Bruno Lunenfeld Lecture
Joop Laven
Joop Laven
Short CV Professor Joop S.E. Laven
Professor of Reproductive Medicine, Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam The Netherlands.
Professor Joop S.E. Laven is professor in Obstetrics and Gynaecology and a subspecialist Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. He is a member of ESHRE, ASRM, the Endocrine Society, the Society for Reproductive Investigation (SRI) and the Royal Dutch College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. He is the past president of the Dutch Society of Reproductive Medicine. He is also the current president of the Androgen Excess PCOS society.
For many years he had a particular interest in the management of polycystic ovary syndrome covering the full spectrum from the effects of the syndrome during adolescence and adult life on the menstrual cycle, fertility, body weight and long-term health risks. More recently he focussed on the genetic basis of reproductive ageing and was involved in Genome Wide Association Studies (GWAS) exploring the genetic basis of PCOS, premature ovarian insufficiency, menarche and menopause.
Clinical work focuses on women’s health in particular reproductive endocrinology and menopause as well as on infertility treatment and ART and pregnancy outcome in infertile couples especially women with PCOS. He is the person Responsible for the Rotterdam Erasmus MC Reproductive Medicine Unit, which performs approximately 2400 IVF cycles per year. Works as a full-time clinician and is currently head of the Division of Reproductive Medicine of the department of OBGYN at Erasmus MC in Rotterdam.
He has published over 400 peer-reviewed papers and several reviews as well as chapters in books, and has delivered over 300 lectures to international scientific audiences. He was a member of the editorial board of Human Reproduction Update, Human Reproduction and is currently associate editor of the Journal of the Endocrine Society.
Currently he is living together with Annemarie Rietveld, he is the proud father of 4 sons. In his rare free private hours you might see him fly-fishing or biking or just being lazy on Sunday mornings listening to Van Morrison.
Keynote Speakers
Denny Sakkas
Denny Sakkas
Denny Sakkas PhD has been involved in the field of In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) since the early 1980s, having gained his Ph. D. under the supervision of Prof. Alan Trounson at Monash University, in one of the leading Reproductive Research Units in the world. During this period, he was responsible for disseminating a number of innovations to laboratories around the world, which are used in routine IVF today. Included in this, was training many groups to perform micromanipulation and the initiation of blastocyst culture. He has subsequently headed his own Research Laboratories and been the Scientific/Laboratory Director of IVF units in Europe and the USA. He has also aided numerous groups in establishing their own IVF units around the world.
Dr. Sakkas has extensive experience in clinical IVF and reproductive research publishing more than 240 papers in the field of fertilization, early embryo development and male infertility. His papers have been cited over 23,000 times and his H-Index is >80 placing him in the highest group in the field of IVF. He has been involved in novel research, which has improved laboratory practice and our understanding in areas of sperm DNA through to noninvasive methods of assessing embryos. He has also trained many PhD, Masters and Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility fellows. He is internationally recognized and is a sought after speaker presenting frequently at both ASRM and ESHRE and organizing numerous international conferences.
Dr. Sakkas has been extensively funded in his research career and continues to work on innovations in the area of human and animal reproduction. He now currently serves as the Chief Scientific Officer of Boston IVF and IVIRMA North America. He is also an Associate Professor at the Yale University School of Medicine.
Elizabeth S. Ginsburg
Elizabeth S. Ginsburg
Dr Ginsburg completed her residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology and fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at Brigham & Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School. She is currently the President- Elect of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), and has held several positions within the ASRM in the past including president of the society for assisted reproductive technologies (SART). She is the past Medical Director of the in vitro fertilization program at Brigham & Women’s Hospital, and is the reproductive endocrinology and infertility fellowship program director there. Her clinical and research interests have focused on in vitro fertilization outcomes and complications, and fertility preservation for cancer patients.
Jose Polo
Jose Polo
Professor Jose M. Polo FAA is the inaugural Director of the Adelaide Centre for Epigenetics (ACE), the Program leader at the South Australian immunoGENomics Cancer Institute (SAiGENCI), University of Adelaide, and Group Leader in the Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology and the Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute at Monash University. He is an expert in cellular reprogramming, epigenetics, stem cell biology and the development of organoid models using iPSCs. Since obtaining his PhD in 2008, Professor Polo has been a major force in innovating and advancing the reprogramming and stem cell field, with a focus on molecular mechanisms, epigenetic memory and utilizing reprogramming techniques to pioneer in vitro models of placenta and early human embryos. His research also extends to cancer, ageing and neurodegenerative diseases. His work has been recognised with multiple awards including the Metcalf Award from the National Stem Cell Foundation, the NHMRC Fiona Stanley Research Excellence Award and the President’s Medal Award from the Australian and New Zealand Society for Cell and Developmental Biology. In 2024 Professor Polo was elected as a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science. In 2016, Professor Polo co-founded Cell Mogrify Pty Ltd to translate reprogramming into therapies. Mogrify has received several accolades, including the 2019 MSD’s Innovation Award at the 15th Annual Scrip Ceremony.
Karin Hammarberg
Karin Hammarberg
Karin Hammarberg RN BSc PhD
Karin is a Registered Nurse with 20 years’ experience as clinical coordinator of IVF programs. She completed a PhD in 2006 is now Senior Research Fellow at Monash University and Senior Research Officer at the Victorian Assisted Reproductive Treatment Authority in Melbourne, Australia. Karin’s main research interests are fertility and preconception health promotion; the psychosocial aspects of infertility and infertility treatment; health and development of children born as a result of assisted conception; infertility care in resource-constrained settings, and women’s health in midlife.
