Session 108: EMBRIOLOGIA! LATIN AMERICA SPECIAL
Tuesday, 13th Dec 2022, 3pm EST LIVE, 8pm UK, 9pm CET
This session is kindly sponsored by ZyMōt Fertility
For further information on the sponsor please visit ZyMōt Fertility
Synopsis:
Description: International IVF Initiative(I3)- Online Session 108: EMBRIOLOGIA! LATIN AMERICA SPECIAL
Tuesday, 13th Dec 2022, 3pm EST LIVE, 8pm UK, 9pm CET [103 mins]
Course outline/synopsis:
The webinar celebrated over 30 years of the assisted reproduction register in the region and included moderators, panelists and speakers who contributed to this rich legacy of work to develop ART in Latin America such as Dr. Javier Crosby, Dr. Klaus Wiemer and Dr. Richard Rawlins.
An introductory presentation by Prof. Fernando Zegers ( founder of the Latin American Network of Assisted Reproduction (REDLARA) and Chairman of the Latin American Registry of ART. Co-founder and Vicechair of the International Committee for Monitoring ART, ICMART, highlighted the Latin America registry of ART and illustrated regional trends and discussed the use of Big Data in reproductive decisions.
Dr João Henrique Moreira Viana (member and former president of the Brazilian Embryo Technology Society) informed the audience of the extensive research and development of the Embryo industry in farm animals giving insights from South America and across the globe.
Finally, a working clinical embryologist Dr. Bruna Martins described the profession of Clinical Embryology in Latin America talking about the volume of IVF cycles, demands, education and research conducted in the region.
The session concluded with an extensive Questions and Answers section that invited questions from the audience to participate which including all presenters and moderators discussing all aspects of the talks, research and the heritage of science in Latin America.
Moderators:
Dr. Javier Crosby, Dr. Klaus Wiemer and Dr. Bruna Martins
Panelists:
Dr. Richard Rawlins
Presentations:
Prof. Fernando Zegers “32 years of the Latin America registry of ART. Regional
trends and the use of Big Data in reproductive decisions”
Dr João Henrique Moreira Viana “Embryo industry in farm animals: insights from
South America”
Dr. Bruna Martins “Clinical Embryology in Latin America”
Panel discussion and Q and A.
DR. JAVIER CROSBY
Javier Crosby is for the last 15 years head of the IVF Laboratory of the Reproductive Medicine Unit of Clinica Las Condes in Santiago, Chile. He received his bachelor grade in Biological Science from the San Marcos Mayor National University in Lima, Perú and after that his doctoral grade in Cellular and Molecular Biology from the University of Chile in Santiago, Chile. He with other South American embryologist and clinicians organized the Accreditation Program of REDLARA. He was the second Director of this Accreditation Committee and still is member of this committee. He was invited in 2010 to participate in the Latin American Registry of REDLARA and helped designed the case-by-case registry. He is now the Sub-director of this registry, that has published for more than 30 years the annual report of this region.
DR. KLAUS WIEMER
Dr. Wiemer has extensive experience in all aspects of clinical embryology. Dr Wiemer has over 40 years of experience directing IVF Laboratories and has been an off-site
director of several fertility clinics. Dr Wiemer has published over 80 peer-reviewed
articles and book chapters in clinical embryology. He has received numerous awards for
his research, including the Overall Grand Prize awarded by the American Society for
Reproductive Medicine as well as LIFE Award for Laboratory Innovation in Fertility and
Embryology.
His main interests are in embryo culture systems, improving laboratory outcomes and
studying the effects of follicular stimulations on subsequent oocyte and embryo quality.
He is currently conducting research on developing an embryo morphology grading
system that can be used to predict rate and quality of blastocyst development. He was a
founding partner of Poma Fertility and now is the Chief Scientific Officer for Future Life
a large network of IVF centers in Europe.
DR. RICHARD RAWLINS
Dr. Rawlins is a Professor Emeritus of Obstetrics and Gynecology and of Anatomy & Cell Biology at Rush Medical College. He received his Ph.D. in zoology from Michigan State University in 1984, specializing in the reproductive physiology and preimplantation embryology of nonhuman primates. He joined Rush University Medical Center in Chicago that same year and began development of the Center's In Vitro Fertilization Program. This program expanded to include three independent laboratory sites, each conducting 1) clinical andrology, 2) clinical embryology, and 3) clinical endocrinology at Rush Medical Center, Rush North Shore Hospital and at Rush Copley Medical Center, respectively. He also built out and directed the reproductive laboratories at Centro de Fertilidad del Caribe in San Juan, Puerto Rico and the Clarian North Fertility Center in Carmel, Indiana, and the Reproductive Medicine Institute, Oak Brook IL. The mainland clinics service the metropolitan and greater metropolitan areas of Chicago, downstate Illinois, southern Wisconsin, southern Michigan and all of Indiana. Through 2008, Dr. Rawlins supervised a staff of 12 technicians, at three facilities, completing approximately 1900 inseminations and 900 IVF cycles per year across all sites. Through 2012 he directed the laboratories of the Reproductive Medicine Institute and the Rush Copley Center for Reproductive Health, completing more than 900 IVF cycles annually. He is also directed the laboratories for the Rush Copley Center for Reproductive Health in Aurora, IL. He remains engaged in conducting reproductive research at the Caribbean Primate Research Center, University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine in San Juan, PR.
