IVF NewsWebinar: MISCONCEPTIONS
International IVF Initiative 26 April 2022
Tuesday, 10th May at 3pm EST, 8pm UK, 9pm CET Moderators: [ Full Article ] News: 3D printing used to create testicular tubules
David Cansfield 26 April 2022
Testicular tubules have been created using a 3D printing technique for the first time ever, which may provide hope for men with infertility. Researchers at the University of British Columbia, Canada studied the feasibility of growing testicular tissue in the laboratory and its potential to create sperm cells. By 3D printing biopsied testicular cells, they were able to form a structure similar to seminiferous tubules (where sperm is made), which is a significant first step towards being able to artificially create conditions where sperm can be made. '3D printing these cells into a very specific structure that mimics human anatomy... is our best shot at stimulating sperm production,' explained Dr Ryan Flannigan, a urologist who led the study published in Fertility and Sterility Science. Infertility in men accounts for at least a third of the problems heterosexual couples face when trying to conceive. Largely, this is due to faulty sperm while approximately ten percent of infertile men suffer from azoospermia, a condition in which sperm is absent in the semen. For men that are not making sperm at all, current options are limited to treating this with surgery into the testes to search directly for sperm cells there. To set about circumventing this problem, the team took stem cells from the testicles of a 31-year-old man with azoospermia and grew as many new stem cells as they could in the lab. The 3D printing technique was then used to form the seminiferous tubules which were kept nourished. After 12 days of in vitro culture the team demonstrated an increase in cell markers proving viability to achieve the next step in this field of research, to artificially produce sperm cells. 'It's a huge milestone, seeing these cells survive and begin to differentiate. There's a long road ahead, but this makes our team very hopeful,' said Dr Flannigan. These findings not only have benefits for male infertility that could one day be used for in vitro fertilisation but could also be used to assist older men who are less likely to have successful fertility treatment. In addition, the breakthrough may complement prior research with the aim to preserve fertility in boys and young men undergoing cancer treatment. 'The field of regenerative medicine and using approaches like this is probably going to have a bigger presence in the future,' Dr Flannigan noted. 'It's all fairly early on in development and there's a lot of people doing parallel research in other organ and disease systems [but] it's an exciting field to watch out for.' SOURCES & REFERENCES
[ Full Article ] News: Mitochondrial donation becomes legal in Australia
Michaela Chen 26 April 2022
The Australian Senate has passed a bill which will legalise the clinical use mitochondrial donation by a vote of 37 votes for to 17 against. The bill, known as Maeve's law, had previously passed in the Australian House of Representativesx with 92 votes for and 29 against, in Australia's first conscience vote since the same-sex marriage vote in 2017. Maeve's law is named after five-year-old Maeve Hood, who was born with Leigh syndrome, a severe mitochondrial disorder diagnosed when she was 18 months old. Federal health minister Greg Hunt, who supported the bill, said: 'It is globally leading mitochondrial legislation to give hope to families across Australia'. Mitochondria, organelles that produce energy for cells, are passed on to offspring via the mitochondria in the egg cell. Approximately 50 children per year are born in Australia with a severe form of mitochondrial disease, with a life expectancy of about five years. Mitochondrial disease results when a harmful mutation in the mitochondrial DNA is passed on from mother to child. The faulty mitochondria then fail to produce enough energy for cells. 'Mitochondrial diseases impact on at least one child born in Australia each week and lack effective treatments' said Professor David Thorburn, the co-group leader of brain and mitochondrial research at the Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia, who also welcomed the decision. 'Affected patients typically suffer severe disease affecting their brain, heart or other organ systems and early death, ranging from infancy to middle age.' However, other experts have called for caution, with some arguing the decision to legalise the technology is premature. 'If it is safe and there are no side effects, then I would be happy for it to be implemented, but until we are absolutely sure, then I have big reservations about its use,' said Professor Jus St John, a mitochondrial genetics researcher at the University of Adelaide, Australia, whose research lab is currently trying to determine how safe mitochondrial donation is. 'We do not have sufficient data from large animal models.' Some senators echoed these concerns in a debate which included discussions of potential amendments to the bill. Proposed amendments included the removal of a technique which would destroy a fertilised egg, and the removal of immunity from civil actions. However, all amendments were voted down, meaning that the bill can become law without being sent back to Parliament. Professor Thorburn argued that the bill will protect against misuse of the technology: 'The regulatory environment has safeguards that will ensure it can only be used for the intended purpose and the reforms are consistent with international standards and best practice.' SOURCES & REFERENCES
