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CONGRESS COURSE 02
Sunday, 1 July 2018 I Room 116
Foundations and developments in culture systems for IVF
Organised by Special Interest Group Embryology
COURSE COORDINATORS
Giovanni Coticchio (Italy), Susanna Apter (Finland), Maria José de los Santos (Spain), Sophie Debrock (Belgium), Debbie Montjean (France), Roger Sturmey (United Kingdom)
COURSE TYPE
Advanced
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This precongress course offers a comprehensive view of culture systems used in human IVF. Understandably, culture media are constantly under the spotlights of embryologists and reproductive scientists, but in fact they interact with a myriad of other factors that in their turn can support or affect gamete and embryo function in vitro. “System” is therefore the course key word. Starting from a historical perspective, the course will identify and describe the action of the various components of a culture system. It will then cover more specific and practical questions, such as optimization of culture systems, appreciation of the relative value of single use
and sequential media and the achievements and limitations of time lapse microscopy systems. The course will also give a glimpse to the future of culture media, raising the question of whether embryo quality, if intrinsically compromised, can be improved in vitro by using ad hoc media formulations.
TARGET AUDIENCE
Clinical embryologists, biotechnologists and reproductive specialists
EDUCATIONAL NEEDS AND EXPECTED OUTCOMES
Culture systems are the very heart of the IVF lab, but too often the modalities by which they are chosen and used are not supported by evidence. In order to achieve the best performance, in the first place the components of culture systems and their interplay require thorough understanding. This is essential to descriminate between practices that are indeed appropriate and beneficial from those that are neutral or detrimental. Understanding of a culture system also assists in crucial decisions, such the choice of culture media (sequential or single use), or the adoption of a time lapse microscopy system. Research in culture systems will ultimately lead to major progresses in human IVF, such as personalised culture media for embryos derived from metabolically affected individuals.
The course will offer both basic and advanced information on culture systems, filling gaps of knowledge in this area and offering tools by which culture systems can be better understood, managed and ultimately improved.
Chairs: Giovanni Coticchio, Italy and Mónica Marques, Portugal
09:00 - 09:30
09:30 - 09:45 09:45 - 10:15
10:15 - 10:30 10:30 - 11:00
History and diversity of culture systems in human IVF
Arne Sunde, Norway
Discussion
Lessons from the bovine model for embryo culture development

Ann Van Soom, Belgium
Discussion Coffee break
FINAL PROGRAMME I BARCELONA, SPAIN – 1 TO 4 JULY 2018 33
PRECONGRESS COURSES