MD, MSc, FRCOG
Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, Embryolab's Clinical and Scientific Director.
Dr Nicholas Christoforidis is a Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist with a sub-specialization in Reproductive Medicine and Assisted Reproductive Techniques.
He graduated the School of Medicine of the Aristotelian University of Thessaloniki,…
MD, MSc, FRCOG
Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, Embryolab's Clinical and Scientific Director.
Dr Nicholas Christoforidis is a Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist with a sub-specialization in Reproductive Medicine and Assisted Reproductive Techniques.
He graduated the School of Medicine of the Aristotelian University of Thessaloniki, Greece in 1995 and trained thereafter in Obstetrics and Gynaecology in the United Kingdom from 1995 until 2003. In 2001 he was appointed as a Fellow in the Imperial College, London, in the IVF Unit of Hammersmith Hospital, where he trained extensively in the investigation and management of infertility and assisted reproduction techniques.
He is the Clinical and Scientific Director of Embryolab Fertility Clinic, Thessaloniki, Greece, since 2004 with a considerable and long experience in all aspects of investigation and treatment of fertility disorders, focusing on evidence-based practices and highlighting critical aspects of risk management. He is co-founder of the Embryolab Academy, a nonprofit organization, which aims to guide Fertility specialists and IVF units to grow in a systematic, effective and safe way, through continuous training and sharing of sound practices.
He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, UK, and a member of European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) and the American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM).
PhD, MSc, PMI-RMP
Consultant Clinical Embryologist, Co-Founder of Embryolab Fertility Clinic.
Dr. Alexia Chatziparasidou is a Consultant Clinical Embryologist with an experience of more than 45.000 cycles in assisted reproduction (ART). Her scientific interests focus mainly on the application of modern oocyte and embryo freezing…
PhD, MSc, PMI-RMP
Consultant Clinical Embryologist, Co-Founder of Embryolab Fertility Clinic.
Dr. Alexia Chatziparasidou is a Consultant Clinical Embryologist with an experience of more than 45.000 cycles in assisted reproduction (ART). Her scientific interests focus mainly on the application of modern oocyte and embryo freezing methods and treating male sub-fertility and azoospermia. Since 2007 she has developed a special interest in efficient Total Quality Management (TQM) and Risk Management (RM) in ART units in the context of process optimization and standardization and the implementation of risk mitigation strategies.
In 2004, Mrs Chatziparasidou co-founded Embryolab, a well-known and modern state of the art fertility clinic, located in Thessaloniki Greece.
In 2007 she was awarded with her Master degree (MSc) on Clinical Embryology (Leeds University) and in 2008 she was certified by ESHRE as senior Clinical Embryologist.
In 2013 she co-founded Embryolab Academy and co-organized a series of international workshops on TQM and RM for ART units, cryopreservation and Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGT).
In 2020 she was certified with the PMI Risk Management Professional diploma.
Alexia Chatziparasidou travels the world as invited speaker in conferences and hands on workshops, is actively involved in research projects and training for all the modern ART lab techniques and is the author of a number of scientific articles, posters and chapters.
Her latest project is her thesis under the title: “The genetic basis of Azoospermia- The mystery that needs to be unraveled” in collaboration with the University of Thessaly. The aim of this project is to shed light in the genetic basis of azoospermia and set the basis for the development of personalized therapeutic options for men suffering from azoospermia.
Alexia Chatziparasidou enjoys to spend time with family and friends. She regards herself as very fortunate for being able to live her passion for science and be a part of all the latest scientific developments in the field of assisted reproduction but above all she feels extremely blessed for being able to serve and support men and women in their most wonderful journey. The journey to parenthood!
FRCPath, PhD
Dr Bryan Woodward is a free-lance reproductive scientist who specializes in trouble-shooting fertility clinics to improve andrology and embryology services. He has worked as a consultant for over 50 IVF clinics in countries across Europe, Africa, Asia and the Caribbean. He…
FRCPath, PhD
Dr Bryan Woodward is a free-lance reproductive scientist who specializes in trouble-shooting fertility clinics to improve andrology and embryology services. He has worked as a consultant for over 50 IVF clinics in countries across Europe, Africa, Asia and the Caribbean. He offers hands-on andrology and embryology training as required and also advises on Quality Management.
In 2008, he was awarded a PhD (University of Nottingham, UK) entitled ‘Trans-species study of factors affecting ICSI’. In the same year he was certified by ESHRE as a Senior Clinical Embryologist and by the Royal College of Pathology (UK) as a Fellow.
In 2016, he established X&Y Fertility in Leicester, UK, as a clinic to help treat male fertility. He is also the HFEA Person Responsible at the London branch of the European Sperm Bank.
In the UK, Bryan has served on the Executive Committees of the Association of Clinical Embryologists (ACE) and the Association of Biomedical Andrologists (ABA). He is currently the Coordinator of the ESHRE Steering Committee for Embryologist Certification.
He has co-edited books in the field of ART including “Troubleshooting and Problem Solving in the IVF laboratory”; “Male Infertility Sperm Diagnosis, Management and Delivery”; and “Female Infertility: Core Principles and Clinical Management”.
