Session 1: IVF in the Time of COVID-19
Donate
At the International IVF Initiative, we are committed to providing free access to our educational sessions, webinars, and resources for professionals and individuals passionate about advancing reproductive medicine. We believe that cost should never be a barrier to knowledge and collaboration. By contributing, you’re ensuring that valuable educational resources, expert insights, and collaborative opportunities remain open to all without financial barriers. Together, we can continue to foster a global community dedicated to innovation and excellence in the field of IVF.
Your Donation
Thank you!
Session 1: IVF in the Time of COVID-19
Host / Moderator Dr. Jacques CohenA Close Look at Viruses and Their Relevance to ART
Dr. Kay ElderCovid-19 in Liquid Nitrogen: A Potential Time-Bomb?
Dr. Lodovico Parmegiani
Dr. Kay Elder
Following an academic career that included degrees in biochemistry (BSc, University of St Andrews), molecular biology (PhD, University of Colorado Medical School) and medicine (MBBChir, Cambridge), Kay Elder joined the Bourn Hall team as Clinical Assistant to Patrick Steptoe in 1984, directing the Out-Patient Department from 1985-1987 before joining the IVF lab as Senior Embryologist. Prior to medical studies in Cambridge, she was a research scientist at Imperial Cancer Research Fund in London. In 1989 she initiated and directed a program of Continuing Education for IVF doctors, scientists and nurses for the next 16 years, during which time she helped to set up and run two Master’s degree programs in Clinical Embryology. Kay was appointed Deputy Editor to Bob Edwards for the journal RBMonline from 2005. She has published 8 textbooks for IVF students, and continues to mentor and tutor postgraduate students of Clinical Embryology at the University of Leeds, as well as teaching medical students at Cambridge University. In her current role as Senior Research Scientist at Bourn Hall, she co-ordinates research collaborations with academic research establishments and provides information and counsels patients who wish to donate gametes or embryos to research.
Dr. Lodovico Parmegiani
Lodovico (aka Lodo) is Head of Embryology for NextClinics International (a network of ART centres), IVF Laboratory Director at the GynePro Medical Centers in Bologna, Italy and advisor for biotech companies. He has invented, developed and optimized devices and methods for clinical embryology. Lodo is a Key Opinion Leader in ART. He is Founder and CEO of Nterilizer iSRL, an innovative Start-up in Italy for research, development and manufacturing of sterile gases for healthcare and food production.
Dr. Jacques Cohen
Jacques Cohen is a reproductive biologist, laboratory product developer and high complexity laboratory director (HCLD). He is director and founder of the ART Institute of Washington, which runs the joint National Institute of Health and Walter Reed National Military Medical Center IVF program in Bethesda Maryland (USA). He is product developer and co-founder of IVFqc/Althea Science, which develops software solutions for laboratories and clinics. He was co-founder of Reprogenetics, a PGD service, now continuing as Cooper Genomics. He was a co-founder and product developer of Life-Global/IVF-Online. He has (co-)authored more than 300 publications, several textbooks and 12 patents. He is Emeritus Chief Editor of Reproductive Biomedicine Online. He was one of the founders of Alpha – Scientists in Reproductive Medicine and one of the founders of Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis International Society - PGDIS. He is a founding member of the International IVF Initiative.
Jacques Cohen was born in The Hague, The Netherlands and graduated in Biology of Reproductive Science in 1978 at Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands. He has a Ph.D. from Erasmus University in Rotterdam (supervisor Prof. Gerard Zeilmaker), in aspects of in vitro fertilization and male factor infertility. His postdoctoral studies (1982-1985) were performed at Cambridge University (UK) and Bourn Hall Clinic (supervisor Prof Robert Edwards). Jacques Cohen has (co-)developed a number of embryological methodologies and devices: blastocyst cryopreservation, assisted fertilization, assisted hatching, preimplantation genetic testing, ooplasmic donation, single sperm freezing, CODA filtration, Global media, and GPS dishes. He currently serves on Advisory Boards of biotech startups TMRW, Kindbody, DADI and Phosphorus.
