph.D. degree in biochemistry and molecular biology, and obtained the postdoctoral training in neuroendocrinology and reproductive biology at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU). She was appointed as a BIRCWH (NIH/ORWH and NICHD Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women's Health) Scholar in 2012 and became a faculty member at OHSU in 2016 as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, and the Division of Reproductive & Developmental Sciences, Oregon National Primate Research Center. She has been a member of the Oncofertility Consortium since 2008.
Using a nonhuman primate model, her research investigated the production and direct actions of paracrine/autocrine factors, including peptide hormones (e.g., anti-Müllerian hormone) and steroids, in the ovary. The goal is to unravel their roles in controlling follicular cell proliferation, differentiation and function, as well as oocyte maturation. Data could portend novel therapeutic approaches via manipulating local factors to regulate folliculogenesis clinically in women with ovarian dysfunction.
Her laboratory developed three-dimensional culture techniques to grow primate ovarian tissue and follicles achieving function in production of steroid hormones and peptide factors, as well as oocyte maturation for subsequent in vitro fertilization and early embryonic development. The culture system provides a valuable model to monitor and manipulate molecular signaling pathways and related factors to obtain knowledge of their roles in ovarian follicle growth and function. Translational efforts were also made on human in vitro follicle maturation. By achieving the goal of producing competent oocytes, this technique may offer a means to enhance fertility preservation options in female patients.
- I started my career in REI in 2007 as a doctoral student (PhD Thesis in 2010)
- since 2015 assistant head of the IVF lab of the UniKiD
- fertility preservation (MII oocytes and sperm in the IVF lab), ovarian tissue has been sent to an external cryobank
- in 2018 the cryobank for fertility preservation started at the university (focused on ovarian tissue)
- since 2018 assistant head of the cryobank (including freezing and thawing of ovarian tissue and transplantation nationwide)
- member of the ESHRE, AGRBM (German society of reproductive biologists), NfM (network of scientists working in the medicine), president of the DGRM (German society of reproductive medicine) 2022/2023
- ESHRE clinical embryologist and AGRBM reproductive biologist
- supervisor of the AGRBM
- author of scientific articles, book chapters, national guidelines
- married and mother of a girl and a boy
Nonso Daniels is a Clinical Embryologist with extensive experience spanning almost two decades. He is the President, Nigeria Oncofertility Network which is at the fore front of advocacy to increase access to fertility preservation technologies.
Nonso obtained his Masters in Clinical Embryology with Distinction from the University of Leeds, United Kingdom and he has organized, attended and spoken at numerous conferences locally and internationally. His areas of core interest include Fertility preservation for female cancer survivors, Ovarian Tissue Cryopreservation, Follicle Biology and The Effects of Environmental toxins on Reproductive health.
He is a member of the editorial board, Endocrinology and an Executive committee member of the Association for Fertility and Reproduction Health, Clinical Embryologists’ Association of Nigeria. He is also an Associate of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) and the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE)
Dr. Figueiredo received his D.V.M. degree from the School of Veterinary Medicine at Federal University of Viçosa, Brazil, in 1989, his M.S. degree from the Department of Animal Science at Federal University of Viçosa, Brazil, in 1991, and his Ph.D. in Veterinary Science from the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics at University of Liège, Belgium in 1995. He is currently an Associate Professor of Veterinary Medicine and Chief of the Laboratory "Manipulation of Oocytes and Preantral Follicles (LAMOFOPA) at the State University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil, the Coordinator of the Brazilian network for preantral follicle research, and a Researcher level 1A at National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq), Ministry of Science and Technology, Brazil. He has been a member of the Brazilian Embryo Transfer Society since 1999 and was the president of the same society from 2002-2003. The focus of his research area is on in vitro folliculogenesis, especially in large domestic mammals.
Proposed updated talk title- “Approaches to improve the efficiency of in vitro survival, growth and maturation of oocytes using animal models (ruminants)”
Marie-Madeleine Dolmans is head of the Gynecology Research Laboratory at the Université Catholique de Louvain in Brussels since 2012, and “Chef de Clinique associé” at the Cliniques Universitaires Saint Luc, Brussels, Belgium. She works part time in research and part time in clinics. She has been invited speaker at many international fertility congresses, including ESHRE, COGI, ESGE and the European Congress of Endocrinology. She is vice president of the International Society for Fertility Preservation, serves on the editorial board of Fertility and Sterility and the Journal of Assisted Reproduction, and is a reviewer for other international scientific journals. Her extensive publication work covers fertility aspects of ovarian tissue cryopreservation, fibroids and endometriosis.
