Session 163: Between Chance and Choice: The Art of Fertilization
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Session 163: Between Chance and Choice: The Art of Fertilization
Tuesday, 4th November, 3pm EST/8pm UK
Moderators:
This webinar is kindly sponsored by Nexpring Health
Moderators:
Xiao Zhang and Dr Antonio Alcaide Raya
Presenting:
Dr Meurig Gallagher: Sperm assessment accuracy and its importance for the type of fertilization method
Dr Catello Scarica: IVF Master
Dr Gemma Arroyo Cardona: ICSI Master
Q and A
Q and A
Synopsis
TBA
Xiao Zhang
Zhang Xiao is based in Singapore and began her career in reproductive medicine under Professor Ng Soon Chye, the pioneer behind Asia’s first IVF baby. With a strong foundation in andrology and embryology, she has extensive experience in areas spanning sperm preparation, fertilization techniques, and laboratory management. She has worked closely with IVF laboratories across the Asia-Pacific region, providing clinical education, technical training, and workflow support. In her current role as Clinical Science and Education Manager at Nexpring Health, Zhang Xiao focuses on advancing assisted reproductive technologies and promoting evidence-based practices in IVF. Passionate about bridging laboratory techniques with clinical outcomes, she is dedicated to fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange among professionals in reproductive science to improve overall treatment outcomes.
Dr Antonio Alcaide Raya
Dr. Antonio Alcaide Raya is a senior embryologist with more than 30 years of experience, an entrepreneur, and currently part of the Clinical Science and Education Department at Nexpring Health. He has worked as a clinical embryologist since 1993 and became certified as a Senior Embryologist through the Spanish Society of Reproductive Biology (ASEBIR) in 1999. Since 1996, he has served as a laboratory director and, from 1997, as a specialist in reproductive genetics. In 2005, he co-founded ReproFiv Infertility Clinic in Madrid. He is also a PGT and biopsy specialist and has been a collaborating professor for the Minimally Invasive Surgery Centre (CCMI), the Spanish Fertility Society (SEF), and Complutense University in Madrid. Dr. Alcaide Raya has extensive international experience as a freelance embryologist and geneticist in Abu Dhabi, Honduras, Portugal, Italy, and Spain. From April 2021 to June 2025, he was the EMEA Manager Technical Applications Scientist (TAS) at Fujifilm Irvine, and since June 2025, he has been Clinical Science and Education Manager at Nexpring Health.
Dr Meurig Gallagher:
Meurig is an Assistant Professor at the University of Birmingham, based in the Medical School’s Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research (IMSR), and is jointly appointed across IMSR, Mathematics, and Computer Science. In addition to this role, Meurig is Deputy-Director of ChRS and is the HFEA Research Personal Responsible for the University of Birmingham (Centre 0209). The main focus of Meurig’s research revolves around the creation and development of the package FAST (Flagellar Analysis and Sperm Tracking, www.flagellarcapture.com), a tool that enables rapid, affordable analysis of the moving flagellum of the sperm cell. FAST is deployed with international clinical collaborators to understand key questions surrounding the role sperm play in the outcomes of fertility treatment, as well as to understand more general aspects of sperm function across species.
Dr Catello Scarica
Dr Gemma Arroyo Cardona
Gemma Arroyo is Senior Embryologist with more than 20 years experienced in Assisted Reproduction Techniques.
She is co-manager of the IVF laboratory at University Hospital Dexeus Barcelona, Spain. Her main fields of interest are oocyte in vitro maturation, early stages of embryo development and embryo scoring, as well as the management, organization and development of the laboratory. She does teaching activity with lectures in many masters and universities since 2003.
She has been Senior deputy of the groups of interest in embryology of the scientific societies Association for the Study of the Reproductive Biology (ASEBIR) and the Spanish Society of Fertility (SEF). Currently, she is Immediate Past-Coordinator of the Special Interest Group of Embryology in European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) and member of the Executive Committee of the same society, where she continues her activity participating in the organization and lectures of many successful Courses and webinars, and participating actively in the publication of referenced papers and guidelines.
