Faculty

Ayman Al-Hendy
USA
Bio
Dr Ayman Al-Hendy is currently a Professor (Tenure) and Vice Chair (Research), Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Advisor to Dean of Medicine, Pritzker School of Medicine, University of Chicago (UC). Dr. Al-Hendy is also professor and chair of Dept of Medical Sciences, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Dr. Al-Hendy is a Gynecologist and minimally-invasive Surgeon at UC Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois with a busy practice that focuses on serving women with symptomatic uterine fibroids and premature ovarian insufficiency. Dr. Al-Hendy graduated from Banha Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Banha, Egypt in 1986. After 1 year of internship at Banha University Hospital, he headed to Finland to earn his PhD in Molecular Medicine from University of Turku, Turku, Finland. He then gained additional postdoctoral training in gene/cell therapy and clinical molecular genetics at McMaster University and McGill University in Canada, before completing clinical residency training in Obstetrics and Gynecology at University of Saskatchewan and fellowship training in laparoscopic surgery at Toronto University, both in Canada. Dr. Al-Hendy is double board certified by the Royal College of Surgeons of Canada and The American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology. In United States of America, Dr. Al-Hendy held various faculty positions at University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, Meharry Medical College/Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, and Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, Georgia, before moving to Chicago, Illinois.

Dr. Al-Hendy utilizes the methods of basic, translational, clinical and community research to address important medical diseases. Dr. Al-Hendy medical research interests focus on developing novel therapies including gene and stem cell therapy for Premature Ovarian insufficiency, Endometriosis, and particularly Uterine Fibroids. He has championed the use of specific natural fertility-friendly non-hormonal compounds such as green tea extracts (Epigalcatchin Gallate, EGCG) and vitamin D for prevention and treatment of uterine fibroids. He was first (2010) to introduce hypovitaminosis D as a risk factor to development of uterine fibroids and a contributing reason of why they are much more prevalent in women of color. An observation that has been confirmed subsequently by numerous publications globally.

Dr. Al-Hendy also pioneered (2009) the concept of enhancing ovarian folliculogenesis via direct intra-ovarian injection of appropriate augmenting biologics. After ample preclinical work on utilizing human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells or its exosomes (naïve or enhanced) to treat representative animal models, Dr. Al-Hendy has started clinical trials to translate such innovative approach to women suffering from premature ovarian insufficiency as well as other ovarian causes of infertility.

In 2010, Dr. Al-Hendy was awarded the American Society of Reproductive Medicine’s (ASRM) 2010 Ira and Ester Rosenwaks Award for his significant contribution to the field of translational Reproductive Biology. In 2014 he received the alpha Omega alpha clinician scientist of the year award by the Medical Honor Society and in 2015 the President Achievement Award as well as Rogerio A. Lobo Award from the Society of reproductive Investigations (SRI). Dr. Al-Hendy research has been continuously funded by various agencies since 2002 including NIH (NICHD, NIEHS, NIMHD, ODS, OD, NCRR), USDA, and other national and international organizations. He has served as Chair of the NIH Integrative Clinical Endocrinology and Reproduction (ICER) IRG 2013-2015 and also serves on numerous other committees with organizations such NIH, ASRM, SRI and as Co-Editor-in-Chief of The SRI Journal, Reproductive Sciences as well as on several editorial boards of high impact journals. Dr. Al-Hendy has been elected as SRI 71^st President. He has published more than 311 peer reviewed medical articles in high tier peer reviewed scientific journals with more than 16,000 citations in the understudied area of non-malignant (benign) gynecology (H-index 71), above 400 presentations in national and international meetings, and has edited 5 medical books.
David Albertini
USA
Bio
Following 40 years in academia, Dr Albertini continues his research on human egg and embryo biology in reproductive medicine in basic and clinical settings. He studies human ovarian aging and early development at the Center for Human Reproduction and The Rockefeller University where he holds Visiting Scientist positions. In 2019, he joined the Bedford Research Foundation where he continues to explore human egg maturation and activation following vitrification to understand both the underlying causes of meiotic and mitotic aneuploidy and the impact ovarian tissue and oocyte cryopreservation on oocyte quality in humans. He has served as Editor-in-Chief of JARG since 2009.H-index 73 (https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=nqbnWq4AAAAJ&hl=en), >20,000 citations.
Claus Yding Andersen
Denmark
Bio
Claus Yding Andersen, MSc, DMSc

Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Denmark

Was part of the team that introduced IVF to Denmark in the mid 80’ties and has worked in reproductive medicine since then. He has headed a national program of cryopreservation of human ovarian and testicular tissue and is considered one of the pioneers in this field.

His major research contributions are ovarian endocrinology, oocyte maturation and ovulation, cryopreservation of gonadal tissue and development of new principles for ovarian stimulation including the agonist trigger and novel approaches to luteal phase support.

He has published almost 500 articles and is a much-requested speaker. He is chief editor of reproduction section of Frontiers in Endocrinology.
Mats Brännström
Sweden
Bio
Professor Mats Brännström is subspecialized in Gynecological Oncology and Reproductive Medicine and is internationally recognized as the founder and leading pioneer of uterus transplantation, the only treatment enabling pregnancy in women with absolute uterine factor infertility. Through a systematic translational research program spanning more than a decade, progressing from rodents to large domestic animals and non-human primates, he and his colleagues optimized uterus transplantation for clinical application in humans.

To date, more than 170 uterus transplantations have been performed worldwide, resulting in over 70 live births. The Swedish team has played a central role in training and collaborating with most of the more than 20 active centers globally, and uterus transplantation has now entered clinical practice in Sweden and several other countries.