Courtney Finlayson MD, Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Dr. Finlayson is a pediatric endocrinologist at Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago. She earned her medical degree from Northwestern University, completed residency in Pediatrics at Rush University and fellowship in Pediatric Endocrinology at Lurie Children’s Hospital, during which time she was a research fellow with Dr. J. Larry Jameson. Dr. Finlayson is the pediatric endocrinologist for the multi-disciplinary Gender & Sex Development Program at Lurie Children’s Hospital and the medical director specifically for the Sex Development Program. This program cares for two groups of patients: children with gender non-conformity and children with differences of sex development. She is currently engaged in multiple research projects to improve care and quality of life of these individuals. Much of this research focuses on fertility preservation in youth who are transgender or who have differences in sex development.
Molly Moravek, MD, MPH, MSCI, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, and the Department of Urology. Dr. Moravek received her bachelor's degree at the University of Michigan, then attended the University of Michigan Medical School, where she received both her medical degree and a master’s degree in public health. She completed her residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Michigan, and her fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at Northwestern University, where she also received a master’s degree in clinical investigation. Following fellowship, Dr. Moravek was recruited back to the University of Michigan, where she serves as the director of the Fertility Preservation Program and the IVF Medical Director. Dr. Moravek is also the vice-chair of the Pediatric Initiative Network of the Oncofertility Consortium. Dr. Moravek also has a clinical interest in transgender care, and provides gender-affirming hormone therapy and fertility counseling and treatment for transgender and gender non-conforming patients. She has an NIH-funded mouse model of gender-affirming testosterone, in which she is studying reproductive outcomes. She is also currently developing a multi-institutional database to track IVF outcomes in transmasculine individuals to identify best practices.
Dr Mohamed Khrouf is Professor Associate in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Faculté de Médecine de Tunis and since 2017, he is working in FERTILLIA ART Center (Clinique La Rose). His clinical work is focused on Reproductive Medicine including diagnosis of infertility, assisted reproduction technology, gynecological endocrinology and infertility surgery. Dr Mohamed Khrouf has also an animal experimentation competence used for exploring the pathophysiology of uterine adhesions.
He taught at Master Degree in Medicine and Biology of Reproduction at Faculté de Médecine de Tunis.
He is cofounder and one of the main actors of the Tunisian Fertility preservation program. He is also a member of Global Oncofertility Consortium Dr Mohamed KHROUF is involved in Continuous Medical Education, with multiples conferences and lectures in the national and international Level and also publications. He is running a learning program in ART based on Simulation at Medical Simulation Center. He is past vice president of the Tunisian Society of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Current editor in chief of African Federation of Fertility Societies and Member of Editorial Board of the journal Endocrinology.
Monica M. Laronda PhD is the Director of Research for the Fertility & Hormone Preservation & Restoration Program at the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago. She is the Warren & Eloise Batts Scholar at the Stanley Manne Children's Research Institute and Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University.
Rod is Professor of Developmental Endocrinology at the MRC Centre for Reproductive Health at the University of Edinburgh. He is also a Consultant Paediatric Endocrinologist at The Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh.
Rod is Professor of Developmental Endocrinology at the MRC Centre for Reproductive Health at the University of Edinburgh. He is also a Consultant Paediatric Endocrinologist at The Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh.
Website: ed.ac.uk/centre-reproductive-health/dr-rod-mitchell
E-mail: rod.mitchell@ed.ac.uk
Twitter: @RodTMitchell
David Pépin is an Assistant Professor in the Department Surgery at the Massachusetts General Hospital / Harvard Medical School, and the Associate Director of the Pediatric Surgical Research Laboratories. Dr. Pépin was trained as a reproductive and ovarian cancer biologist, and his laboratory focuses on the role of AMH/MIS in reproduction and its applications in contraception, oncofertility, and the treatment of endocrine-related cancers.
Dr. Romina Pesce is a medical doctor, specialized in Gynaecology and Obstetrics, in Reproductive Medicine and in Gynaecological Endocrinology. She also holds Master of Science degrees in Human Reproduction and in Clinical Medical Research, and Postgraduate Diplomas in Medical genetics and Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis. Dr Pesce is Head of the Reproduction and ART Unit at Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, and Assistant Professor of Gynaecology in its associated university. She is also board member of the Argentine Society of Reproductive Medicine (SAMER) and member of the Cochrane Collaboration Menstrual Disorders and Subfertility Group. She is Director of several postgraduate courses and fellowships, and author of different scientific studies and book chapters in general gynaecology and human reproduction.
Satish K. Adiga is Professor and Head of the ART Laboratory and Centre for Fertility Preservation at Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal India. His research interests are fertility preservation, preimplantation biology and non-invasive gamete and embryo selection.