Ying Cheong
Ying Cheong
Name: Professor Ying Cheong
Position/Occupation: Professor in Reproductive Medicine, University of Southampton
University / Hospital / Association: University of Southampton; Complete Fertility Centre Southampton
Biography: Ying is a Subspecialist in Reproductive Medicine and Surgery and the Professor of Reproductive Medicine. She is the Medical Director of Complete Fertility Centre Southampton, UK. Ying’s research is on the endometrium and its environment for implantation and works across discipline with the School of Electronics and Computer Science, University of Southampton in the development of medical devices. She holds several NIHR and commercial grants and is an experience clinical trialist. She is currently ESHRE Special Interest Group Coordinator for Reproductive Endocrinology and Editor to several journals. Ying is active in undergraduate and postgraduate teaching.
Zi-Jiang Chen
Zi-Jiang Chen
Zi-Jiang Chen, M.D., Ph.D
Institute of Women, Children and Reproductive Health
Shandong University
Jinan, China
E-mail: chenzijiang@vip.163.com ; zjchen59@sdu.edu.cn
Chair and Professor of Center for Reproductive Medicine and Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, China. President of Institute of Women, Children and Reproductive Health, and Director of the National Research Center for ART and Reproductive Genetics, China. The Chief Expert of National Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, China.
Professor Chen is an academician of Chinese Academy of Sciences. She works as a leading clinical researcher and physician in reproductive medicine, focusing on infertility, as well as reproductive health and birth defects. She has led a series of RCTs in assisted reproduction field and made numerous transformative and original findings. She has published more than 300 peer-reviewed articles as the corresponding author in journals including N Engl J Med, Lancet, JAMA, Nature, Cell, Science, Nat Med, Nat Genet, PNAS, etc. She has presented in many international conferences, including those organized by the IFFS, ASPIRE, ESPE, ASRM and ESHRE. She is currently the Envoy to International Organizations of the International Federation of Fertility Societies (IFFS).
Pre-Congress Faculty
Arthur Chang
Arthur Chang
Professor Arthur Chang
Tiencheng Arthur Chang, PhD, HCLD, ELD, CC, is Professor of OB/GYN at the University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas, USA, and Director of Clinical ART Laboratories at UT Health Reproductive Health & Fertility Center and US DoD’s Brooke Army Medical Center. Prof. Chang received his bachelor’s degree from National Taiwan University, Taiwan, MS and PhD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA. He is board certified as High-complexity Clinical Laboratory Director (HCLD), Embryology Laboratory Director (ELD), and Clinical Consultant (CC) by American Board of Bioanalysis (ABB).
Prof. Chang’s clinical and research interests include IVF, embryology, implantation, 3D and extended embryo culture, artificial embryo, PGT, ART laboratory management and business models, as well as nonhuman primate model for reproductive medicine. He has served on numerous leadership and committee positions worldwide, including American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM: Board, committee chairs), Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART: Board, committee chairs), Society of Reproductive Biologists and Technologists (SRBT: President, Board, committee chairs), American Association of Bioanalysts – College of Reproductive Biology (AAB-CRB: President, Board, committee chairs), Asia Pacific Initiative on Reproduction (ASPIRE: Board, SIG co-chair), Taiwanese Society for Reproductive Medicine (TSRM), and Society for the Study of Reproduction (SSR). He is associate editor for Journal of Assisted Reproduction & Genetics (JARG), section editor for Reproductive Biology & Endocrinology (RB&E), accreditation inspector for College of American Pathologists (CAP), off-site director for ART and CLIA laboratories, and consultant to governments and the industry. He has received 2 ASRM Service Milestone Awards and 8 times ASRM Star Award for his research and professional service contributions.
Andreu Vives Perello
Andreu Vives Perello
Andreu Vives Perelló
Senior Embryologist | Scientific Advisor | Medical Scientific Liaison
Kitazato – Dibimed, España.
Andreu holds a degree in Biotechnology with a specialization in Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology from the Autonomous University of Barcelona, Spain. He also completed a Master’s in Reproductive Biology and Assisted Human Reproduction Techniques at Dexeus University Hospital in Barcelona, earning the distinction of Excellent and Honours.
He has contributed to multiple scientific studies, focusing on embryonic morphokinetics and developing embryo prediction algorithms using Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence. Andreu has worked as a clinical embryologist in renowned IVF clinics in Italy and Spain, including EUGIN Clinic in Barcelona. Alongside his clinical work, he has trained and mentored over 3,000 embryologists worldwide, sharing his expertise to support the next generation of professionals.
In 2022, Andreu joined Kitazato – Dibimed as Senior Embryologist and Scientific Advisor. Currently, he serves as Medical Scientific Liaison and Scientific Coordinator, focusing on innovation and the development of new products and protocols for Kitazato. He is committed to providing technical, scientific, and educational support to clinics and embryologists globally, enhancing laboratory procedures and advancing the field of assisted reproduction.
Astor Tse
Astor Tse
Astor Tse is highly dedicated and accomplished nurse who has made significant contributions to the field of reproductive medicine in Hong Kong, graduating as a Registration Nurse in 2000, Astor began her career at Kwong Wah Hospital, where she honed her skills in the operation theater for five years.