Bryan Woodward is also a keen mountaineer, having climbed two of the world’s highest peaks: Mt Aconcagua (Argentina) and Mt Elbrus (Russia).
Director IVF lab and Quality Management Team member– Post-doctoral fellow in the G-FAST research team at UGhent
PHD, MSc
My research experience started in the field of proteomics where I obtained a PhD in biomarker research in inflammatory arthritides at the University of Ghent in 2007. At that time, I combined my scientific enthusiasm with the responsibility of…
PHD, MSc
My research experience started in the field of proteomics where I obtained a PhD in biomarker research in inflammatory arthritides at the University of Ghent in 2007. At that time, I combined my scientific enthusiasm with the responsibility of quality manager for an accredited DNA fingerprinting laboratory. As a post-doctoral fellow, I got in touch with the group op Petra De Sutter, as we joined forces in several research projects. Because of my experience as a quality manager and my interest in the wonderful world of reproductive medicine, I started a new career at the department of Petra de Sutter in November 2009. I combined the task of quality manager of the fertility centre with scientific research in the area of fertility preservation. During the years, I combined quality management with project and laboratory process management.
Currently, I am the director of the Ghent University Hospital IVF lab, where I have the privilege to work with a very dynamic and enthusiastic team.
I am coordinator of the special interest group SQART at ESHRE, Belgian representative for EDQM at the Council of Europe and board member of international organization ICCBBA (ISBT-128).
MBBS MCE
Dr. Keshav Malhotra holds a masters degree in Clinical Embryology and is one of the few ESHRE certified Clinical Embryologists in INDIA. He is the Lab Director of Rainbow IVF and now the Director of Malhotra Embryology training Academy.…
MBBS MCE
Dr. Keshav Malhotra holds a masters degree in Clinical Embryology and is one of the few ESHRE certified Clinical Embryologists in INDIA. He is the Lab Director of Rainbow IVF and now the Director of Malhotra Embryology training Academy. Dr. Malhotra is on the board of ISAR and ISPAT and has worked on Key projects pertaining to Embryology in the country like the Occupational Standard for Embryologists and the Embryology Consensus.
GENERA Lab Supervisor, Senior Clinical Embryologist (ESHRE certified)
PhD, MSc
Roberta Maggiulli is an ESHRE-certified senior clinical embryologist.
She obtained her MSc in Biotechnology and post-graduate school of specialization in Clinical Biochemistry at the University of Parma, then she worked as Research Staff Associate at the Center for Reproductive Medicine…
PhD, MSc
Roberta Maggiulli is an ESHRE-certified senior clinical embryologist.
She obtained her MSc in Biotechnology and post-graduate school of specialization in Clinical Biochemistry at the University of Parma, then she worked as Research Staff Associate at the Center for Reproductive Medicine and Infertility of Weill Cornell Medical College of New York.
Since 2009 she is the lab supervisor of the GENERA center in Rome. At present she is a member of the scientific board of the Italian Society of Embryology, Reproduction and Research (SIERR).
Her interests encompass the validation and standardization of laboratory practices in IVF.
Panelist, Director of the Clinical Embryology Laboratory at IVI Valencia
PhD
Dr. Maria J. de los Santos started her career in 1991 in the IVF laboratory of IVI Valencia.
She received her PhD in Biology from University of Valencia in 1996, and from 1996-1999 she carried out her postdoctoral fellowship in Reproductive…
PhD
Dr. Maria J. de los Santos started her career in 1991 in the IVF laboratory of IVI Valencia.
She received her PhD in Biology from University of Valencia in 1996, and from 1996-1999 she carried out her postdoctoral fellowship in Reproductive Immunology at Fearing Research Laboratory at Harvard Medical School, under the supervision of Dr. Deborah Anderson and Dr. Joseph Hill.
She also worked as clinical embryologist at the Brigham and Women´s Hospital under the direction of Dr. Catherine Racowsky.
Education and Training:
B.Sc.
Biology. University of Valencia, Spain (1990)
Master Degree
Biology of Reproduction. University of Valencia, Spain (1991)
Ph.D (Biology)
Valencia School of Medicine. University of Valencia, Spain (1996)
Fellowship
Postdoctoral fellowship on Immunology of Reproduction at Fearing Research Laboratory. Harvard Medical School, MA, USA (1996-1999)
Co-Founder/ Director/ Consultant Embryologist IVF London
BSc (Hons), MSc, DipRCPath, UK
Alpesh is a consultant Clinical Embryologist and a co-founder of IVF London. He is also a co-founder and director of the Embryology and PGD Academy. Alpesh previously worked at the Centre for Reproductive and Genetic Health…
BSc (Hons), MSc, DipRCPath, UK
Alpesh is a consultant Clinical Embryologist and a co-founder of IVF London. He is also a co-founder and director of the Embryology and PGD Academy. Alpesh previously worked at the Centre for Reproductive and Genetic Health in the leading capacity as a Director of Embryology for 19 years and was pivotal in optimising the success rates. He was also an honorary consultant at the Reproductive Medicine Unit at UCLH NHS Trust. He holds a postgraduate degree in Human Reproductive Medicine and has qualified from the prestigious Imperial College School of Medicine.