Dr. Gomez-Lobo is an obstetrician gynecologist who specializes in pediatric and adolescent gynecology. After receiving her Doctor of Medicine Degree from Georgetown University, she completed her internship at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and residency at Tufts University. Prior to her recruitment to NICHD, Dr. Gomez-Lobo was the Director and Fellowship Director of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology and Professor of Ob/Gyn at Georgetown University and provided care at MedStar Washington Hospital Center (MWHC), Children’s National Medical Center and MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. She started the fourth pediatric and adolescent gynecology fellowship in North America and served as President of the North American Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology in 20016-2017. She currently serves as Associate Editor of the Journal of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology, as well as chair of the Oncofertility Pediatric Interest Network Research Sub-Committee. She is the site PI for the Disorders of Sex Development-Translational Research Network at Children’s National Medical Center. She has published and lectured extensively regarding the issues in the field of pediatric gynecology, as well as obstetrics and gynecology issues in transplant recipients.
She currently serves as Senior Clinician and Director of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology (PAG) Program within NICHD. Her areas of focus include fertility preservation, differences in sex development and congenital anomalies of the reproductive tract.
Associate Professor Karla Hutt is an ARC Future Fellow at Monash University. She obtained her PhD from the Australian National University in 2006, where her studies focussed on understanding ovarian development. She then undertook her postdoctoral studies at the University of Kansas Medical Center (USA), investigating the impact of environmental toxicants on oocyte and embryo quality. In 2008 she returned to Australia to join Prince Henry’s Institute. She subsequently joined the Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology at Monash University in 2015, where she leads the Ovarian Biology Laboratory. Her lab investigates the biological, cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the loss of oocyte number and quality during reproductive aging, cancer treatment and infection, with the goal of using these insights to develop innovative strategies to protect the ovary from damage and preserve optimal fertility. Her research is supported by grants and fellowships from the ARC, NHMRC and NBCF.
Gynecologist, Member of the first MS-RSM cohort in CRS who conducted research with Dr. Mary Ellen Pavone, MD. Joining our community from Uruguay, Dana conducted her thesis work on "Assessing the impact of delayed blastulation using time lapse morphokinetics and preimplantation genetic testing in an IVF patient population". Currently, she is supporting her own research questions in Oncofertility in ovarian tissue vitrification to preserve fertility in collaboration with institutions in Uruguay and with CRS partners at Northwestern. At the same time providing Oncofertility assessment in multiple institutions of her country.
Leena Nahata, M.D. is an Associate Professor of Clinical Pediatrics at The Ohio State University, board-certified pediatric endocrinologist at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, and the founder and Medical Director of the Fertility and Reproductive Health Program at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. As an NIH-funded Principal Investigator in the Center for Biobehavioral Health at the Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, she is conducting several clinical research studies to examine outcomes and predictors of fertility preservation utilization in pediatric populations at risk for infertility, including youth with cancer, differences of sex development, and gender dysphoria. She is a member of the Children’s Oncology Group and PanCareLIFE male fertility preservation task forces, and the Reproductive Health chapter lead for the World Professional Association for Transgender Health Standards of Care Version 8.
Dr. Mary Ellen Pavone is an Associate Professor in the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility within the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. She completed her fellowship training in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at Northwestern. She has experience performing clinical, translational and basic science research. She also serves as the medical director of IVF. Her research interests include fertility preservation, improving surgical outcomes in infertility patients, optimizing IVF outcomes and recurrent pregnancy loss.
Dr. Quinn is the Livia Wan Endowed Chair and Vice Chair of Research in the Department of OB-GYN and Professor in Population Health and the Division of Medical Ethics in the New York University Grossman School of Medicine. She is a member of the NYU faculty senate and chairs the APT committee. Her research focuses on patient-provider communication primarily in reproductive health and cancer in adolescent and young adults, LGBTQ health issues, uptake of genetic technologies, clinical trials and access to care for minority and underserved populations. Prior to joining NYU in 2017, she was at Moffitt Cancer Center and the University of South Florida for 17 years. She is the author of over 300 peer reviewed papers and book chapters and has received more than 10 million dollars in federal and foundation grant funding.
Mitchell P. Rosen, MD is a Professor at University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) in the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences and is founding director of the fertility preservation program. He holds board certification in both Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. He is director of the department’s reproductive laboratory and holds high complexity lab director (HCLD) certification. His dual expertise in clinical and laboratory medicine lends unique perspective to his practice as well as his research. His career interests have been to optimize ovarian stimulation protocols and improve fertility preservation outcomes. His research has had a significant contribution to the field in both infertility and fertility preservation. His work has led to numerous publications in multiple journals, textbook chapters and invited lectures.