Professor Brännström is a founding member and inaugural president of the International Society of Uterus Transplantation (ISUTx) and established the ISUTx international registry. In parallel with his academic work, he founded Stockholm IVF in 2015. He has authored over 400 scientific publications, cited more than 20,000 times (h-index 78, Google Scholar).
Florian Chevillon
France
Bio
Dr. Florian Chevillon is a hematologist at Saint-Louis Hospital in Paris, working in the Adolescent and Young Adult Hematology Department. His clinical practice focuses on patients with lymphoma and acute leukemia, particularly those undergoing allogeneic stem cell transplantation.

He has a strong interest in the long-term complications of hematologic treatments, with a particular focus on their impact on fertility.

Dr. Chevillon is a member of the board of GRECOT (Groupe de Recherche et d’Etude sur la Conservation de l’Ovaire et du Testicule) and is actively involved in several French hematology societies. His research activities focus on measurable residual disease in ovarian cortex tissue from patients with acute leukemia, as well as the potential risks associated with ovarian tissue autografting in this setting.
Ri-Cheng Chian
China
Bio
Professor Ri-Cheng Chian is Chief Specialist at Center for Reproductive Medicine, Heilongjiang Provincial Hospital, P. R. of China and was the founder at Center for Reproductive Medicine, Shanghai 10th People’s Hospital of Tongji University, P. R. of China. Before joining to the
position in China, Dr. Chian was an Associate Professor with Tenure at Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
Dr. Chian is the key person in the development of in vitro maturation (IVM) of human immature oocytes for clinical application and for cryopreservation of human oocytes which resulted in the first pregnancies and live births at McGill University Health Center (MUHC) in
Canada.
Dr. Chian published more than 300 research papers in journals and gave presentations.
Dr. Chian edited three books and contributed to many book chapters. As an invited guest speaker, Dr. Chian delivered lectures in many different societies and countries. Dr. Chian was a former Associate Editor for the journals, Human Reproduction, Journal of Assisted Reproduction & Genetics, and an Editorial Board Member for several other journals. Dr. Chian is now an Associate Editor for the journal, Reproductive and Developmental Medicine.
Dr. Chian’s research interests are included:
1) Simplifying infertility treatment.
2) Fertility preservation.
Dr. Chian speaks English, Chinese, Korean, Japanese and has some knowledge of French.
Amander Clark
USA
Bio
Amander Clark PhD is Professor of Molecular Cell and Developmental Biology at UCLA and the Founding Director of the UCLA Center for Reproductive Science, Health and Education. Professor Clark is an award-winning scientist and internationally recognized expert on topics in stem cell biology, developmental biology and reproductive science. Her current interests are in ovarian health, formation of the ovarian reserve, and the creation of next generation tools and technologies using stem cells aimed at improving health and health-span. Professor Clark has authored more than 100 scientific articles with over 20,000 citations of her published work. She is regularly invited to appear as a subject matter expert for the New York Times, the Economist, the New Yorker and Public Radio. From 2023-2024 Professor Clark served as President of the International Society for Stem Cell Research, a global non-profit that promotes excellence in stem cell science and applications to human health, and from 2023-2025 she served on the National Academy of Science Engineering and Medicine Health Science Policy Board. She is currently serving on the executive committee for the Center for the Study of Women/Barbra Streisand Center at UCLA. Through her research, service and teaching, Professor Clark is committed to scientific practices that are informed by multidisciplinary research and engagement with the public.
Isabelle Demeestere
Belgium
Bio
Isabelle Demeestere, is a gynaecologist at the fertility Clinic at HUB-Erasme Hospital (Brussels, Belgium), Director of the Research Laboratory on Human Reproduction at the Université Libre de Bruxelles (Belgium) and senior researcher at the FNRS. She earned a PhD in fertility preservation in 2005 and completed her scientific training at McGill University, Canada. She has established the oncofertility unit at HUB-Erasme Hospital. She currently coordinates the fertility preservation Special Interest Group for ESHRE (SIG-European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology), and she was the past president of the BSRM (Belgian Society of Reproductive Medicine). She has contributed to several international guidelines, is author and co-author of several publications in peer-reviewed journals and book chapters and is currently associate editor for Molecular Human Reproduction Journal
Laura Detti
USA
Bio
After completing my fellowship in REI at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan, I became a scholar of the Women’s Reproductive Health Research (WRHR) Career Development Program sponsored by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHHD), for 1 ½ years.

I then transferred to the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in 2008 where I was for 12 years, during which I was also a consultant for LeBonheur-Methodist Children’s Hospital and for St. Jude Children Research Hospital, where I held clinics for children and adolescents with primary ovarian insufficiency and other sequelae of cancer treatment.

Currently, I am the REI Division Director at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston since 2022. Clinically, I work full time at Baylor-Texas Children’s Hospital since 2022 where we offer ovarian tissue and to oocyte cryopreservation for fertility preservation.

I actively participate in national and international medical societies and hold various leadership positions, such as Chair of the UPAC of the AIUM (2024-2026), which accredits all ultrasound practices in the country, and Chair of the Imaging in Reproductive Medicine at ASRM (2024-2025). I am also the chair of the PROLOG Editorial Board at ACOG for 2026-2028. Additionally, I am involved in organizing committees for the American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM), the Society for Reproductive Sciences (SRI), and the International Society for Fertility Preservation (ISFP).

Alongside my clinical activities, I have pursued clinical, as well as translational and basic research, also involving residents, fellows and medical students. My main research interests are gynecological and early obstetric ultrasound, and fertility preservation, for which I have a patented medical therapeutic target.
Marie-Madeleine Dolmans
Belgium
Bio
Prof. Marie-Madeleine Dolmans earned her medical degree from the Université Catholique de Louvain in Brussels in 2000, and her PhD degree on “Cryopreservation and transplantation of human ovarian tissue” in 2006. She is gynecologist and divides her time equally between clinical and research activities. She succeeded Prof. Donnez as Head of the Gynecology Research Unit at the Université Catholique de Louvain in 2012. She is Past President of the International Society for Fertility Preservation (ISFP). Her research work focuses on ovarian transplantation, endometriosis and adenomyosis in the field of which she has published over 270 peer-reviewed articles. She is full professor, speciality editor for Fertility and Sterility and editorial board member for RBMonline, JARG, JCM..