In 2006, Astor made a pivotal career move and joined the Union Hospital Reproductive Medicine Centre as a nurse in charge. Now she is a centre manager in Union Hospital. Astor places great emphasis on creating a positive and happy working environment. Her leaderships skill and dedication have fostered a supportive and nurturing atmosphere for her colleagues, leading to increased employee morale and improved patient care.
In 2023, Astor has been appointed as the president of The Society of Reproductive Medicine and the Nurse and Counsellor Association. Her expertise and passion for the filed have been invaluable in the success and growth of the field in Hong Kong.
Celia Chan
Celia Chan
Celia is Professor at the School of Social Work, Melbourne School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry, and Health Sciences at the University of Melbourne, and Honorary Professor at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, the University of Hong Kong. She currently serves as Coordinator (Hong Kong and China) of the International Infertility Counseling Organization and Co-Chair of the Psychology and Counseling Special Interest Group at ASPIRE (2025–2027). A social work researcher-practitioner-educator with a specialization in reproductive medicine, Celia works closely with interdisciplinary professionals to integrate clinical expertise, research evidence, and policy development. She also plays an active role in professional capacity building through international workshops, practitioner training, and curriculum development.
As a leading figure in fertility and infertility counseling in the Asia-Pacific region, Celia is committed to advancing research, practice, and education on psychosocial issues related to reproductive health. Her work spans fertility and infertility, assisted reproductive technologies (ART), donor-assisted and third-party reproduction, pregnancy loss, and women’s mental health. She provides psychological assessments, individual and couple counseling, and has led professional training for healthcare professionals across medical and psychosocial fields. She also promotes public education on fertility and reproductive well-being and has recently developed integrated perinatal bereavement care for families affected by miscarriage, stillbirth, and neonatal loss.
Celia’s research and teaching interests focus on interdisciplinary medical social work, ART regulation, and evidence-based practice. She is internationally recognized for developing the Integrative Body-Mind-Spirit (I-BMS) Intervention Model, which blends Eastern philosophies with Western therapeutic approaches to support holistic well-being. Her current research involves cross-national studies in Asia-Pacific countries to examine culturally responsive psychosocial interventions in reproductive and maternal health. Her work bridges clinical practice, academic research, education, and policy engagement to improve services and outcomes for individuals and families navigating complex reproductive and health-related challenges.
Deepak Modi
Deepak Modi
Prof Deepak Modi is a senior scientist a the ICMR-National Institute of Research in Reproductive and Child Health. His research focus on mechanisms that drive embryo implantation and disorders of the endometrium and genetics of male and female infertility. He is the elected fellow aof the National Academy of Sciences India and ranked in the Top 2% of scientists in the world by Stanford University.
Editorial board member
- Fertility Science and Research
- Human Reproduction
- Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics
DESIGNATION:
Scientist G and Head
CURRENT AFFILIATION:
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Laboratory
- ICMR-National Institute for Research in Reproductive and Child Health
RESEARCH AREA:
- Mechanisms in embryo implantation and placental development
- Genetics of infertility and sexual development
- COVID-19 and reproduction
MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS:
- Elected Fellow of National Academy of Sciences India (NASI) 2020
- Ranked in the Top 2% of scientists in the world by Stanford University
Recipient of the
- INSA young Scientist award
- National academy of Sciences India (NASI) Young Scientist award
- Innovative Young Biotechnologist Award 2007
- ICMR Young scientist award
- PM Bhargava Oration award
Gab Kovacs
Gab Kovacs
Gab Kovacs is Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Monash University, and Consultant Emeritus at Epworth Healthcare, Melbourne.
Gab was a Member of the Monash IVF team with Carl Wood and Alan Trounson when they achieved the world’s 3rd to 13th IVF babies in the world. He has been Clinical Administrator, Director of Andrology, Medical Director and a Board Member of Monash IVF until the company was listed on the ASX and he retired from IVF.
From 1981 to 1991 he was Medical Director of FPA Victoria, later becoming Chair of the Board of Family Planning Australia 1996-2000.
He was Director of O & G at Eastern Health, including Box Hill Hospital (1991-2007) and then Director of the O & G Institute at Epworth Healthcare from 2014-2020. He has been a Board Member of Northern Health (a public hospital in North of Melbourne) and also Board Chair of Day Hospitals Australia for a term.
Academically, he has 179 publications in journals (159 peer reviewed) has written/co-written 43 chapters in text books, is the author/co-author of 6 books for the lay public, a student text book and has edited/coedited 17 text books ( 15 for Cambridge University Press)
He was Associate Editor of Human Reproduction 2005-2009 and Foundation Editor in Chief of Fertility and Reproduction (The Journal of ASPIRE) 2018-2024
His hon0urs include, Member of the Order of Australia, Distinguished Alumni Award, Monash University 2011, Distinguished Service Medal of RANZCOG, Life memberships of The Fertility Society of Australia (FSANZ), International Federation of Fertility Societies, and Family Planning Victoria,
Hong-Yuan Huang
Hong-Yuan Huang
Hong-Yuan Huang, MD.
Professor Hong-Yuan Huang received his MD from Chung-Shan Medical University in Tai-Chung, Taiwan. He held the position of Professor and Deputy chair in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital. He completed his fellowship in reproductive immunology in Stanford University, United States.