Dr. Rosen received his medical training at St. Louis University and completed his residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Texas Medical Branch. He subsequently received his subspecialty training in reproductive endocrinology and infertility as well as embryology at UCSF.
Stacy Whiteside APRN, MS, CPNP-AC/PC, CPON received both her undergraduate and graduate degrees in nursing from the Ohio State University. She has spent her entire nursing career in the Hematology/Oncology/BMT/Apheresis department at Nationwide Children's Hospital. Stacy has been a passionate advocate for adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with cancer for many years, most recently focusing on the reproductive health of children and AYAs after cancer. On the national level, she serves as the nursing representative to the Children's Oncology Group AYA Committee, and is the chair of the patient navigation committee of the Oncofertility Consortium Pediatric Initiative Network. As a founding member of the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Fertility and Reproductive Health program, Stacy currently serves as the fertility patient navigator providing counseling and fertility preservation options for all patients with medical conditions or treatments that may impact their future fertility and reproductive health.
Kristin Smith, the Program Manager for Fertility Preservation, consults with all young, newly diagnosed oncology patients at Northwestern’s Lurie Cancer Center to help each patient understand their individual fertility risk associated with treatment as well as options for fertility preservation. She works extensively with young adult oncology survivors to help each patient explore their unique family building options and reproductive health post treatment. Kristin helps run the Oncofertility Professional Engagement Network (OPEN) of the Oncofertility Consortium by providing support across the world to providers who participate the network and also answers the national fertility hotline and email to triage patients for fertility preservation across the United States.
Dr Chris Venter completed his pre-and post-graduate studies at the University of Pretoria 1994 and 2002 respectively. After qualifying he did a preceptorship in Endoscopic Surgery at Leuven University in Belgium, under the mentorship of Prof Phillippe Koninckx. He practiced for 12 years as general Obstetrician in the private sector, before deciding to sub-specialize in Reproductive Medicine. He completed his Fellowship Training at the University of Stellenbosch under the mentorship of Prof Thinus Kruger. During this period, his Research was aimed at looking at the role of pre-genetic screening in embryo selection. He joined the Vitalab Reproductive Centre in 2013. He specializes in all aspects of infertility care. His clinical interest is Recurrent Implantation Failure and the role that Endometrial Receptivity plays. He is an Associated Lecturer at the University of the Orange Free State, serves on both the editorial board of the Endocrinology International Journal and SASREG executive board, since 2014. His personal interest is in raising awareness for Oncofertility in South Africa.
Teresa K. Woodruff, Ph.D., is Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs at Michigan State University. She is an MSU Foundation Professor in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Biology, and the Department of Biomedical Engineering.
Woodruff is an internationally recognized expert in ovarian biology and reproductive science. In 2006, she coined the term “oncofertility” to describe the merging of two fields: oncology and fertility. In addition, she championed the new National Institutes of Health (NIH) policy mandating the use of females in fundamental research.
As a leading research scientist, Woodruff was awarded the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science Mentoring by President Obama in an oval office ceremony in 2011. Most recently, Woodruff was a recipient of the Endocrine Society’s 2021 Laureate Award, a top honor that recognizes the highest achievements in the field of endocrinology. She holds 13 U.S. Patents and is an elected fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2020), the National Academy of Medicine (2018), the National Academy of Inventors (2018), the American Institute for Medical and Biomedical Engineers (2017), and the American Association for the Advancement of Science (2006).
Dr. Shuo Xiao is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Ernest School of Pharmacy, Rutgers University. Dr. Xiao received his medical degree in Preventive Medicine and Master in Nutrition and Food Toxicology from Peking University Health Science Center in China. He earned his PhD in Toxicology from Dr. Xiaoqin Ye’s lab at the University of Georgia (UGA) in 2013. He completed his postdoctoral training in 2016 in Dr. Teresa Woodruff’s lab at Northwestern University. Dr. Xiao started his independent faculty position as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Environmental Health Sciences at the University of South Carolina in 2017. In the summer of 2020, he moved to Rutgers University. Dr. Xiao’s research is focused on the mechanisms by which environmental chemicals and clinical drugs induce female ovarian toxicities and infertility, and also how to use multiple cutting-edge technologies such as the 3D in vitro ovarian tissue culture and microfluidics to establish a high-throughput platform for the ovarian toxicity screening and novel contraceptive discovery.