[ Full Article ] Announcement: Clinical Embryology Dip.H.SpTM. Certification Examination Training program Starting September 2022
Director of Training and Development 21 April 2022
The Clinical Embryology Dip.H.SpTM. Certification Examination blended learning Training program will enable early-career Clinical Embryologist to demonstrate specialist knowledge and skill within their chosen discipline. The program is discipline-specific and suitable for highly motivated and talented Scientist who has long-term goals in clinical practice and research in Embryology. This course is intended to strengthen the existing experience and provides additional professional education. This program is quite challenging and demands high level of committment. The program combines hybrid models to delver learning and engagement activities. Because, Clinical Embryologist would often work with Physicians to deliver services, the training is very intensive and mimics the depth and difficulty as would find in Medical School; this helps to create a brilliant Clinical Embryologist who would be competent to pass any certifying examination at any level after completion. This educational Program and training include standards focused on the planning, design, and delivery in the form of Area Focused Competence AFC product - Clinical Embryology Certification Dip. H.SpTM program created to achieve an overarching outcome of ensuring that successful candidates are competent and effective Embryologist. This program should not be misconstrued as a form of Clinical Fellowship or recognized by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeon of Canada or other medical entities. It is a Canadian Proprietary Continuous Medical Education product that is legally standardized and Trade-Marked with regard to relevant Canadian laws and confers CBSAH Competences in Clinical Embryology. In some cases participant may elect to complete 2 -3 other courses – optional. That means that Physicians and Biological Scientists who complete this training would gain eligibility to sit for corresponding Dip.H.SpTM certification examination with 1-3 weeks of completion. The training meet the Core Competencies for Health Care Embryology Consultation developed by the AAB Board of Registry; a leading certifying board for Embryology Laboratory Scientists, Andrology Laboratory Scientists, Molecular Diagnostics Technologists The training will develop knowledge, skills and competence in clinical and research Embryology through reading, assignments, didactic discussion, diverse educational seminars, clinical observation, research training and participation, written assignments, journals and a project Educational objectives The trainee in Clinical Embryology will be responsible for obtaining knowledge and skills to be competent to participate in Embryology consultation, led by appropriate consultation leaders and Scientist Aim of this program To provide theoretical information and practical experience relating to some of the more complex techniques and procedures used within Clinical Embryology laboratories and be able to pass the Dip.H.SpTM certification examination within the stipulated time. Content Trainees will gain the knowledge and skills and be evaluated in several categories: 1) Clinical assessment skills; 2) Laboratory evaluation skills including clinical research design and methodologies; 3) Laboratory Management, IVF and oocyte biology, infertility and embryo culture, and current practices and controversies; trainees will be evaluated on core knowledge areas required for Embryology consultation in clinical and research settings including critical thinking, theory and practice of clinical embryology, common health care Embryology issues and concepts. Requirements:
Program Length; 4 Months. Prorgram Start Date 13- 09-2022 The program is immediately open for application Participants who are not Canadian residents and who have strong passion to attend this level of professional certification in Clinical Embryology, will be accepted. The program combines hybrid models to delver learning and engagement activities. Because, Clinical Embryologist would often work with Physicians to deliver services, the training is very intensive and mimics the depth and difficulty as would find in Medical School; this helps to create a brilliant Clinical Embryologist who would be competent to pass any certifying examination at any level after completion. It is to be noted that the delivery of this training is a blended format. It allows international students to be in Canada to undertake the training. However, due to regulations and medical licensure requirements in Canada, there would not be any form of Clinical practices or handling of patients or handling any regulated procedure in Canada while unto the training. Accepted candidates who meet all the requirements would be provide relevant documents to support successful visa application to enter Canada if required. Please check if you need visa to enter Canada By the end of the programme you should be able to: Identify when and how to perform certain specialised laboratory techniques / procedures, the reasons for performing them and understand / interpret their results (relevant to the course topics). Sit the Dip.H.SpTM Certification examination or MRCPath 1 Examination or AAB examination To apply, visit our website at http://cellmolecules.ca/national-clinical-embryologist-training-centre/ For enquiry, contact [email protected] [ Full Article ] Webinar: How to rescue your biomaterials from Ukraine safely. Dialog with experts and international life hack
Dr Uliana Dorofeyeva, Birol Aydin & Peter Hura 18 April 2022