Professor Huang is also a full Professor of the Chang Gung University and College of Medicine. He has published and recognized as author or co-author of more than 120 peer-reviewed articles. and is a past President of the Taiwanese Society for Reproductive Medicine (TSRM) and Taiwanese Menopause Society (TMS). He is presently served as President of Taiwan Endometriosis Society (TES). His research is aimed at various aspects of reproductive medicine; especially in reproductive endocrinology and immunology, endometriosis, microfluidic biology and nanomedicine.
Joop Laven
Joop Laven
Short CV Professor Joop S.E. Laven
Professor of Reproductive Medicine, Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam The Netherlands.
Professor Joop S.E. Laven is professor in Obstetrics and Gynaecology and a subspecialist Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. He is a member of ESHRE, ASRM, the Endocrine Society, the Society for Reproductive Investigation (SRI) and the Royal Dutch College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. He is the past president of the Dutch Society of Reproductive Medicine. He is also the current president of the Androgen Excess PCOS society.
For many years he had a particular interest in the management of polycystic ovary syndrome covering the full spectrum from the effects of the syndrome during adolescence and adult life on the menstrual cycle, fertility, body weight and long-term health risks. More recently he focussed on the genetic basis of reproductive ageing and was involved in Genome Wide Association Studies (GWAS) exploring the genetic basis of PCOS, premature ovarian insufficiency, menarche and menopause.
Clinical work focuses on women’s health in particular reproductive endocrinology and menopause as well as on infertility treatment and ART and pregnancy outcome in infertile couples especially women with PCOS. He is the person Responsible for the Rotterdam Erasmus MC Reproductive Medicine Unit, which performs approximately 2400 IVF cycles per year. Works as a full-time clinician and is currently head of the Division of Reproductive Medicine of the department of OBGYN at Erasmus MC in Rotterdam.
He has published over 400 peer-reviewed papers and several reviews as well as chapters in books, and has delivered over 300 lectures to international scientific audiences. He was a member of the editorial board of Human Reproduction Update, Human Reproduction and is currently associate editor of the Journal of the Endocrine Society.
Currently he is living together with Annemarie Rietveld, he is the proud father of 4 sons. In his rare free private hours you might see him fly-fishing or biking or just being lazy on Sunday mornings listening to Van Morrison.
Karin Hammarberg
Karin Hammarberg
Karin Hammarberg RN BSc PhD
Karin is a Registered Nurse with 20 years’ experience as clinical coordinator of IVF programs. She completed a PhD in 2006 is now Senior Research Fellow at Monash University and Senior Research Officer at the Victorian Assisted Reproductive Treatment Authority in Melbourne, Australia. Karin’s main research interests are fertility and preconception health promotion; the psychosocial aspects of infertility and infertility treatment; health and development of children born as a result of assisted conception; infertility care in resource-constrained settings, and women’s health in midlife.
Kenji Ezoe
Kenji Ezoe
Kenji Ezoe is a senior scientist at the R&D laboratory of the Kato Ladies Clinic in Tokyo, Japan. He obtained his Ph.D. degree in agriculture from the Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology. His research interests include fertilization, embryology, cryopreservation, and blastocyst implantation.
Kai Hong
Kai Hong
Kai HONG, MD, PhD
Deputy Director of Urology and Reproductive Medicine Center,
Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China.
Dr. Hong is recognized as the leading male infertility microsurgeon in China. He received his MD, PhD and clinical training from Peking University with additional clinical and research training from prestigious institutions such as Cleveland Clinic, New York Presbyterian Hospital, and the Department of Urology in UCSF. In 2002, Dr. Hong was recruited to the Department of Urology at Peking University Third Hospital and later promoted there to full Professor and Deputy Director of Urology and Reproductive Medicine Center.
Dr. Hong’s clinical work and research focus on male infertility, especially in azoospermia, and he specializes in male infertility microsurgery. Dr. Hong is known for pioneering procedures in China such as microsurgical testicular sperm extraction, microsurgical vasoepididymostomy etc. His research has been well funded by the Ministry of Science and Technology in China. He has authored over 50 papers in SCI journals, more than 30 articles in Chinese core journals, and edited 24 books and translations.
Dr. Hong’s work has been recognized with several prestigious awards including the Third Prize of Chinese Medical Science and Technology in 2019 and the Second Prize of the Beijing Medical Science and Technology Award in 2018. In 2017, Dr. Hong was honored with “The Great Physician of the Nation” by the Chinese Medical Association and People’s Daily.
With a track record of publication, funding support, and merit awards, Dr. Hong has also played significant leadership roles and contributed to multiple guidelines and consensus documents within the medical community. Dr. Hong currently serves as the executive committee member and the secretary general of Chinese Society of Andrology (CSA), Vice Chairman of the Male Reproduction Group of the Reproductive Medicine Association of the Chinese Medical Doctor Association, and Editorial board member of several medical journals.
Muhsinah Aleem
Muhsinah Aleem
I am a dedicated fertility nurse with over a decade of experience in reproductive healthcare. I began my career in 2011 at the National University Hospital (NUH) in Singapore, where I first developed my passion for fertility nursing. I graduated from Nanyang Polytechnic’s School of Nursing in 2010, and shortly after, I joined NUH as a fertility nurse, where I have contributed to the care and support of individuals and couples throughout their fertility journey.
In 2014, I expanded my knowledge and expertise by pursuing a Bachelor of Nursing from the University of Sydney, further enhancing my clinical skills and understanding of nursing in a global context. My commitment to advancing my education led me to obtain an Advanced Diploma in Nursing Management, where I focused on leadership and management skills to support my team better and improve patient care.