Dr. Zelinski received her B.S. degree from the University of Wisconsin, and her M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from Oregon State University in Animal Reproduction and Biochemistry. She was a post-doctoral fellow at the Oregon National Primate Research Center where she subsequently initiated her career as an independent investigator. Dr. Zelinski is currently Professor in the Division of Reproductive & Developmental Sciences at the Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR and in the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR.
Her research is centered on understanding the basic mechanisms underlying the development and function of primate ovarian follicles with the goal of applying this knowledge through translational research in important areas of women’s reproductive health. She has 30 years of experience using nonhuman primate models of infertility and contraception that include pioneering research in development of assisted reproductive technologies in macaques, ovarian-based female contraceptives and ovarian aging. Her current research interests are focused on investigating ovarian tissue cryopreservation, 3-dimensional culture of macaque preantral follicles and ferto-protective agents as options for female fertility preservation that have included collaborative efforts within the Oncofertility Consortium.
She has received continuous funding from the NIH since 1998. She was a recipient of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine Program Prize paper four times, and was a finalist with her colleagues an additional 4 times, which testifies to the importance of the nonhuman primate model for women’s reproductive research. She has been an invited speaker at many national and international meetings, has numerous manuscripts in peer-reviewed journals, and served as Secretary, Program Chair and on the Board of Directors of the Society for the Study of Reproduction from which she received the Distinguished Service Award in 2014. She was recently selected in 2021 as a co-Editor-in-Chief of Biology of Reproduction. She is also passionate about bringing science to the public wherein she directs and participants in many educational outreach activities for adults, high school and middle school students.
Dr Anazodo trained in Paediatric and Adolescent Oncology in the United Kingdom and completed her training with a clinical fellowship in the Kids Cancer Centre at Sydney Children’s Hospital. During her training and fellowship Dr Anazodo completed a postgraduate diploma in Adolescent Oncology.
Dr Anazodo was appointed as Director of Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Cancer at Sydney Children’s and Prince of Wales Hospital in October 2010 and has subsequently developed a comprehensive AYA cancer service across both the paediatric and adult cancer centre. Her appointment across the paediatric and adult campus has also provided opportunities for clinical and research collaboration. Dr Anazodo has been part of the AYA national leadership group working with national and state partners to develop specialist Youth Cancer Services (YCS) across Australia providing vital treatment and support to young patients.
Dr Anazodo leads the Future Fertility research program on reproductive concerns of cancer patients and in addition to the medical and psychological studies she has been instrumental in the development of Medicare item numbers for public funding for oncofertility care in Australia and leads international work on oncofertility models of care and a global competency framework. Dr Anazodo is the chair for the Australian AYA fertility preservation group and guidelines group.
Professor Robert Gilchrist is a research scientist and a Senior Research Fellow of the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) of Australia. He is Director of Research of the School of Women’s and Children’s Heath, UNSW and Head of Research of the Fertility & Research Centre (Royal Hospital for Women/UNSW), and is a Fellow of the Society for Reproductive Biology. He has had a range of associations with the IVF sector spanning 20+ years, including as Scientific Advisory Board member and/or consultant to; City Fertility, IVF Australia, CooperSurgical, Repromed, Fertility SA, Cook Medical, NZ Ministry of Health and the ARC Centre of Excellent in Biotechnology and Development.
Professor Gilchrist is a reproductive biologist whose research encompasses basic and applied aspects of ovarian folliculogenesis, oocyte maturation and preimplantation embryo development. He heads the Oocyte Biology Research Group at the UNSW. He conducts discovery research on oocyte-somatic cell interactions as a determinant of subsequent embryonic development. He has made important scientific contributions demonstrating that oocyte paracrine signalling determines cumulus cell differentiation and function. Dr Gilchrist also studies new biomarkers of oocyte quality. In addition, he manages an applied research program with the objectives of improving oocyte in vitro maturation (IVM) technologies in animals and women. One of his IVM inventions is now used clinically and a number are undergoing clinical evaluation. He has published 134 peer-reviewed papers including 23 reviews/chapters. He currently has an H-index of 47 with >6,900 citations [Scopus].
Kara Goldman MD is a board-certified reproductive endocrinologist and assistant professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Northwestern Medicine. She completed residency at Northwestern University followed by fellowship training in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at New York University, where she joined the faculty until returning to Northwestern as Medical Director of Fertility Preservation. She was recently elected Vice Chair of the ASRM Fertility Preservation Special Interest Group (FPSIG) and serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics. Dr. Goldman's research focuses on fertility preservation and the role of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway in physiologic and iatrogenic ovarian aging, and her work has been twice nominated and once awarded the ASRM Scientific Program Prize Paper Award and was awarded the ASRM FPSIG Prize Paper Award. She is actively engaged in advocacy efforts and serves on the medical advisory board of the charitable foundation Team Maggie's Dream, providing resources and financial support for patients requiring urgent fertility preservation. She is committed to improving education and awareness surrounding both iatrogenic and physiologic ovarian aging and improving access to fertility preservation.
