Session 143: Endgame
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Session 143: Endgame!
3pm ET/ 8pm UK/ 9pm CET, Tuesday 19th Nov 2024
Synopsis:
The webinar delved into the latest advancements in reproductive health, offering an in-depth exploration of topics that are shaping the field. Participants were introduced to groundbreaking insights into endometrial disorders, with Dr. Yorgos Nikas illustrating how scanning electron microscopy unveils critical aspects of these conditions that impact implantation. Dr. Laura Medina expanded on the discussion by examining the intricate role of the endometrial microbiota and its influence on the outcomes of assisted reproduction treatments.
The session also highlighted the transformative role of artificial intelligence in predicting implantation success, with Jullin Fjeldstad presenting the concept of "Endometrics," an innovative approach sponsored by Future Fertility. Moderated by Dr. Markella Mikkelsen, a geneticist, and Edel Rocher, an embryologist, the event featured engaging presentations and concluded with a lively Q&A session, allowing the audience to interact with the expert panel and add further depth to this enlightening discussion.
Moderators:
Dr. Markella Mikkelsen and Edel Rocher
Presenters:
Dr. Yorgos Nikas: Microcosmos: endometrial disorders affecting implantation revealed by scanning electron microscopy
Dr. Laura Medina: Endometrial microbiota: Effect on assisted reproduction treatments
A talk kindly sponsored by IGLS
Jullin Fjeldstad: Endometrics
A talk kindly sponsored by Future Fertility
Q and A
Dr. Markella Mikkelsen
Markella is a geneticist specializing in prenatal and preconception genetic testing. She is the founder of MolMart, a company that helps prospective parents understand and manage their personalized risk of having a child with a genetic disease using AI-enhanced technology. Choosing to know the risks early, at preconception stage, enables prospective parents to make informed decisions tailored to them. MolMart’s technology aims to bring a new dimension to family planning.
Edel Rocher
Edel Rocher is the Lab Director at ArtHope in Bucharest and a consultant embryologist for various clinics worldwide. With over nine years of experience as a Clinical Embryologist, she has combined her passion for learning from diverse Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) systems with the opportunity to experience different environments and cultures.
Her journey began in Italy, where she learned the fundamentals of Reproductive Science. She then pursued training in Clinical Embryology in Ireland, continuing her career in London, Australia, and several other clinics globally. These experiences have given her a broad perspective, enabling her to assist clinics in elevating their quality management to best practices.
In her commitment to improving lab standards worldwide, Rocher has also worked with an EWS company, further enhancing her expertise in ensuring patient safety and optimizing the quality systems in IVF laboratories.
Dr. Yorgos Nikas
Dr Yorgos Nikas, born in Athens, Greece, attained his medical degree and specialty in Obstetrics and Gynecology from the Athens University. He then did research on human reproduction for ten years at Le Kremlin Bicetre in Paris, Imperial College in London and Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm.
Currently he is Scientific Director of the "Athens Innovative Microscopy" and top expert in electron microscopy. His studies on pinopodes and uterine receptivity are of international reputation and his imagery appears in numerous scientific magazines and press worldwide.
Dr. Laura Medina
Laura is a senior researcher in the field of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology.
She got her PhD in Molecular Microbiology by the Autonomous University of Barcelona in 2012. During her PhD, she focused on the study of enteric microbial pathogens and their interaction with the human host.
In 2013 she joined the Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation of the University of Glasgow, Scotland. There, she set up a research line focused on genetic engineering, which allowed her to study how immune cells migrate and respond to infection and other forms of inflammation.
In 2021, she became a Research Scientist in IGLS. One of her primary research areas at IGLS focuses on the interaction between the endometrial microbiota and the endometrial immune system, and their individual and combined roles in women’s fertility and pregnancy.
Throughout her career, Laura has contributed to five research and development projects funded through competitive grants. Her work has led to over 30 scientific publications, including 14 research articles in peer-reviewed journals and 17 presentations at international conferences.
Jullin Fjeldstad
Jullin Fjeldstad began her fertility career at the Victoria Fertility Centre in 2007, quickly becoming a senior embryologist and successfully holding the position of laboratory director for several years. She has a BSc. in Biology from the University of Victoria, Canada and a MSc. in Clinical Embryology from the University of Leeds, UK; achieving distinction in both areas. She has always held a passion for innovative ART technologies aimed to improve the fertility journey and patient IVF outcomes. Today, Jullin is the Head of Clinical Embryology and Scientific Operations for Future Fertility. She works closely with partnering clinics to ensure smooth onboarding of innovative AI-based tools within their laboratories. Additionally, she oversees Future Fertility’s scientific project collaborations, bringing research findings to international fertility conferences.