Throughout my career, I have gained invaluable experience in assisting with a range of fertility treatments and providing patients with both medical and emotional support. I am passionate about helping individuals navigate the complex and often challenging fertility process, offering compassionate care at every stage of their journey.
Rui Wang
Rui Wang
Dr Rui Wang is a reproductive epidemiologist and senior research fellow at the NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre, University of Sydney.
His main clinical research interests include infertility, polycystic ovary syndrome, fallopian tube disorders, endometriosis, assisted reproduction, early pregnancy complications and preterm birth. His methods interests include clinical trials, registry-based studies and meta-analysis.
He has led many large international collaborative evidence synthesis projects in reproductive medicine and has established multiple international collaborative networks involving trialists, clinicians and methodologists to share and reuse data from clinical trials, including the Ovulation Induction, IUI, INFORM, Venus and IHABT Collaborations. He has been collaborating closely with multiple fertility clinics in the Asia-Pacific region and Europe on large randomised controlled trials, registry-based studies and observational studies.
Rui is currently appointed as a Deputy Editor of Human Reproduction, an editorial board member of BJOG and the Cochrane Gynaecology and Fertility Group.
Robert Norman
Robert Norman
Professor Robert Norman
Professor Robert Norman holds a personal chair as Emeritus Professor for Reproductive and Periconceptual Medicine at the University of Adelaide, and is a subspecialist in reproductive medicine (CREI) and in endocrine biochemistry (FRCPA). He was founding Director of the Robinson Research Institute at the University of Adelaide from 2008 to 2013. He has been President of the AE-PCOS Society, the Asia Pacific Initiative on Reproduction (ASPIRE) and leader of 2 Australian NHMRC Program grants while serving on several senior NHMRC Principal Committees. He is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences and was awarded an Order of Australia (AO) in 2013. He has more than 650 publications, an h score of 128 and 86000 citations. His major research contributions have been in IVF and reproductive endocrinology, particularly in PCOS, the effect of lifestyle on reproductive outcomes and periconception medicine. He was Medical Director at Fertility SA 2013-2018 and was an active reproductive medicine specialist at the Royal Adelaide Hospital. He was awarded the Distinguished Researcher Award by ASRM, Life Membership by ESHRE and the Fertility Society of Australia and the Lifetime Achievement Award by ASPIRE. He remains active as teacher, mentor and researcher while acting as an Editorial Editor for Fertility and Sterility.
Rebecca Kerner
Rebecca Kerner
Rebecca Kerner is an UK-trained, independent and private practice Psychotherapist and Senior Counsellor with over 24 years international experience specialising in infertility, grief and relationship issues. She has worked with individuals and couples in the UK, New Zealand, and Australia, and is a passionate advocate for patient centred care. Rebecca is the chair of the Australian and New Zealand Infertility Counsellors Association (ANZICA) and the Psychology and Counselling Special Interest group for the Asia Pacific Initiative on Reproduction (ASPIRE). She is also a person with a lived experience of infertility and the struggle to create a family.
Amongst her advocacy work, Rebecca has created the short film series “Care to Listen and Listen to Care,” helping to provide a voice for patients going through fertility treatment. She has also been a contributor to the Merck Serono Patient Podcast “Talking Pineapples”, this time providing guidance to patients in navigating the “Two week Wait “ https://www.merckgroup.com/au-en/podcasts/talking-pineapples-podcasts/talking-pineapple-episode-2.html
In her work with ANZICA, she has led numerous parliamentary submissions both at state and national levels, including the call for an urgent parliamentary inquiry into prolific online semen donors, and the need for a national donor conception register. She has also appeared before the Australian Senate Community Affairs Committee Inquiry Community into the Mitochondrial Donation Law Reform (Maeve’s Law) Bill 2021 and has sat on the Australian Guideline Development Group for the Australian adaptation of the evidence-based guideline for Unexplained Infertility.
Rebecca has been excited to help build the newly formed ASPIRE Psychology and Counselling SIG along with her Co-Chair Assoc Prof Sonja Goedeke and her fellow SIG leaders. The SIG has a clear focus in helping to promote an awareness of the crucial importance and understanding of the psychosocial issues, both short and long term, for those who access ART in the Asia Pacific.
Robert Lahoud
Robert Lahoud
Dr Robert Lahoud (MBBS, MMed, FRANZCOG, CREI)
Rob is a specialist doctor and has been a board-certified subspecialist in reproductive endocrinology for over 20 years now (Certificate in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (CREI)). Rob was trained both in Australia and Europe.
Current roles:
- Clinical Director of the IVFAustralia Greenwich Clinic (north shore).
- Visiting Medical Officer at the Sydney Adventist Hospital
- Senior lecturer at the University of Notre Dame.
- Exam director for the CREI subspeciality in Australia and New Zealand.
- Co-chair of the reproductive endocrine SIG and the Australian country representative for ASPIRE.
He has published several articles in major journals and has presented papers in many parts of the world.