She is especially skilled at treating reproductive diseases by minimally invasive surgery and invents a serious of novel minimally invasive technique for female fertility preservation. Dedicated to fundamental and clinical research on female fertility preservation, she pioneers in carrying out ovarian tissue cryopreservation and oocyte cryopreservation. As founder of the Premature Ovarian Failure Center and director of the first Fertility Preservation Center in China, she has rich experience in diagnosis and treatment of POI and elderly patients demanding pregnancy. In 2016, her team is the first to achieve healthy live birth from a polycystic kidney family by MALBAC-PGD. In 2019, her team achieved the first healthy live birth by ovarian tissue cryopreservation and transplantation in China.
Dr. Orwig is a Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. He is also the director of the Fertility Preservation Program and the Center for Reproduction and Transplantation at Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC. Research in the Orwig laboratory focuses on stem cells, germ lineage development, fertility and infertility. Our progress investigating reproductive function in fertile individuals provides a basis for understanding the mechanisms of infertility caused by disease, medical treatments, genetic defects or aging. Infertility impacts one in seven couples in the United States and can have a devastating impact on relationships, emotional well-being and overall health. The Orwig lab is ideally located in Magee-Womens Research Institute and Magee-Womens Hospital of the University of Pittsburgh and is committed to translating lab bench discoveries to the clinic for diagnosis, prevention and treatment of infertility.
Fertility Preservation Program in Pittsburgh http://www.fertilitypreservationpittsburgh.org
Orwig Research Group http://www.orwiglab.org
Dr. Leslie Appiah is an Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at The University of Colorado School of Medicine and Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology at Children’s Hospital Colorado. She serves as Division Chief of General Obstetrics and Gynecology in the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Director of the Fertility Preservation and Reproductive Late Effects program at the University of Colorado Cancer Center and Children’s Hospital Colorado Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders. Dr. Appiah attended medical school at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School and completed residency at Sinai Medical Center in Baltimore, MD. She subsequently completed a research fellowship in reproductive genetics and clinical fellowship in pediatric and adolescent gynecology at Texas Children’s Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine. Dr. Appiah is a recent Clinical Reproductive Scientist Training Scholar through the National Institutes of Child Health and Disease and the American Society for Reproductive Medicine.
Dr. Appiah is well-published and speaks extensively in the United States and internationally. She holds several national committee chair positions in reproductive medicine. She is co-founder of the Pediatric Initiative Network of the Oncofertility Consortium where she served as chair for 5 years and is currently chair of the Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Reproductive Late Effects Committee of the Oncofertility Consortium. She also has the privilege of serving on the Children’s Oncology Group Long-Term Follow-up Guidelines Ovarian Endocrine Task Force. Dr. Appiah’s clinical and research interests include fertility preservation in pediatric, adolescent and young adult (AYA) patients with cancer, reproductive late effects in cancer survivorship, and hormone replacement therapy in the medically complex patient. She is passionate about her work and believes her role as a provider is to support patients through their medical journey with compassion, expertise and dedication.
Lauren is the Program Administrator for the Center for Reproductive Science at Northwestern University. Lauren graduated from the University of Southern California in 2008 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Business Administration and went on to complete a Masters in Public Policy and Administration from Northwestern University. In 2011, Lauren joined Dr. Teresa Woodruff's team and has worked closely with Dr. Woodruff and Dr. Francesca Duncan in a variety of capacities since then. Prior to her role with CRS, Lauren worked as the Research Project Manager for Oncofertility Consortium (OC) from 2014-2020 and provided programmatic support for the OC’s administrative activities, which also included comprehensive grant and research administration support. During this time, Lauren also organized the annual Oncofertility Consortium Conference and handled all aspects of the event including fundraising and development. She also managed the Oncofertility Professional Engagement Network (OPEN), a community of oncofertility professionals from around the globe who share resources, best practices, methodologies, and experiences. She has a number of publications resulting from her work with the Oncofertility Consortium and OPEN. Lauren now oversees CRS’s grant, development, and promotion portfolio. She is actively looking for ways to support CRS through grants, industry, and other support mechanisms. Lauren’s work promotes CRS programs to all relevant stakeholders and helps CRS sustain valuable research efforts in the reproductive health sciences community.
Medical Oncologist, Urologic Oncology, Global Oncology
- 2007 Graduated with Honors for Medical School. Universidad Panamericana.
- 2012 Internal Medicine Degree. Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán.