Furthermore, a part of our talk will be dedicated to all possible steps to continue patient's treatment: 🔸how to continue treatment in a slovakian clinic, where materials are stored and what treatments can be available; 🔸treatment in different destinations in Europe; 🔸material transportation algorithm inside the EU, what the SEC coding is and how to get in for material evacuated from Ukraine 🔸is it possible to transport evacuated materials from Ukraine to worldwide - algorithm for the UK, Canada, USA, Australia, etc. We will answer the following questions: 🔸Who needs evacuation their samples ? 🔸Why does Ark Cryo ship all samples throught Slovakia ? Shipping schedule and possible delays 🔸What documents are required for shipping ? 🔸Shipping costs, does it changes, what is a reason for that ? What our offer includes 🔸Where samples can be shipped from Slovakia? 🔸What options do we have? 🔸How you can describe best cryo lab management? 🧷What kind of lab documents required for biomaterial shipment? 🧷Is there any risk for material mixed up during transportation? 🧷What’s the lower temperature range in dry shipper which can keep biomaterial still safety? [ Full Article ] Webinar: MORE OR LESS
International IVF Initiative 16 April 2022
Tuesday, 19th April at 3pm EST, 8pm UK, 9pm CET
Moderators: [ Full Article ] News: Reva University offers courses in Clinical Embryology
Reva University 16 April 2022
REVA University courses in Clinical Embryology These courses are more holistic, stress is also given to the existing guidelines, regulations and protocols that enable the candidates to perform embryology procedures ethically as well as accurately. TEACHING METHODOLOGY
EXTENSIVE PRACTICAL EXPOSURE:
ELIGIBILITY: For MSc in CEART- Graduates in Biological Sciences / Life Sciences (B.Sc./B.Tech./BE); Graduates in Medical Sciences (MBBS), Dental Sciences (BDS), Ayurveda (BAMS), Homeopathy (BHMS) and Unani Medicine (BUMS). For admission call or WhatsApp +91 98864 47093 [ Full Article ] News: ART & Embryology training program
Chennai Fertility Center and Research Institute 07 April 2022
May 2022 Training Batch Schedule -9th May - 23rd May 2022 The International School of Embryology was established to offer training for clinicians in advanced reproductive technologies. Our skill and precision to all aspirants help them to know in-depth knowledge and experience. The members of our teaching faculty aim to bring doctors and embryologists to the highest level of knowledge about reproductive techniques and practical capability in the field. Our courses cover basics in Andrology, embryology, ICSI, and cryosciences (Hands-on). Limited Seats. For admission Contact 9003111598 / 8428278218 [ Full Article ] Webinar: MIGHTY MOLECULES IN REPRODUCTION
International IVF Initiative 04 April 2022
Tuesday, 5th April at 3pm EST, 8pm UK, 9pm CET Panelists: Dr. Alison Bartolucci and Dr. Daniel Le Bourhis Presenting: [ Full Article ] News: IVF-conceived people have better quality of life
Dr Maria Botcharova 04 April 2022
A recent study found that adults conceived through fertility treatment may have a better quality of life in adulthood than those who were naturally conceived. Research has already investigated the health of IVF-conceived children, but data about adults is limited because IVF was first implemented relatively recently, in 1978. 'Our findings suggest that being ART [assisted reproductive technology]-conceived can provide some advantages on quality of life in adulthood, independent of other psychosocial factors,' said Dr Karin Hammarberg, lead author of the study at Monash University, Melbourne, Australia. The study looked at a group of 193 adults conceived through fertility treatment and 86 naturally conceived adults at two separate time points: when they were between 18 and 28 years old and then again between the ages of 22 and 35. The study also showed that regardless of their method of conception, adults who were in a better psychological and home environment at the first time point, were more likely to have higher quality of life at the second. 'Perhaps unsurprisingly, we also found that, independently of how the person was conceived, having a better relationship with parents, less psychological distress, and a better family financial situation in young adulthood contributed to a better adult quality of life,' Dr Hammarberg added. The psychological wellbeing of the two groups at both time points was assessed using the World Health Organisation Quality of Life – Brief Assessment (WHOQoL-BREF). It is based around four aspects of wellbeing. Physical, which concerns pain, sleep and energy levels; psychosocial, which includes questions on feelings, memory and learning; social relationships, on social support and relationships; and a fourth on their surrounding environment. Statistical tests showed that adults conceived through fertility treatment had significantly higher scores in the social relationships and environment sections of the test at the second time point. The researchers speculated that the positive results for children conceived through fertility treatment could reflect the fact that their parents may have a particularly strong desire for a commitment to parenthood. The two groups also completed a Kessler Psychological Distress questionnaire and an interview about psychological wellbeing at the first time point. The latter included questions around sexual orientation, financial situation, perceptions of their own weight, family relationships, friendships and exercise. The study was published in the journal Human Fertility. SOURCES & REFERENCES
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