Richard Choy
Richard Choy
Professor. Richard KW CHOY
Dr. Choy is a Professor in the Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, and the founder of the Preimplantation Genetic Testing Laboratory (PGT) and the Prenatal Genetic Diagnosis Centre (PGDC) at Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), serving now as the Deputy Director in charge of laboratory services. The PGT and PGDC are both one of the most active and productive centers in Asia, serving as a tertiary referral and training center for PGT and prenatal testing for both the public and private clinical sectors in Hong Kong, mainland China and Asia. As a pioneer in PGT and prenatal diagnosis, his team utilizes state-of-the-art genomic technologies, including chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) and genome sequencing, and first reported the outcome of a multi-centre mosaic embryo transfer pregnancy outcome in Asia and the contribution of pathogenic chromosome copy number variants (CNVs) in fetus with high nuchal translucency. In 2021, he established the Fertility Preservation Research Centre to enhance the outcome of in-vitro fertilization pregnancies Dr. Choy has over 230 publications in international peer-reviewed journals, with several landmark papers uncovering the contribution of CNVs in fetuses with structural malformations, and an H-index of 46. Recently, his team pioneered the novel application of Low-pass whole-genome sequencing (Low-pass WGS), a method which can detect balanced chromosomal structural variants (SVs) or rearrangements that contribute to human diseases. Dr. Choy serves as the vice-president of the Hong Kong Society of Genetic Counselling and board member of the PGDIS and ISPD.
Sonja Goedeke
Sonja Goedeke
Sonja Goedeke (BSocSci Hons, MA, PhD) Associate Professor, School of Psychology and Neuroscience, AUT
Sonja is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience at the Auckland University of Technology and is a registered clinical psychologist. Her research focuses on the psychosocial and ethical implications of infertility and its treatment for men, women, their families, and individuals conceived through treatment, in particular, through donor conception. She has published papers, presented at conferences and to practitioner and consumer groups, and supervised research students in a range of areas including on embryo donation experiences, views on recognition and compensation for donation, counselling practice, motivations for and experiences of egg donation, parenting after infertility, choice motherhood, experiences of donor conception and cross border reproductive care. Sonja is the co-investigator of the DIANZ (Donor Identity Aotearoa New Zealand) project, co-chair of the Special Interest Group for ASPIRE (Asia Pacific Initiative on Reproduction), a former Associate Editor for Human Reproduction, a board advisor for FertilityNZ, and a member of the Australian and New Zealand Infertility Counsellors’ Association (ANZICA) research and membership committees.
Sharon Lim
Sharon Lim
Dr Sharon Lim
Counsellor
Fertilityconnectz, Singapore
Sharon Lim is an integrative counsellor who works with clients who are experiencing stress, burnout, anxiety or sadness as a result of grief and challenging circumstances. An area of specific interest is supporting individuals and couples who are on challenging fertility journeys (from pre-conception to post-natal phases).
She draws on various therapeutic modalities such as Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Solution-focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Grief and Loss (Transitions) work. Sharon believes that balance can only be achieved by attending holistically to mental, emotional and physical health.
She has a Master of Counselling degree, and is a registered counsellor in Singapore, and an accredited clinical counselling supervisor in Singapore and Australia. Before training as a counsellor, she was a physician in the UK, and has also worked in the pharmaceutical industry.
Professional affiliations:
APACS (Association of Psychotherapists and Counsellors, Singapore)
SAC (Singapore Association of Counselling)
ACA (Australian Counselling Association)
ANZICA (Australian and New Zealand Infertility Counsellors Association)
ASPIRE (Asia Pacific Initiative on Reproduction)
MRCP (Member of the Royal College of Physicians UK)
Suresh Nair
Suresh Nair
Dr. Suresh Nair is an Obstetrician and Gynecologist and Founder of the Seed of Life Fertility & Women’s Care Medical Centre in Singapore. He specializes in Reproductive Endocrinology, Infertility, Assisted Reproductive Techniques (IVF, ICSI, IUI), and advanced Robotic-Assisted surgeries. Dr. Nair received comprehensive training in Minimal Access Laparoscopic and Hysteroscopic Surgery from 1991 to 1993 in the US, UK, France, and Germany.
He holds a Masters in Reproductive Medicine from the University of New South Wales. Dr. Nair has served as Medical Director at several fertility centres and is the Founding Director of Monash IVF Singapore. He currently chairs the Reproductive Medicine Section at the College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Singapore.
He is also a member of the Education Committee of the Asia Pacific Initiative on Reproduction (ASPIRE), a Board Member of the Robotic Surgery Society of Singapore, and serves as the Honorary Treasurer of the Asian Society of Gynecological Robotic Surgeons.
Xiaoyan Chen
Xiaoyan Chen
Dr. Xiaoyan Chen, BMed (Hons), MBE (Harvard), PhD (CUHK)
Associate Consultant, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology & Director of Maternal-Fetal Research Institute, Shenzhen Baoan Women’s and Children’s Hospital, China
Adjunct Associate Professor, The Chinese University of Hong Kong.
Dr. Chen has special interest in recurrent miscarriage, recurrent implantation failure, uterine structure, endometrial function, maternal-fetal interface, and embryonic development. She has received 14 full-grants as principle investigator from 2018 to 2024 and over 60 publications in international peer-reviewed journals, including Cell, AJOG. She is the awardee of Young Investigator Award for ASPIRE 2023.
Dr. Chen is a committee member of the Special Interest Group of Implantation and Endometrium, ASPIRE. She is also the section editor of Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology and the editorial board member of BMC pregnancy and Childbirth.