- 2015 Medical Oncology Degree. Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán.
- 2015 Fellow at the Genitourinary Cancers Program, University of Colorado, EUA.
- 2017 Masters Degree in Science, graduated with Honors, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM)
- 2017 JCO Global Oncology ASCO Fellowship.
- Associate Professor of Medical Oncology. Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán / UNAM.
- Course Director of Genitourinary Oncology Fellowship, UNAM. 2017-2021.
- Mentor at ASCO´s Women´s Networking Center 2016-2020
- Member of the 2018 ASCO´s Global Oncology Taskforce.
- Ambassador of the Oncofertility Consortium in México 2018-2021
- Faculty of the European School of Oncology 2018-2021.
- National Researcher title in Mexico. (SNI).
- 2018-2019 Chief of the Genitourinary Cancer Section Cooperative Group. Mexican Society of Medical Oncology.
Dr. Duncan earned her doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania and completed a post-doctoral fellowship at Northwestern University. She is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the Co-Director of the Center for Reproductive Science at Northwestern University. She leads an independent laboratory focused on understanding the cellular mechanisms of how aging – both physiologic and iatrogenic - impacts reproductive potential at the levels of the gamete and ovary. Dr. Duncan is an active member of the Oncofertility Consortium – an international group committed to exploring and expanding the fertility preservation options for those with fertility-threatening conditions. She served as the Oncofertilty Consortium’s Basic Science Subgroup Leader and was part of the research team of the Center for Reproductive Health After Disease. Since 2009, she has co-authored >30 publications on fertility preservation-related topics including ovarian tissue transport, in vitro follicle growth, ovarian bioprosthetics, and non-invasive markers of egg quality. She co-authored the first chapter on Fertility Preservation in the revered medical textbook: Yen and Jaffe’s Reproductive Endocrinology. She is the recipient of several honors and awards, including a 2017 Fulbright fellowship and the 2019 Society for the Study of Reproduction Virendra B. Mahesh New Investigator award.
Dr. Greenblatt is the former Head of both the Mount Sinai Hospital Division of Reproductive Sciences and the Clinical Director of Mount Sinai Fertility and IVF (1990-2000). She is a Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Toronto. Dr. Greenblatt completed her medical school (McGill University) and Obstetrics/ Gynaecology Residency (University of Western Ontario) in Canada. Funded by the Medical Research Council of Canada, she pursued fellowship training in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at the University of California, San Francisco and in 1990, Dr. Greenblatt joined the Faculty of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Toronto. Dr. Greenblatt is a fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Canada (Ob/Gyn) as well the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ABOG). She is a Founder of the GREI program, Royal College of Surgeons of Canada. Dr. Greenblatt is a previous board member of Fertile Future, as well as a member of the Fertility Preservation Program for both the Hospital for Sick Children as well as the Princess Margaret Hospital Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) program.
Dr. Greenblatt’s main clinical and research interests focus on:
· Fertility Preservation.
· Improving outcomes from assisted
reproductive technologies (ART’s)
Joshua Halpern is a urologist and assistant professor at Northwestern Medicine who specializes in Male Fertility and Sexual Function. After completing his medical studies and urologic training at Weill Cornell / New York Presbyterian Hospital in New York City, he went on to complete fellowship training in Andrology and Male Infertility at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, where he is now on faculty. Dr. Halpern also completed a Masters in Health Policy and Economics at Weill Cornell Medicine, and his research focuses on improvement in the delivery and outcomes of care for men with infertility.
Dr. Kazuhiro Kawamura is Director of Advanced Reproductive Medicine Research Center of International University Health and Welfare School of Medicine. He is also professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology of InternationalUniversity of Health and Welfare School of Medicine. He received his medical and philosophy degrees from the Akita University School of Medicine. His OB/GYN and Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility training was at the Akita University School of Medicine. He was also a Postdoctoral Fellow at Stanford University School of Medicine with Dr. Aaron JW Hsueh. In addition to teaching and clinical practice, he has published over 150 original articles in ovarian physiology and Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. He collaborated with Dr. Hsueh to establish an in vitro activation (IVA) method to treat infertility in patients with primary ovarian insufficiency (premature ovarian failure) and achieved successful pregnancies/deliveries. Now, he is expandingthe IVA treatment and studying to improve the clinical outcome of IVA using different approaches.