Since 2024, she became a member of the Académie Royale Belge de Médecine (ARBM).
Jacques Donnez
Belgium
Bio
Jacques Donnez was born in Tournai (Belgium) on 16 July, 1947.
He studied at the Catholic University of Louvain.
He defended his PhD thesis in 1984, entitled “The fallopian tube: normal and pathological histophysiology”.
He became Full Professor and Head of the Department Gynaecology and Andrology in 1986.
He also founded the Academic Infertility Research Unit of the Catholic University of Louvain in 1986.
He has focused his research activities on three main topics: tubal infertility, endometriosis and finally, ovarian cryopreservation and transplantation.
He published over 800 original articles in peer-review journals.
Prof. Donnez was the founding president of ESGE (European Society of Gynecological
Endoscopy) and the first president of WES (World Endometriosis Society)
Prof. Donnez was the first President of the International Society for Fertility Preservation (ISFP).
He has been elected in February 2009 at the Royal Belgian Academy of Medicine.
Since 2012, he is Professor Emeritus at the Catholic University of Louvain and Director of SRI (Société de Recherche pour l’Infertilité) in Brussels.
Member of several SAB (Scientific Advisory Boards), he is still involved in several clinical international multicenter studies on endometriosis and uterine fibroids, and collaborates with the Academic Unit of Prof. M.M. Dolmans, project leader and pioneer in the field of fertility preservation in women.
Douglas Fair
USA
Bio
Dr. Douglas Fair is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Hematology/Oncology at the University of Utah. A recognized national leader in Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Oncology and Oncofertility, his work bridges the gap between high-level clinical trial development and the long-term quality of life for cancer survivors.

At Primary Children’s Hospital, Dr. Fair serves as the Director of the Solid Tumor and Sarcoma Program. He is also the Founder and Medical Director of the Childhood, Adolescent, and Young Adult (CAYA) Cancer Survivorship Program. His regional leadership extends to the Huntsman Cancer Institute, where he directs the AYA Program and co-directs the Oncofertility Programs for the University of Utah and Primary Children’s Hospital.

On the national stage, Dr. Fair’s expertise shapes the standards of modern oncological care. He serves on the steering committees for the Children’s Oncology Group (COG) Soft Tissue Sarcoma and Rare Tumor groups and contributes to multiple National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Guideline Committees. He also serves as a member of the ASCO Fertility Preservation Measure Technical Expert Panel (TEP).

Beyond his clinical and research roles, Dr. Fair is a dedicated advocate for systemic change. He serves as an advisor to numerous non-profit organizations focused on improving access to and the quality of oncofertility care. His advocacy has been instrumental in addressing gaps in insurance coverage, where he has played a lead role in shifting policy at both the legislative and provider levels.
Tommaso Falcone
USA
Bio
Tommaso Falcone, MD

Gynecology and Women’s Health Institute at the Cleveland Clinic, USA

Tommaso Falcone, M.D., FRCS(C), FACOG, FRCOG (ad eundem) is Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine. Case Western Reserve University.

Dr. Falcone is presently executive VP and President. International and Emerging markets- Cleveland Clinic.

Dr. Falcone received his medical degree from McGill University School of Medicine in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Dr. Falcone was appointed Chair of the department of obstetrics & Gynecology in 2001-2008 and subsequently Chair of the Women’s Health Institute in 2008 to 2018.

From 2018-2022 he served as Chief of Staff, Chief Academic Officer, Medical Director Cleveland Clinic London. In 2022 to 2023 he served as Interim Chief Executive Officer CCL.

Dr. Falcone has published more than 500 original manuscripts, abstracts, and book chapters. He is co-editor of 8 books including a textbook on Clinical Reproductive Medicine and Surgery (Springer 4^th edition 2022).

He has served on the editorial board of several journals, including Associate Editor of Fertility & Sterility and the Editorial Board of the Obstetrics &Gynecology (Green journal). He was editor-in-chief of JMIG from 2013-2023. He is past President of the Society for Reproductive Surgeons (SRS) and Past Chair of the Endometriosis special interest group of the ASRM. He is Past President of the International Society for Fertility Preservation (ISFP-2019-2020). He has served on review committees for NICHD and MRC. Dr. Falcone has been the recipient of many awards for laparoscopic and robotic surgery at different societies. He was a senior author on the first publication on gynecologic robot surgery and a member of the team that performed the first uterus transplant in the USA.
Elizabeth Ginsburg
USA
Bio
Elizabeth Ginsburg is the immediate past President of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) and has held several positions within the ASRM in the past including as a member of the SART registry committee, ASRM Ethics Committee, and President of the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technologies (SART). She was a resident in Ob Gyn and fellow in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at Brigham & Women’s Hospital. She joined the faculty at Brigham & Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical school, initially spending 80% of her time on research, supported in part by an NIH training grant which funded work on the impact of alcohol ingestion on estrogen metabolism in postmenopausal women using HRT. She was referred many patients with premature ovarian insufficiency after having undergone chemotherapy, joined the staff of Dana Farber Cancer Institute, and began a fertility preservation program at BWH. Over time her clinical practice grew, and her research transitioned focus on IVF outcomes in subpopulations of patients, including those with cancer and obesity, and continued research in the pharmacokinetics of medications used in IVF treatment. She became the medical director of the BWH IVF program, and later the REI fellowship program director, a position she still holds. She is an editorial editor of Fertility and Sterility, a position she moved to after being a reviewer, editorial board member, and Associate editor. She is a Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology at Harvard Medical School, and enjoys mentoring students, residents and fellows in research.
Ellen Goossens
Belgium
Bio
I graduated in Biomedical Sciences at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) in 2000. I was trained in male fertility preservation under supervision of Prof. Dr. Herman Tournaye and Prof. Dr. Van Steirteghem at the laboratory Biology of the Testis of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, where I obtained my doctoral degree in 2006. I undertook postdoctoral training in the same lab and became lab coordinator in 2012. My research focuses on male fertility. The aim is to develop strategies to prevent male infertility after germ cell loss. Currently, three major sub-lines are being studied: (1) fertility preservation in boys who face gonadotoxic treatment, (2) in-vitro spermatogenesis and (3) Klinefelter-related infertility. We developed innovative methods for cryopreservation, transplantation and in-vitro differentiation of spermatogonial stem cells and testicular tissue in animal models, and translated these to the human situation. Testicular tissue banking has been implemented in the clinic in 2002 and testicular tissue transplantation in 2024.

