Session 158: Day Ones
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Session 158: Day Ones: the first 24 hours
Tuesday 15th July 3pm ET, 8pm BST, 9pm CET
A webinar kindly sponsored by Thermo Fisher Scientific
Moderators:
Dr. Berthe Youness
Dr. Balsam Al-Hashimi
Prof. Darren Griffin
Presenters:
Dr. Cengiz Cinnioglu: Unlikely Beginnings: PGT Insights from 0PN and 1PN Blastocyst
Dr. Anil Biricik: A SNP in Time: Genotyping Dubiously Fertilized Embryos
Dr. George Liperis: First Moves
Round table discussion and Q and A
Synopsis
TBA
REGISTRATION
Dr. Berthe Youness
Dr. Berthe Youness holds a PhD in molecular reproductive biology from Heidelberg University, where her thesis, titled “Molecular Genetic Analysis of Functional FMR1/FMRP Expression on Human Folliculogenesis and Ovarian Reserve,” aimed to investigate various possible mechanisms involved in FMR1 gene epigenetic expression control in human granulosa cells.
Following the completion of her PhD, Dr. Youness transitioned to a sales-focused role as an account manager in the bioscience division of Thermo Fisher Scientific, where she developed strong expertise in client relations and business development.
Currently, Dr. Youness serves as the EMEA Market Development Manager for the reproductive health portfolio at Thermo Fisher Scientific, where she drives the EMEA marketing strategy and supports visionary life science organizations in expanding their lab genetic testing capabilities.
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Dr. Balsam Al-Hashimi
Balsam Al-Hashimi is a highly accomplished Clinical Embryologist and registered Clinical Scientist, certified by both the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and the Canadian Fertility and Andrology Society (CFAS). She holds a Master’s in Clinical Embryology from the University of Leeds and is currently pursuing a PhD in Reproductive Genetics at University College London (UCL). Balsam serves as Deputy Laboratory Manager and Lead Embryologist in Genetics at the London Women’s Clinic (LWC), where she plays a central role in advancing reproductive science and supporting innovative clinical practice. In addition to her clinical responsibilities, she is an Officer Trainer for the Scientist Training Program (STP) in collaboration with the Association of Clinical Embryologists (ACE), mentoring the next generation of embryologists. Passionate about both science and education, Balsam continues to contribute to the field through her leadership, academic research, and dedication to professional development.
Prof. Darren Griffin
Professor Darren Griffin received his BSc and DSc degrees from the University of Manchester and his PhD from University College London. After postdoctoral stints at Case Western Reserve University and the University of Cambridge he landed his first academic post at Brunel University, before joining the University of Kent. He was Professor of Genetics for over 20 years before assuming the same title in an honorary capacity this year. He holds honorary positions at University College London, the Royal Veterinary College and Kasetsart University. He now operates as a freelance professor sitting on the advisory boards of several companies.
He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists, the Royal Society of Biology and the Royal Society of Arts and is President of the International Chromosome and Genome Society.
A world leader in cytogenetics, he performed the first successful cytogenetic preimplantation genetic diagnosis and played a significant role in the development of Karyomapping, a universal genetic diagnostic test for IVF embryos. He has co-authored nearly 400 scientific publications, mainly on the cytogenetics of reproduction and evolution, recently providing insight into the karyotypes of dinosaurs.
He is a prolific science communicator, a part time TV presenter and an enthusiastic proponent of interdisciplinary research endeavour. He has supervised around 50 PhD students to completion and his work appears consistently in the media. He ran a vibrant research group including a programme of externally supervised students and maintains commercial interests relating to the outcomes of research findings.
Dr. Cengiz Cinnioglu
Dr. Cinnioglu then joined a pioneering research group led by world-renowned geneticist Dr. Luca-Cavalli Sforza in tracking the genetic history of mankind at Stanford University in the Human Population Genetics Laboratory.
He has numerous peer-reviewed publications in respected scientific journals including Nature, American Journal Human Genetic, Human Genetics, Fertility and Sterility, and has presented at many national and international conferences. Dr. Cinnioglu has a Laboratory Director License for Genetic Testing (Microarray for PGT-A), Cytogenetics, Andrology, and Parentage/Identity testing from the New York State Department of Health. He is a member of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, and The Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis International Society.
Dr. Anil Biricik
Dr. Anıl Biricik received his bachelor's degree and master’s degree in medical biology and genetics. He received his PhD from Sapienza University of Rome in 2011 with his work on genetics of endometriosis. Dr. Biricik has published more than thirty peer-reviewed articles as author and co-author in molecular biology and reproductive genetics field. He is a member of ESHRE, PGDIS and GenQA special advisory group. He is currently scientific director of the IVF-PGT business unit at Eurofins Genoma Group Italia and his main research areas are the genetics of female and male infertility, and novel application methods in pre-implantation genetic testing.
Dr. George Liperis
George Liperis is a consultant Embryologist. He is certified by ESHRE as Senior Clinical Embryologist and practices Clinical Embryology as the Founder and Scientific Director of Embryorigin Fertility Centre, combining research and teaching through his Senior Lecturer affiliation with the University of Sydney. His research interests consist of the development of improved methods of assisted conception. He is a member of the Editorial boards of ESHRE journal club and Focus of Reproduction, an Associate Editor of Human Reproduction and Reproduction and Fertility journals and an ESHRE appointed assessor of ART Centre Certification for good clinical practice and part of the steering committee of training centres in clinical Embryology. He has book chapters and dozens of publications in highly ranked peer reviewed reproductive medicine journals and has been invited to deliver workshops and present in several international conferences worldwide.