Dr. Kristensen isa biologistwith a PhD in reproductive biology. Herprimary area of interestisfertility preservationin girls and young women, and she haveextensive experience with cryopreservation of human ovarian tissue being part of the Danish Fertility Preservation Program for the last 10 years.Current positions include basic science officer in the ESHRE SIG on Fertility Preservation, Associate Editor on Human Reproduction, and Executive Board member of ReproUnion. She has organized and lectured over 20workshops on ovarian tissue cryopreservationthe last 10 years.Dr. Kristensen’sresearch isfocused on human follicle development and the regulatory mechanisms underlying early folliculogenesiswith a special interest in members of the TGF-beta signaling pathway, but it also includes development of 3D culture systems for isolated preantralfollicles, and optimizing follicle survival in transplanted frozen-thawed ovarian tissue.
Dr. Rowellisan attending pediatric surgeon at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicagoand is an Associate Professor of Surgery at the Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine. She is the Medical Director of the Fertility and Hormone Preservation and Restoration Program at Lurie Children’sand Co-Director for Pediatric Surgery for the Chicago Institute for Fetal Health.Her clinical interests include surgery for pediatric ovarian and testicular tissue removal forcryopreservation, and surgery for congenital anomalies of the abdomen and chest. She is a member of the Ethics Advisory Board at Lurie Children’sand teaches the Surgical Ethics course for 3rdyear medical students. Her research focuses on surgical technique and tissue processing for tissue cryopreservation, particularly for pre-pubertal pediatric patientsatrisk for infertility due to their medical diagnosis or treatment.
Rod is Professor of Developmental Endocrinology at the MRC Centre for Reproductive Health at the University of Edinburgh. He is also a Consultant Paediatric Endocrinologist at The Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh.
Rod is clinical and research lead for fertility preservation in prepubertal boys with cancer. His work combines the clinical service for gonadal tissue cryopreservation with research aimed at developing clinical strategies to protect or restore fertility in patients receiving sterilising therapies.
His research activities are focused on the role of the germ-stem cell niche in prepubertal testis development and function. His research group use in-vitro and transplantation approaches to model prepubertal testicular development in order to determine effects of exposure to chemotherapy on germ cells and to develop strategies to protect the testis from cancer treatments1,2. These models are also being applied to promoting germ cell differentiation in prepubertal testicular tissues obtained from boys prior to their treatment3,4.
Adjunct Assistant Professor and Consultant of Obstetrics & Gynecology
Prior to joining MSU as the Director of the Oncofertility Consortium in January 2021, Dr. Mahmoud Salama was an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology (OBGYN), at Northwestern University, USA (2018-2020).
Dr. Salama got his MBBCh of Human Medicine and Surgery (1995-2001), OBGYN residency program, OBGYN MSc (2003-2007), and OBGYN MD (2012-2014) from Cairo University, Egypt. Dr Salama worked for several years at the Reproductive Medicine Department, Medical Research Center of Excellence (MRCE), National Research Center of Egypt (NRC), Egypt. In addition, he earned the Executive Management Diploma (EMD) from School of Business and Economics, American University in Cairo (AUC), (2006-2007). In Austria, Dr. Salama earned his PhD from Medical University of Innsbruck (2008-2012) in the field of Gynecological Endocrinology, Reproductive Medicine and Oncofertility. Afterwards, he got the Master of Arts in Business (MA) in International Healthcare Management from Management Center Innsbruck (MCI), (2012-2014). In Germany, Dr. Salama spent part of his Oncofertility Professorship at OBGYN Department, Medical Faculty, Cologne University (2015-2018).
Throughout this journey, Dr. Salama published as a first author many articles, book chapters, books, conference papers, talks and presentations in Oncofertility on the international level in Europe and in the USA in collaboration with Prof. Teresa Woodruff, the Worldwide Pioneer in artificial ovary and ovarian follicle bioengineering, and the Founder of the Oncofertility Consortium, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University. Dr. Salama is also an Editorial, Advisory Board Member and Reviewer for OBGYN and Oncofertility at several international medical journals.
Fields of Interest
https://obgyn.msu.edu/research/adjunct-faculty/mahmoud-salama-md-phd
Richard Leach, M.D. received his medical degree from Wayne State University School of Medicine, and completed Residency training in Obstetrics and Gynecology at William Beaumont Hospital. He completed his Fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at the Mayo Clinic in 1990. Dr. Leach is Board Certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology with subspecialty certification in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. He is a Fellow in the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the American College of Surgeons and the American College of Clinical Endocrinologists. Dr. Leach serves on several national committees as an expert on in-vitro fertilization (IVF), including the Society of Assisted Reproductive Technologies. He is a national expert on early implantation, and his research is supported by the National Institute of Health to study how this can cause infertility. He is a recognized member of the Best Doctors in America for his contributions to the practice of IVF.
https://obgyn.msu.edu/research/research-faculty/richard-leach-md