In 2011, I was awarded the prize Dr Luc Broeckaert and Mrs Annie Depreeuw of the Royal Belgian Academy for Medicine for the work “Prevention of infertility after chemo- or radiotherapy”. Since 2016, I am heading the research group Biology of the Testis. I have published more than 120 papers in (inter)national journals and contributed to 8 book chapters.

I am affiliated to the faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of VUB as tenured full-time professor. Next to teaching courses in the domain of reproductive medicine, I was exchange coordinator for several years. Since 2024, I am vice-president of the educational board Biomedical Sciences.

I was involved in the steering committee of the ESHRE Special Interest Group Andrology for ten years and co-founded the Orchid-Net consortium.
Tuong Ho
Vietnam
Bio
Dr. Tuong M Ho has been working in the field of assisted reproductive technology since 1997, when he joined the first IVF team in Vietnam. He has both laboratory and clinical experience on assisted reproductive technology. Dr Ho is the founder and senior advisor of IVFMD group which operates 11 IVF centers in Vietnam. He is senior consultant of IVFMD, My Duc Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Dr. Ho is Director of HOPE Research Center, at My Duc Hospital, which is a leading research institution in clinical reproductive medicine in Asia. He and his group have had more than 60 publications in high impact journals including NEJM, Lancet, PLOS Medicine, Human Reproduction, Fertility and Sterility, AJOG… His recent interests are frozen embryo transfer, in-vitro maturation of oocyte and quality management in IVF.

Dr Ho was board member of the Asia Pacific Initiative on Reproduction (ASPIRE) from 2012-2021, and Vice President of ASPIRE (2018-2021). He serves as Secretary General for Ho Chi Minh City Society for Reproductive Medicine (HOSREM). He has been invited speakers in more than 50 international and regional congreses, symposiums.
Emilie Johnson
USA
Bio
Dr. Emilie K. Johnson is a Pediatric Urologist and Health Services and Outcomes Researcher at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago (Lurie Children’s) and an Associate Professor of Urology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

Dr. Johnson’s clinical work focuses on general pediatric urology, including penile and testicular abnormalities, urinary tract infections, and ureteral anomalies including obstruction and reflux. She also has a focus on the multidisciplinary care of patients with differences of sex development/variations of sex characteristics (DSD/VSC). Dr. Johnson’s academic work is most focused on DSD/VSC, circumcision, fertility preservation and urinary tract infections. Dr. Johnson has published extensively in these areas, as well as many other subtopics related to pediatric urology. She is the Surgical Co-director of the SPROUT (Supportive Program for a Range Of Urogenital Traits) clinic at Lurie Children’s and is part of the hospital’s Fertility & Hormone Preservation & Restoration Program. Dr. Johnson is an active member of multiple medical societies, including the American Urological Association, Societies for Pediatric Urology and American Academy of Pediatrics. On a personal note, Dr. Johnson is a native of Ann Arbor, Michigan but now says she is “from Chicago” when asked. Outside of work, Dr. Johnson enjoys spending time with her family (including a delightfully spicy third grader) riding a bike that goes nowhere, and trying new foods.
Nalini Kaul Mahajan
India
Bio
Dr. Nalini Kaul Mahajan completed her graduation and post-graduation in Obstetrics and Gynaecology from the University of Delhi, India, where she was awarded the prestigious President’s Gold Medal. She subsequently pursued a Master’s degree in Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) from the University of Nottingham, UK, becoming the first Indian to be awarded this qualification.

Her deep interest in oncofertility led to the establishment of the Fertility Preservation Society of India (FPSI) in 2014. Since then, she has played a pivotal role in promoting both public and professional awareness of fertility preservation across the country. She is the Founder President of FPSI and the Convenor of the FPSI Certification Course in Fertility Preservation.

Dr. Mahajan is the Immediate Past President of the Asian Society for Fertility Preservation and currently serves as a Board Member of the International Society for Fertility Preservation. She has also served as President of the Indian Fertility Society and is presently a member of the SIG – Fertility Preservation (ASPIRE).