Alpesh is a Diplomate of the Royal College of Pathologists and also a ESHRE certified Senior Embryologist. He has been an executive committee member of several international embryology societies and holds a very active interest in promoting education platforms through these professional bodies. He was among the first scientists to bring the egg and embryo freezing technology of ‘vitrification’ to the UK in 2007. He is a world renowned expert in the biopsy of human embryos for genetic testing.
Alpesh has authored several papers in high impact journals and written several book chapters in addition to being an honorary lecturer at University College London where he teaches embryology on two of the Masters courses. He has been an invited speaker in many international conferences and workshops as well as several Health chat shows on television including Zee TV and ITV’s This morning. Alpesh has a special interest in fertility preservation, preimplantation genetic diagnosis and genome editing of embryos.
Embryologist at San Raffaele Hospital, Senior Deputy of the SIG SQART - ESHRE
PhD, MSc
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
January 2021: Review Editor of Frontiers Reproductive Health Journal.
June 2019- at present: Senior Deputy of the Special Interest Group on Safety and Quality in ART (SIG SQART) of European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE).
January 2019- at present: Member of…
PhD, MSc
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
January 2021: Review Editor of Frontiers Reproductive Health Journal. June 2019- at present: Senior Deputy of the Special Interest Group on Safety and Quality in ART (SIG SQART) of European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE). January 2019- at present: Member of the Editorial Board of the Notify Library June 2018: Principal Investigator of the study: Does partial zona pellucida removal from vitrified-warmed human blastocysts improve delivery rate in in vitro fertilization? A multicentric RCT on Laser Assisted Hatching. IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy. July 2017-June 2019: Junior Deputy of the Special Interest Group on Safety and Quality in ART (SIG SQART) of European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE). September 2015-present: Embryologist at San Raffaele Hospital, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy November 2011- 2015: Embryologist at Ferticlinic-Villa Margherita, Rome, Italy. January 2011-September 2011: Postdoctoral fellowship at Development and Therapy of the Muscle Lab, Division of Regenerative Medicine, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.
EDUCATION
January 2021- at present: School of Specialization in Microbiology and Virology, University of Pavia, Italy July 2018: ESHRE Senior Clinical Embryologist Certification June 2015: ESHRE Clinical Embryologist Certification February 2014 - June 2014: “Course of Biology and news technologies in Assisted Reproductive Technology” at Federico II University, Naples, Italy. November 2007 - February 2011: PhD in Cellular Biology and Development at Department of Cellular Biology and Development, Sapienza-University of Rome, Rome, Italy. Thesis title: “Role of differentiation associated-microRNAs in the regulation of myogenesis and the control of cell transformation”. February 2005 - May 2007: Master degree in Genetics and Molecular Biology at Sapienza-University of Rome, Rome, Italy. Thesis title: "MicroRNAs in muscle differentiation control” (110/100 cum laude). September 2001 - February 2005: Bachelor degree in Biological Sciences at Sapienza-University of Rome, Rome, Italy. Thesis title: "Interaction between early adenoviral products and cell functions" (110/100 cum laude).
USA
Alexis Adler has worked for over 30 years in human reproduction, becoming an early embryologist at the start of the Cornell University program with Dr. Michael Bedford, helping to establish the laboratory that was joined by Drs. Jacques Cohen, Santiago Munne…
USA
Alexis Adlerhas worked for over 30 years in human reproduction, becoming an early embryologist at the start of the Cornell University program with Dr. Michael Bedford, helping to establish the laboratory that was joined by Drs. Jacques Cohen, Santiago Munne and Gianpiero Palermo among others. The protocols devised at Cornell are still the foundation of human embryology and are still in use today, worldwide in part to our regular seminars and consulting. Adler left Cornell, with Dr. Jamie Grifo, establishing the NYU laboratory that she ran for almost 20 years before diverging into the art world while continuing to consult in embryology. During her time at NYU she had the opportunity to work with Dr. John Zhang on his grounbreaking work on GV transfer and help establish a laboratory in his home town of Hang Zhou which she visited in 2019 to celebrate the 20 year anniversary celebration. Adler helped to initiate blastocyst culture along with developing the TE biopsy/vitrfication program at NYU that has become the backbone of that clinic, improving the pregnancy potential of all patients but especially the older patients whose embryos are plagued by aneuploidy and treating patients with genetic disease and those who have failed IVF previously. Since leaving NYU, Adler has worked at New Hope Fertility, CCRM, and Extend Fertility.
Adler has authored or co-authored more than 40 publications, presenting papers nationally and internationally. Adler has also consulted at clinics in the U.S. and around the world as well as served as the chairperson of the NY Embryologist Society and as the chairperson of the embryologist society within ASRM. Adler has reviewed papers for various journals and has been actively involved in establishing guidelines and developing programs in embryology.
