Plenary lectures

Danilo Cimadomo

Danilo Cimadomo is Science and Research manager of Genera and Director of Innovation in Embryology of the IVIRMA Global Research Alliance.
He received his BSc and MSc degrees at the University of Pavia in "Medical Biotechnologies" and "Molecular Biology and Genetics", and its PhD at the University of Rome "Sapienza" in "Morphogenesis and Tissue Engineering".
He has authored over 13o papers in the field of reproductive medicine, biology and genetics.
He is Basic Science Officer and Coordinator Elect of the ESHRE SIG in implantation and early pregnancy (SIGIEP).
He was part of the ESHRE working groups that updated the GPR for embryo biopsy in IVF and for the definition, diagnosis, and treatment of RIF.
He is part of the scientific committee of the Italian Society of embryology, reproduction, and research (SIERR) with the role of coordinator of the SIG clinical embryology.
He is associate editor of Human Reproduction and Section Editor in Clinical Embryology of Reproductive BioMedicine Online.
He is the co-coordinator with Professor Maurizio Zuccotti of the Master course "Biology and Biotechnology of Reproduction: from Research to Clinics" at the University of Pavia.

Helen M. Picton

Prof Helen Picton is Professor of Reproduction and Early Development in the School of Medicine at Leeds University, UK. Her research is focussed on the cell and molecular biology of oogenesis, folliculogenesis and embryogenesis in large animals and humans. This fundamental research is used to understand female infertile aetiologies, to improve infertility treatments and to develop methods for female fertility preservation. She has published over 130 research papers, reviews and book chapters. She is the Director of 2 MSc programmes in Clinical Embryology and ART hosted by Leeds University and was Scientific Director of Leeds Fertility within the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (1999-2021). She is a former Chair of the UK Society for Reproduction and Fertility and joint executive of the British Fertility Societies and former coordinator of the ESHRE task force on fertility preservation in severe diseases.

Herman Tournaye

Herman Tournaye obtained his MD in 1986 and PhD in 1994 from the Brussels Free University, Belgium.
He is a full Professor at the Medical School of Brussels Free University where he teaches developmental biology and embryology for both biomedical and medical students and reproductive medicine for medical students.
He has authored over 490 peer-reviewed papers, including >55 as a first and >80 as a last author (Web of Science h-index of 70) within the fields of reproductive and developmental biology, andrology, assisted reproduction, genetics and fertility.
He has published ~60 book chapters and is active as a peer reviewer for international high impact journals.
He is currently the Director of Brussels IVF, the Center for Reproductive Medicine of UZBrussel, the University Hospital of the Dutch-speaking Brussels Free University (VUB).