Her academic contributions include numerous publications in peer-reviewed journals on endometrial receptivity, fertility preservation, regenerative therapies in infertility, and genital tuberculosis.
Tyler Ketterl
USA
Bio
Dr. Tyler Ketterl is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics and Internal Medicine at the University of Washington and sits within the Division of Pediatric Hematology & Oncology at the Seattle Children’s Hospital, University of Washington, and Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center. He holds 3 board certifications in internal medicine, pediatrics, and pediatric hematology/oncology. Dr. Ketterl obtained a Master of Science degree in epidemiology with a focus on clinical research methods at the University of Washington. Dr. Ketterl serves as the Medical Director of the Adolescent Young Adult Oncology Program as well as the Medical Director of the Fertility Care and Preservation Program. Dr. Ketterl is a member of the Children’s Oncology Group Germ Cell Tumor Committee and is the stratum leader of the standard risk arm of the study. Dr. Ketterl’s work currently focuses on the long-term impact of cancer therapy on pediatric, adolescent and young adult survivors of cancer including fertility, body composition, and metabolic syndrome. Dr. Ketterl is also Co-Chairing the efforts to create a national oncofertility database called Reproductive HOPE (Health Outcomes and Preservation Evaluation) in partnership with the Pediatric Cancer Data Commons and The Oncofertility Consortium.
Christian Kramme
USA
Bio
Christian Kramme is the Chief Scientific Officer of Gameto Inc., a biotechnology company developing fertility and endocrine therapeutics for women’s health. Christian received his PhD in biological and biomedical sciences from Harvard Medical School, completing his doctoral work in the laboratory of Professor George Church. Christian received his bachelors of science in microbiology, immunology, and molecular genetics from UCLA. Christian’s doctoral work pioneered the development of human induced pluripotent stem cell engineering and directed differentiation for key reproductive and support cell types of the ovary. At Gameto, Christian invented and further developed the in vitro maturation (IVM) product Fertilo, which is currently in Phase III clinical trials in the United States. Beyond fertility, Christian and his team at Gameto likewise have invented a cell-based hormone replacement therapy for menopause and new vaginal ring deliveries for women’s health therapeutics which are in preclinical development. Christian is currently the Chair Elect of the ASRM special interest group for IVM and holds numerous publications and patents related to reproductive and endocrine therapeutics.
Matteo Lambertini
Italy
Bio
Matteo Lambertini is associate professor and consultant in medical oncology at the University of Genova – IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino in Genova (Italy).
He is mainly focused in the care of breast cancer patients and is deeply involved in breast cancer research.
Above all, he has a particular expertise in the management of breast cancer in young women, with a specific attention to the fertility and pregnancy-related issues that they have to face after diagnosis.

During his medical oncology training, he had the opportunity to work and collaborate with several national and international leading experts in the field; these experiences have played a crucial role to deepen his skills in the management of breast cancer in young women.
Thanks to the support of the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO), in 2018 he completed his PhD at the Universite Libre de Bruxelles (U.L.B.) in Brussels (Belgium) with a project entitled “Unmet Fertility and Pregnancy-related Issues in Young Breast Cancer Patients”.
With this work, he has contributed to improve our understanding of many controversial aspects related to the management of breast cancer in young women specifically focusing on fertility preservation and the possibility to have a pregnancy following treatment completion, with the ultimate goal to further improve the care and quality of life of these young women.

He is member of the guideline group on fertility preservation in cancer patients for ESMO (Lambertini M et al, Ann Oncol 2020), the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embriology (ESHRE; Anderson RA et al, Hum Reprod Open 2020) and the Italian Association of Medical Oncology (AIOM; Lambertini M et al, Eur J Cancer 2017).

He has authored more than 350 publications in peer-reviewed journals and book chapters. His most important research conducted so far addressed the role of administering gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogs during chemotherapy as a strategy to preserve ovarian function and fertility in early breast cancer patients who are candidates to receive cytotoxic therapy (Lambertini M et al, JAMA 2015 & Lambertini M et al, Ann Oncol 2015 & Lambertini M et al, Eur J Cancer 2017 & Lambertini M et al, J Clin Oncol 2018 & Lambertini M et al, JNCI 2022), the safety of having a pregnancy in women with prior history of breast cancer (Lambertini M et al, JNCI 2018 & Lambertini M et al, Cancer 2019 & Lambertini M et al, J Clin Oncol 2021), and the fertility and pregnancy-related issues in BRCA-mutated breast cancer patients (Lambertini et al, Ann Oncol 2018 & Lambertini M et al, J Clin Oncol 2020 & Lambertini M et al, JAMA 2024).

He is an active ESMO member since October 2011. He was awarded with the following ESMO Fellowships: Translational Research Unit Visit in 2012, Clinical Unit Visit in 2013 and Translational Research Fellowship in 2016-2018. In 2017, he attended the ESMO Leaders Generation Program that gave him the unique chance to acquire new communication and leadership skills as well as to deepen his involvement in the Society. He has served in the ESMO Press & Media Affairs committee, in the ESMO Breast Cancer Faculty and in the ESMO Young Oncologists Committee (YOC; he was ESMO YOC Chair in 2023-2024).
Monica Laronda
USA
Bio
Monica M. Laronda is the George M. Eisenberg Chair of Developmental Biology at the Stanley Manne Children’s Research Institute at the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago and Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics and Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Northwestern University. She has been awarded several National Institutes of Health grants to study foundational biology and to engineer regenerative techniques for both ovaries and testes. Dr. Laronda is also the Director of Gonadal Tissue Processing where she provides fertility preservation services for Lurie Children’s patients and patients across the country.

About the Basic and Preclinical Research Lab

The Laronda Lab mission is driven by the hope of patients and families that see themselves or their children as thriving future adults and they aim to provide these children with the right to an open future. The Laronda Lab seeks to understand mechanisms of human sex development and to translate this knowledge into solutions that support fertility and hormone diagnostic and restorative technologies. The Laronda Lab scientific focus is in gonad biology and sex hormone endocrinology. They utilize big data and spatial information of biological and physical cues to engineer functional cells and microenvironments to test and regenerate gametogenesis and hormone function.

https://www.larondalab.org/

LurieChildrens.org/Fertility
Jung Ryeol Lee
Korea
Bio
Jung Ryeol Lee, M.D, Ph.D.