In conjunction with clinical responsibilities, Dr. Rawlins is an active academic. He lectures on reproductive anatomy, physiology and histology to medical students, has participated in the Division of Cell Biology in the Rush Graduate College, trained clinical fellows in the ABOG approved clinical Fellowship Program for Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at Rush and lectured to the residents on reproductive endocrinology and statistics. Dr. Rawlins has also trained 68 clinicians and biologists in IVF/ART and he has established more than 15 IVF/ART programs globally, including sites in Germany, Poland, Brasil, Chile, Paraguay, Puerto Rico, Taiwan, Indonesia and the Phillippines.
Dr. Rawlins has authored over 90 peer reviewed papers, 160 published abstracts and three books. His research in preimplantation embryology has received numerous awards, including 1st Prize at the X1th World IVF Congress held in Vienna Austria, 1995 for demonstration of programmed cell death, apoptosis, in early embryonic development. Dr. Rawlins has been funded by both intramural and extramural grants. Dr. Rawlins has been an active NIH reviewer, participating in three different study sections. He has served on the editorial boards of the Journal of IVF and Genetics and the Journal of Clinical Embryology. Dr. Rawlins has served on the scientific advisory boards for the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, Puerto Rico, Irvine Scientific Company, California, GEMA Diagnostics Corporation, Michigan, Celmatix, Inc., New York and Reproductive Solutions, Inc., Dallas TX.
Rawlins is the past President of the Chicago Association of Reproductive Endocrinologists, the Rush Sigma Xi Chapter for Scientific Research, the American Society of Primatologists, the Reproductive Biology Professional Group of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine, the College of Reproductive Biology of the American Association of Bioanalysts, and the American Association of Bioanalysts. He has been actively involved in development of accreditation standards for clinical IVF laboratories through his work on the Executive Committee of the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART), and through the American Association of Bioanalysts (AAB). He helped establish the national review courses held for IVF/ART laboratory directors and supervisors by the AAB and was its 2006 President. He is now also Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors for the American Board of Bioanalysis (ABB) and its Board of Registry (ABB). Dr. Rawlins is an active lobbyist in the United States Congress on behalf of the AAB and its certified laboratory directors. Dr. Rawlins is a Board Certified High Complexity Lab Director (ABB) and Embryo Laboratory Director (ABB). He is also a certified laboratory inspector for the College of American Pathologists (CAP) and the past Chairman of the first Laboratory Technical Advisory Committee established for JCAHO (now TJC). In 2009, Dr. Rawlins received the prestigious Lucien Dean Hertert award from the American Association of Bioanalysts in recognition of his work in developing the ABB certification programs for andrologists and embryologists and for his work in helping to establish its College of Reproductive Biology.
Dr. Rawlins is an internationally recognized speaker. He has worked since 1988 to advance the RED Latino Americano de Reproduccion Assistida and ART throughout South America. Dr. Rawlins is frequently interviewed by the electronic and print media on assisted reproduction. He has appeared on ABC, NBC, CBS, PBS and Telemundo television nationally, NPR, ABC, CBS, NBC radio affiliates, and been quoted in print by the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun Times, the New York Times, Science Magazine and many others. Dr. Rawlins avocation is natural history photography. He has traveled widely and experienced many adventures in pursuit of new images. His work can be seen at www.rgrstockphoto.com and on Instagram @drivf2020.
DR. BRUNA MARTINS
PROF. FERNANDO ZEGERS-HOCHSCHILD
Founder of the Latin American Network of Assisted Reproduction (REDLARA) and Chairman of the Latin American Registry of ART. Co-founder and Vicechair of the International Committee for Monitoring ART (ICMART).
Served for 30 years in various scientific and ethic committees of the World Health Organization (WHO/HRP). Is honorary member of multiple international societies including the International Federation of Fertility Societies (IFFS). Corresponding member of the National Academy of Medicine of France and Doctor honoris causa by the University of Antofagasta, Chile.
Has authored more than 150 scientific articles including numerous book chapters in biomedical and ethical aspects of human reproduction. Also edited three books.