Ying Cheong
Ying Cheong
Name: Professor Ying Cheong
Position/Occupation: Professor in Reproductive Medicine, University of Southampton
University / Hospital / Association: University of Southampton; Complete Fertility Centre Southampton
Biography: Ying is a Subspecialist in Reproductive Medicine and Surgery and the Professor of Reproductive Medicine. She is the Medical Director of Complete Fertility Centre Southampton, UK. Ying’s research is on the endometrium and its environment for implantation and works across discipline with the School of Electronics and Computer Science, University of Southampton in the development of medical devices. She holds several NIHR and commercial grants and is an experience clinical trialist. She is currently ESHRE Special Interest Group Coordinator for Reproductive Endocrinology and Editor to several journals. Ying is active in undergraduate and postgraduate teaching.
Zhongwei Huang
Zhongwei Huang
Adjunct Assistant Prof Huang Zhongwei is Clinician-Scientist and Consultant at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, National University Hospital, Singapore. He is the Deputy Director of NUS Bia-Echo Asia Centre for Reproductive Longevity and Equality (ACRLE), specialising in research for women’s reproductive health, ageing, digital medicine, and leading the conversation in women’s reproductive longevity and equality. Adjunct Assistant Prof Huang supports couples with fertility, clinical andrology and sexual issues holistically as an integral part of his clinical practice. He also cares for mothers throughout their pregnancy and women in their post reproductive years.
Main Programme Speakers
Angela Aguilar
Angela Aguilar
- Professor 3, University Scientist 1 and Dona V. Tytana Professorial Chair Holdrr (2023to2024) Howard and Conchita Redmon Professorial Chair Holder (2017 to 2019)
- Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of the Philippines College of Medicine - Local: Past President, Philippine Society for Reproductive Medicine, (2021), Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology Society of the Philippines ( 2020) and and Philippine Society for Gynecologic Endoscopy (2015-2016)
- International: Treasurer and Board Member, Asia Oceania Society of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology;Co-Chair, Special Interest Group for Endometrios of Asia Pacific Initiative on Reproduction (ASPIRE), Member of the Advocacy Committee of the International Federation of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology; and Board Member of the Asian Society of Endometriosis and Adenomyosis Current Member of the Clinical and Scientific Studies Special Interest Group, Past International Board Memberand Member, Accreditation Committee, Asia Pacific Association for Gynecologic Endoscopy and Minimally Invasive Surgery (2015-2016)
- Education: Doctor of Medicine (7 year Intarmed Curriculum), University of the Philippines with Associate in Arts Degree, Bachelor of Science in Basic Medical Sciences, and Rotating Internship; Master’s Degree in Business Administration (Health), Ateneo Professional Schools, Rockwell Center, Makati City ; Master of Science (MSc) in Reproduction and Development, with Merit University of Bristol, United Kingdom with clinical attachment at the Bristol Center for Reproductive Medicine.
- Residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital
Arthur Chang
Arthur Chang
Professor Arthur Chang
Tiencheng Arthur Chang, PhD, HCLD, ELD, CC, is Professor of OB/GYN at the University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas, USA, and Director of Clinical ART Laboratories at UT Health Reproductive Health & Fertility Center and US DoD’s Brooke Army Medical Center. Prof. Chang received his bachelor’s degree from National Taiwan University, Taiwan, MS and PhD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA. He is board certified as High-complexity Clinical Laboratory Director (HCLD), Embryology Laboratory Director (ELD), and Clinical Consultant (CC) by American Board of Bioanalysis (ABB).
Prof. Chang’s clinical and research interests include IVF, embryology, implantation, 3D and extended embryo culture, artificial embryo, PGT, ART laboratory management and business models, as well as nonhuman primate model for reproductive medicine. He has served on numerous leadership and committee positions worldwide, including American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM: Board, committee chairs), Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART: Board, committee chairs), Society of Reproductive Biologists and Technologists (SRBT: President, Board, committee chairs), American Association of Bioanalysts – College of Reproductive Biology (AAB-CRB: President, Board, committee chairs), Asia Pacific Initiative on Reproduction (ASPIRE: Board, SIG co-chair), Taiwanese Society for Reproductive Medicine (TSRM), and Society for the Study of Reproduction (SSR). He is associate editor for Journal of Assisted Reproduction & Genetics (JARG), section editor for Reproductive Biology & Endocrinology (RB&E), accreditation inspector for College of American Pathologists (CAP), off-site director for ART and CLIA laboratories, and consultant to governments and the industry. He has received 2 ASRM Service Milestone Awards and 8 times ASRM Star Award for his research and professional service contributions.
Alexander Freis
Alexander Freis
Alexander Freis has received hid education at the Department of Gynecologic Endocrinology and Fertility Disorders in Heidelberg. Afterwards he led academic and private centers in Germany, before becoming managing director at Medicus Bergen in Norway. In parallel is he an associate professor at Heidelberg University. Alexander is member of the steering committee of the SIG Reproductive Endocrinology, reviewer for numerous high-ranked journals and member of diverse advisory boards. His main research areas are biomarkers in reproductive medicine as well as implantation, reproductive endocrinology endometrium and early embryo development.
Astor Tse
Astor Tse
Astor Tse is highly dedicated and accomplished nurse who has made significant contributions to the field of reproductive medicine in Hong Kong, graduating as a Registration Nurse in 2000, Astor began her career at Kwong Wah Hospital, where she honed her skills in the operation theater for five years.
In 2006, Astor made a pivotal career move and joined the Union Hospital Reproductive Medicine Centre as a nurse in charge. Now she is a centre manager in Union Hospital. Astor places great emphasis on creating a positive and happy working environment. Her leaderships skill and dedication have fostered a supportive and nurturing atmosphere for her colleagues, leading to increased employee morale and improved patient care.