Chairman

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Seoul National University Bundang Hospital

Professor

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Department of Translational Medicine

Seoul National University College of Medicine

Principal Investigator

Fertility Preservation and Enhancement Research Laboratory

Professor Jung Ryeol Lee, M.D., Ph.D. is Chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Seoul National University Bundang Hospital and Professor at Seoul National University College of Medicine. He also directs the Fertility Preservation and Enhancement Laboratory (FPELS), where his team advances cutting-edge research in ovarian tissue cryopreservation, artificial ovary platforms, and regenerative therapies for ovarian and endometrial dysfunction. Professor Lee is internationally recognized for his expertise in fertility preservation, reproductive endocrinology, and demographic policy, and he is a distinguished surgeon with expertise in single-port laparoscopy and robotic gynecologic surgery. Beyond his academic achievements, he is actively engaged in global reproductive medicine, serving on the Executive Boards of ASPIRE and ISFP, and as Vice President of the Asian Society for Fertility Preservation, fostering international collaboration and innovation in reproductive health.
Joseph Letourneau
USA
Bio
Dr. Letourneau is an Assistant Professor of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at the University of Utah, where he serves as co-director of the University of Utah’s Oncofertility Program. The University of Utah’s oncofertility clinic serves as a referral center for the United States’ Intermountain West Region, including cities and rural areas in Utah, Nevada, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Western Colorado and Northern Arizona. Dr. Letourneau is an active clinician-researcher. He is a current ASRM/NICHD CREST Scholar and a recent recipient of an ASRM Young Investigator Grant. Dr. Letourneau has published over 70 research articles and abstracts in the field of oncofertility. He has also worked to help to ensure more universal insurance coverage for oncofertility services, including recently helping to make Utah the second state to cover oncofertility services under the state’s Medicaid plan.
Wen Li
China
Bio
Professor Wen Li, Director of the Reproductive Medicine Center of the International Peace Maternity & Child Health Hospital, medical school, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Chairman of Chinese Society of Fertility Preservation , and the Vice President of Asian Society for Fertility Preservation, specializes in diagnosis and management of reproductive endocrine diseases and application of assisted reproductive technology. Her research is focused on fertility preservation and POI. Her significant contribution includes leading first successful live birth after ovarian cryopreservation in China.
Kristine Løssl
Denmark
Bio
Kristine Løssl is a medical doctor and a specialist in gynecology and obstetrics. She has been working fulltime in the field of reproductive medicine since 1999 with affiliation at the Department of Gynecology, Fertility and Obstetrics, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Denmark since 2017. Kristine Løssl has been engaged in science since university and has authored and co-authored several original papers. She has supervised several PhD students.
Rod Mitchell
UK
Bio
Rod is Professor of Developmental Endocrinology at the Centre for Reproductive Health at the University of Edinburgh. He is also a Consultant Paediatric Endocrinologist at The Royal Hospital for Children and Young People in Edinburgh.

Rod is clinical and research lead for fertility preservation in prepubertal boys with cancer. His work combines the clinical service for gonadal tissue cryopreservation with research aimed at developing clinical strategies to protect or restore fertility in patients receiving sterilising therapies. He is currently leading a UK clinical trial (Edinburgh, Oxford and UCL) to re-transplant testicular tissue into patients after chemotherapy treatment in order to restore fertility.

His laboratory research activities are focused on the role of the germ-stem cell niche in prepubertal testis development and function. His research group use in-vitro and transplantation approaches to model prepubertal testicular development in order to determine effects of exposure to chemotherapy on germ cells and to develop strategies to protect the testis from cancer treatments. These models are also being applied to promoting germ cell differentiation in prepubertal testicular tissues or protecting the childhood testis from chemotherapy-induced damage. Rod is also a Senior Deputy for the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) SIG and is on the board of the International Society for Fertility Preservation (ISFP). He recently founded and co-ordinates the ORCHID-NET consortium, an international network for fertility preservation in prepubertal boys.

Rods presentation will discuss clinical and research progress in fertility preservation in children and adolescents facing gonadotoxic treatment, highlighting the importance of collaboration in conducting research and developing novel therapies in this field.

Website: Mitchell group | Centre for Reproductive Health

E-mail: [email protected]

X/Bluesky: @RodTMitchell
Stephen Nimer
USA
Bio
Dr. Stephen D. Nimer is the Director of the National Cancer Institute-designated Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Professor of Medicine, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and the Executive Dean for Research at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. He holds the Oscar de La Renta Endowed chair in Cancer Research. With over 30 years in clinical care, research, and leadership, he has made significant contributions to hematologic malignancy research and treatment. Prior to joining the University of Miami in 2012, Dr. Nimer spent nearly 20 years at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, where he held multiple leadership roles and the Alfred P Sloan endowed chair in cancer research.
Dr. Nimer is an accomplished physician-scientist with over 300 publications and several patents for leukemia treatments. He serves as the Chairman of the Myelodysplastic Syndromes Foundation and the Gabrielle’s Angels Foundation. He has been inducted into ASCI, AAP and ASEMFL and has received numerous awards, including University of Miami “Provost Lifetime Achievement” award and the ASH Mentor of the Year award in 2024.
Kyle Orwig
USA
Bio
Dr. Orwig is a Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. He is also the director of the Fertility Preservation Program and the Center for Reproduction and Transplantation at Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC. Research in the Orwig laboratory focuses on stem cells, germ lineage development, fertility and infertility. The lab is ideally located in Magee-Womens Research Institute and Magee-Womens Hospital and is committed to translating lab bench discoveries to the clinic for diagnosis, prevention and treatment of infertility.

Fertility Preservation Program in Pittsburgh http://www.fertilitypreservationpittsburgh.org

Orwig Research Group http://www.orwiglab.org
Pasquale Patrizio
USA
Bio
Pasquale Patrizio, MD, MBE, HCLD, FACOG

Division Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility University of Miami, USA

Pasquale Patrizio, an internationally renowned specialist in female and male reproductive medicine, is joining the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine as professor of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive sciences and chief of the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility.

