Session 146: The Integration Game

Moderators: Irene Cuevas-Saiz, Dr Chelsey Leisinger and  Giles Palmer

Panellist: Matt Pettit

Presenters:
Alejandra Boix: Traceable Progress: The Integration of Technology in IVF Labs
A talk kindly sponsored by IMT Matcher

Dr Alejandro Chavez: Integration of new technologies in the Lab
A talk kindly sponsored by IVF2.0

Q and A

Synopsis:

"The Integration Game" webinar took place on Tuesday, February 11, 2025, and explored innovative solutions aimed at enhancing efficiency, improving outcomes, and elevating standards of care in reproductive medicine. The discussion focused on the integration of new technologies in IVF clinics, addressing key topics such as the adoption of emerging tools, trust and regulation of AI, the combination of AI technologies, and improvements in traceability through the use of KPIs and electronic witnessing.  

Moderated by renowned clinical embryologist Irene Cuevas-Saiz, Dr. Chelsey Leisinger, and Giles Palmer, the event featured panelist Matt Pettit. Presentations included *Traceable Progress: The Integration of Technology in IVF Labs* by embryologist Alejandra Boix and *Integration of New Technologies in the Lab* by Dr. Omar Paredes, a computer scientist and professor at the University of Guadalajara, who leads the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.  

The webinar sparked engaging discussions on the practical implementation of AI and digital advancements in IVF clinics, with speakers sharing insights on overcoming challenges related to adoption, data security, and regulatory compliance. Attendees gained a deeper understanding of how integrating these technologies can streamline workflows, enhance patient safety, and improve clinical outcomes. The session concluded with an interactive Q&A, allowing participants to engage directly with experts, seek clarification on key topics, and share their own experiences in the evolving landscape of reproductive medicine.

Irene Cuevas-Saiz:

Irene holds a Degree in Biology. MsC in human Reproduction and MsC in biotechnology of Reproduction. Doctoral Student in Obstetrics and Gynaecology. Senior Clinical Embryologist with more than 20 years of professional experience, certified by ASEBIR and ESHRE. Director of the embryology laboratory of the Hospital General Universitario of Valencia (Valencia, Spain). Professor in master’s degrees in Human Reproduction. She has several publications in national and international journals in the field. In the past, She was a Member of the Board of the Spanish Society of Fertility (SEF) and the President of the Standing Committee of the Embryology Interest Group of ASEBIR. Nowadays is the Coordinator of the Interest Group of Clinical Embryology of SEF,  Coordinator of the Registry Committee of SEF and Member of the Steering committee of the European IVF Monitoring (EIM, ESHRE). Since December of 2024 member of the board of Alpha and the EmCC of ESHRE. "She is co-founder and scientific advisor of Cercle, an AI company that extracts complex insights from fragmented, unstructured, and multimodal fertility clinic data. Cercle has raised financing from the likes of Sheryl Sandberg, signed multi-year contracts with global clinic networks, and built a BioMedical Graph with real-world data (RWD) from 2.5M+ patient journeys in fertility. Cercle is the only company in the industry that is combining the breadth of a clinic's real-world data (RWD) with custom LLM agents. This means clinics can ask the agent any data question in any language and get a real-time, 100% accurate response that is based on the clinic's proprietary data."

Giles Palmer:

Giles is a clinical embryologist, skilled in laboratory, business, and quality management. After graduating in Genetics at Leeds University, UK he worked as a research officer at London's Hammersmith Hospital's acclaimed IVF unit working with Professors Lord Winston and Alan Handyside. In the following years he worked as laboratory manager and clinic director in IVF clinics in Greece while consulting in several countries including Iceland, Nigeria, Albania, Bulgaria, and Romania. His research collaboration with St. Sophia' s Children's Hospital (Athens University) resulted in the first births in Greece following embryo-biopsy and pre-implantation genetic diagnosis and the first ever PGT cycles screening for Beta Thalassemia.

He has published in leading scientific journals on a variety of topics including pre-implantation genetic testing for Cystic Fibrosis and B-thalassaemia, Morpho-kinetics, Quality Management and laboratory technology. He is a certified HCPC clinical scientist in the UK and has been accredited with Senior Embryologist Status by ESHRE. More recently, Giles, has become a consultant for IVF clinics, Institute of Life, Athens and Nordica Fertility Centre in Lagos and product developer in a wide range of areas within the Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART) industry.

He is the executive director for the non-profit global educational project the International IVF Initiative (I3) which supports the ART community with webinars and lectures and Director of Global Communications for IVF 2.0 Ltd.

In his spare time, he spends with his family and perfecting playing the Toubeleki.

 

Dr. Chelsey Leisinger earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Iowa State University, and her Master’s degree at the Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine in reproductive physiology. She obtained her PhD in biomedical and veterinary medical sciences, with a focus on reproductive physiology, at Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine. Over the years she has worked with several domestic species including cattle, sheep, alpacas, and horses, before transitioning to human IVF. With more than 13 years of experience in the field of human IVF as an embryologist and laboratory director, Dr. Leisinger is currently part of CCRM Fertility as Vice President of Network Lab Compliance.

With six years of hands-on experience in human clinical labs across the UK and Spain, I have developed a deep understanding of the intricacies involved in clinical embryology. Currently, I channel this expertise as a Scientific Product Consultant at IMT Matcher, where I am dedicated to supporting fellow embryologists. My role involves ensuring that every step of their work is conducted with the highest standards of safety and quality control. I am passionate about providing the tools and knowledge necessary for embryologists to achieve success in their critical work. By fostering a culture of precision and care, I aim to contribute to advancements in the field and support the creation of healthy, successful outcomes in embryology. My commitment to excellence and continuous improvement drives me to stay updated with the latest developments and best practices in the field.