Dr. Patrizio also co-pioneered the microsurgical epididymal sperm aspiration (MESA) technique to improve male fertility and developed whole ovary cryopreservation via multi-thermal gradient for fertility preservation in women. He also studied new methods for bio-banking gametes, reproductive tissue, and stem cells. In addition, Dr. Patrizio was co-author of the guidelines for fertility preservation in cancer on behalf of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).
Catherine Poirot
France
Bio
Catherine POIROT was Professor at Sorbonne Université (Paris, France). She is a medical doctor, reproductive biologist and was responsible for the Unit of reproductive biology at Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital (Paris, France) and after, for the fertility preservation program at Saint Louis Hospital (Paris, France). She is the founder and past President of the French GRECOT group (Research and Study Group on Ovarian and Testicular Cryopreservation).
Kenny Rodriguez-Wallberg
Sweden
Bio
Kenny Rodriguez-Wallberg, MD, PhD

Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, Sweden

Kenny A. Rodriguez-Wallberg is Professor on Reproductive Oncology at Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, Sweden. She is also consultant at the Department of Reproductive Medicine of Karolinska University Hospital and Head of the Program of Fertility Preservation.

A reproductive medicine specialist by training, her research focuses on how cancer treatments impact young patients’ reproductive health and the safety and efficacy of the procedures for fertility preservation. She has published extensively on reproductive medicine, assisted reproductive technologies, fertility preservation, obstetrical outcomes and specific risks in patients with cancer or benign conditions, transgender reproductive issues, reproductive endocrinology, genetics and menopause.

For the past 20 years, much of her work has focused on fertility preservation. Dr. Rodriguez-Wallberg has published more than 150 peer-reviewed papers.
Zev Rosenwaks
USA
Bio
Zev Rosenwaks, MD

Weill Cornell College of Medicine, New York, USA

Dr. Rosenwaks is internationally renowned for his pioneering work in assisted reproductive technology (ART). He is the former Director of the Jones Institute for Reproductive Medicine in Norfolk, Virginia, the unit that achieved the first in vitro fertilization (IVF) pregnancy in the United States. He also developed the United States’ first egg donation program and has been instrumental in developing many contemporary ovarian stimulation protocols central to successful IVF. He is also a major contributor to moderate ovarian stimulation protocols designed to avoid ART complications such as ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome.
Hooman Sadri
USA
Bio
Hooman Sadri, MD, PhD, assistant professor, is an andrologist who specializes in male reproductive medicine and directs the male fertility research program. He serves as MD director for the American Society of Andrology board of directors and is active in related societies. His expertise includes electro-ejaculation, vasectomy reversal, and microsurgical testicular sperm extractions. His expertise is in Klinefelter syndrome, other genetic causes of hypogonadism, and spinal cord injury infertility. He established and also directs the spermatogonia stem cell bank for fertility preservation of high-risk boys and men, one of the world’s largest bio-banking systems.
Glenn Schattman
USA
Bio
Dr. Glenn L. Schattman is board-certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. He holds the position of Associate Professor of Clinical Reproductive Medicine and Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology at Weill Cornell Medical College, and is a Reproductive Medicine Specialist and Surgeon at The NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. Dr. Schattman also plays a key leadership role as Associate Director of the Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility Fellowship Program at the renowned Ronald O. Perelman and Claudia Cohen Center for Reproductive Medicine.

A leader in the field of assisted reproduction, Dr. Schattman is a past President of the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART) and former Chair of its Practice Committee. He also served as President of the New York Obstetrical Society and currently chairs the Alliance for Fertility Preservation. In 2024, he was elected Vice President of the International Society for Fertility Preservation.

Dr. Schattman’s clinical and research expertise spans the full spectrum of assisted reproductive technologies (ART), with a particular focus on fertility preservation for cancer patients, including ovarian tissue cryopreservation and advancing techniques to improve transplantation outcomes. A founding member of the Alliance for Fertility Preservation, he is deeply committed to expanding access to fertility preservation education and services, and to advancing the field through innovation, mentorship, and patient-centered care.

Widely recognized for his teaching and clinical excellence, Dr. Schattman has received numerous awards, including the ACOG Excellence in Teaching Award and multiple “Best Doctor” honors. He is a frequent speaker at national and international conferences and has authored numerous scientific publications and textbook chapters on topics ranging from IVF and Pre-Implantation Genetic Testing (PGT)to oncofertility.
Sherman Silber
USA
Bio
Dr. Sherman Silber, a renowned pioneer in microsurgery and infertility, is considered one of the world’s leading authorities on IVF, mini-IVF, sperm retrieval, ICSI, vasectomy reversal, male infertility, tubal ligation reversal, egg and embryo freezing, ovary transplantation and the reproductive biological clock.

For over 50 years Dr. Silber has originally developed all of the most popular fertility treatments used all around the world today.

He performed the world’s first microsurgical vasectomy reversal, as well as the first testicle transplant, in the 70’s and now in the current century, the world’s first ovary transplant. He was the first to develop the TESE and MESA techniques for retrieving testicular and epididymal sperm in azoospermic men. He headed the clinical MIT team that first mapped and sequenced the Y chromosome in infertile men and discovered the now famous DAZ gene for male fertility. His research includes also the study of reproduction and fertility in zoo animals and endangered species. Most recently he has perfected the preservation of fertility for cancer patients with ovarian freezing and transplantation and thereby figured out how to extend the reproductive biological clock of women. He has helped pioneer minimal ovarian stimulation to reduce IVF costs and eliminate complications while maintaining the very highest success rate, even in older women. He has even recently answered the age-old question of why the dinosaurs went extinct by extending his research on male infertility and the Y chromosome, discovering that the change in earth temperature 65,000,000 years ago led to the birth of a skewed male/female sex ratio.

He now heads the clinical team on the CHOSE project to transform skin biopsy cells into eggs and sperm in humans.

Dr. Silber went to medical school at the University of Michigan, did post-graduate training at Stanford University, and then again at the University of Michigan. From 1967 to 1969, he provided medical care via the U. S. Public Health Service to Eskimos, Indians, and Aleuts. Then he taught at the University of Melbourne Medical School in Australia, and later at the University of California Medical School in San Francisco. He is a scientific collaborator at MIT in Cambridge, Massachusetts, at the Kato Clinic in Tokyo, and at the University of Kyushu in Japan, and is a full professor at the University of Amsterdam, and at Sun Yat Sen University Medical School in China. His major clinical medical practice is in St. Louis, Missouri.
Judy Simms-Cendan
USA
Bio
Dr. Judy Simms-Cendan is a Professor and the Founding Division Director of Pediatric Adolescent Gynecologist at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. She is honored to be a Past President of NASPAG (2023-2024). She is treasurer of the International Federation of Pediatric Adolescent Gynecology (FIGIJ) and chairs the FIGIJ Advocacy committee. She is Editor of the FIGO Global Library of Women’s Medicine Volume on Adolescent Gynecology and serves on the Editorial Board of the JPAG. She truly values her work with colleagues in the US and abroad in development of reproductive health education, research, and advocacy for adolescent girls worldwide.
Kristin Smith
USA
Bio
Kristin Smith, the Program Manager for Fertility Preservation, consults with young, newly diagnosed oncology patients at Northwestern’s Lurie Cancer Center to help each patient understand their individual fertility risk associated with treatment as well as options for fertility preservation. She works extensively with young adult oncology survivors to help each patient explore their unique family building options and reproductive health post treatment. Kristin also answers the Oncofertility Consortium’s national fertility hotline to triage patients for fertility preservation across the United States.
Nao Suzuki
Japan
Bio
Dr. Nao Suzuki has been serving as a Professor and Chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Kanagawa, Japan, since 2011. He is also the Deputy Director of St. Marianna University Hospital.

Dr. Suzuki obtained his medical degree from the School of Medicine, Keio University (Tokyo, Japan) in 1990 and earned his Ph.D. in Obstetrics and Gynecology from the Graduate School of Medicine, Keio University in 2000. He currently serves as Vice President of both the Japanese Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology (JSOG) and the Japanese Society of Gynecologic Oncology (JSGO). His areas of expertise include gynecologic oncology, reproductive medicine—particularly fertility preservation for childhood, adolescent, and young adult (CAYA) cancer patients (Oncofertility)—and medical ethics.

In 2012, he established the Japan Society for Fertility Preservation (JSFP), followed by the Asian Society for Fertility Preservation (ASFP) in 2016, which now encompasses 16 countries across Asia. He served as the President of the International Society for Fertility Preservation (ISFP) from January 2023 to December 2024. As the 8th ISFP President, he successfully hosted the 8th World Congress of ISFP in Tokyo in November 2024, which brought together more than 600 experts and researchers in the field, including 420 international participants, fostering fruitful discussions.

Dr. Suzuki emphasizes that gynecologic oncologists, as the primary caregivers of their patients, should conduct fertility-sparing surgeries with a comprehensive understanding not only of assisted reproductive technologies (ART) and fertility preservation (FP) but also of preconception care and social issues. In line with this vision, as a council member of the Asian Society of Gynecologic Oncology (ASGO), he established the Special Task Force on Fertility Preservation in Gynecologic Oncology. This ASGO-affiliated group consists of nearly 40 young gynecologic oncologists from 10 Asian countries, working to develop country-specific guidelines on five key topics—cervical cancer, uterine cancer, ovarian cancer, ovarian borderline malignancies, and social issues—while sharing insights on country-specific differences and cultural competencies.

His ultimate goal is to enhance survivorship among CAYA cancer patients not only in Asia but also worldwide, ensuring that patients can face cancer with hope.
Michael von Wolff
Switzerland
Bio
Michael von Wolff is Head of the Division of Gynaecological Endocrinology and Reproductive Medicine at the University Hospital for Women, Bern, Switzerland.

In the field of fertility preservation, he established the German-speaking “FertiPROTEKT” network (www.fertiprotekt.com) in 2006. He also founded the ESHRE Task Force on fertility preservation and co-founded the ESHRE Special Interest Group (SIG) on fertility preservation. He is also a member of the International Society of Fertility Preservation (ISFP) board.

In the field of oncofertility, he focuses on clarifying the indications for and against fertility preservation measures. In this context, he founded and coordinates the international FertiTOX project (www.fertitox.com), which analyses gonadotoxicity in various diseases. He is also the work package leader in the PredictAYA project, which is funded by the Horizon programme. He has published several books on fertility preservation, including “Fertility Preservation and Endocrine Care in Oncological and Non-Oncological Diseases: A Practical Guide” (Springer, 2026).
Terri Woodard
USA
Bio
Dr. Terri L. Woodard is a Professor in the Department of Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine and Director of Oncofertility Program at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. She also holds a joint appointment in the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at the Baylor College of Medicine. She received her medical degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and then completed her residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Case Western Reserve MetroHealth and Cleveland Clinic Foundation Program. She completed her fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at Wayne State University, where she then stayed on as faculty until moving to Houston, Texas.

Dr. Woodard arrived to Houston in 2012 to start the MD Anderson Oncofertility program in conjunction with Baylor College of Medicine/Texas Children’s Hospital. This program offers comprehensive fertility and family building services to men and women who have been diagnosed with cancer. Her research interests include tracking oncologic and reproductive outcomes and exploring ways to educate and support women as they make decisions about fertility preservation. Her decision aid, Pathways earned a Hermes Gold Award. She is a recipient of a NCCN Young Investigator Award. She serves as Co-chair for the Texas Medical Association Committee on Cancer and has also testified as an educational resource for HB 1649 at the Texas Legislature, which mandates health insurance coverage for fertility preservation for those undergoing medically necessary treatments.