In 2023, Astor has been appointed as the president of The Society of Reproductive Medicine and the Nurse and Counsellor Association. Her expertise and passion for the filed have been invaluable in the success and growth of the field in Hong Kong.
Ben Mol
Ben Mol
Ben (Willem) Mol is Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Monash University. Since his arrival in Australia in 2014, Ben holds continuous NHMRC funding, including a prestigious investigator grant, and has been recognized as a very productive (Nature) and well cited (The Australian) author.
During his time in Australia, Ben has worked on clinical trial capacity in women’s health at Monash. He developed extensive relations with Asian universities, resulting in large randomised clinical trials. Ben is also involved in many Individual Participant Data Meta-Analysis, in which on many topics in Obstetrics and in Reproductive Medicine data of randomised clinical trials performed worldwide are brought together. Recently, Ben has worked also on systems to detect data-fabrication in RCTs.
His professional adage is ‘A day without randomisation is a day without progress.’
Chiaki Shirai
Chiaki Shirai
She is a family sociologist and professor at the National Shizuoka University in Japan.
She has conducted qualitative research on parent-child relationships without genetic linkage, including egg donation and adoption in Japan and other Asian countries. In addition, she has other interests in the area of family formation and reproduction, including pregnancy and childbirth, childbearing customs, prenatal testing, disability, abortion and sexual diversity in Asia.
Chin Hui-Lin
Chin Hui-Lin
Designations:
- Consultant, Division of Genetics and Metabolism, Department of Paediatrics, Khoo Teck Puat – National University Children’s Medical Institute, National University Hospital
- Consultant, NUWoC Children’s Clinic, Ng Teng Fong General Hospital
- Assistant Professor, Department of Paediatrics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore
Qualifications:
MBBS (S’pore), MMed (Paeds) (S’pore), MRCPCH (UK), MCI, FAMS
Specialties/Sub-specialties:
Paediatric Medicine
Clinical Disciplines/Programmes:
Paediatric Genetics & Metabolism (Inherited Conditions)
Christopher Ho
Christopher Ho
PROF DR CHRISTOPHER HO CHEE KONG
MD, MS, MRCSEd, MBU (Cert), MFSTEd, FAMM, FICS (USA), FRCS (Urol)(Glasg), FECSM, FRCSEd, FACS
Consultant Urologist, Oriental Melaka Straits Medical Centre
Adjunct Professor, School of Medicine, Taylor’s University
Prof. Dr. Christopher Ho Chee Kong is an Adjunct Professor in the School of Medicine, Taylor’s University and Consultant Urologist at Oriental Melaka Straits Medical Centre. He was previously Professor of Surgery and Urology at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM).
He is a member of the International Consultation of Urological Diseases (ICUD), the Vice President for the Malaysian Society of Andrology and the Study of the Aging Male (MSASAM), Senior Vice President of the College of Surgeons Malaysia, Vice Chair of the International Society for Sexual Medicine Communications Committee, Committee Member of the Asian Society of Men’s Health and Andrology (AMSHA) and also a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (FRCSEd), and Glasgow FRCS (Urol)(Glasg), European Committee of Sexual Medicine (FECSM), International College of Surgeons (FICS), European Committee of Sexual Medicine (FECSM), American College of Surgeons (FACS) and Academy of Medicine Malaysia (FAMM).
He is also a Member of the Faculty of Surgical Trainers Edinburgh (MFSTEd), Société Internationale d’Urologie (SIU), Examiner for the Membership of the Royal College of Surgeon (MRCS) exam, tutor for the Edinburgh Surgical Sciences Qualification (ESSQ), Director of Andrology Special Interest Group for the Malaysian Urology Association.
He has published widely with 155 publications in peer reviewed journals as well as 7 book publications on issues in Men’s Health. He also sits in the Editorial Board of 10 journals (including the Investigative and Clinical Urology journal, SIU journal) and is a reviewer for 24 journals.
Chyi-Long Lee
Chyi-Long Lee
Prof. Chyi-Long Lee
- Chairman of Board of Trustees, Asia-Pacific Association of Gynecologic Endoscopy and Minimally Invasive Therapy (APAGE)
- Executive Director, Taiwan Association of Minimally Invasive Gynecology (TAMIG)
- Chief Executive Officer, Taiwan Association of Menopause (TAM)
- Professor, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, University
- Working Committee Member of the Reproductive Surgery SIG, The Asia Pacific Initiative on Reproduction (Aspire)
- Board Member, The International Society for Gynecologic Endoscopy (ISGE) (2015-2019)
- Vice-superintendent, Keelung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital (2015-2018)
Celia Chan
Celia Chan
Celia is Professor at the School of Social Work, Melbourne School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry, and Health Sciences at the University of Melbourne, and Honorary Professor at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, the University of Hong Kong. She currently serves as Coordinator (Hong Kong and China) of the International Infertility Counseling Organization and Co-Chair of the Psychology and Counseling Special Interest Group at ASPIRE (2025–2027). A social work researcher-practitioner-educator with a specialization in reproductive medicine, Celia works closely with interdisciplinary professionals to integrate clinical expertise, research evidence, and policy development. She also plays an active role in professional capacity building through international workshops, practitioner training, and curriculum development.
As a leading figure in fertility and infertility counseling in the Asia-Pacific region, Celia is committed to advancing research, practice, and education on psychosocial issues related to reproductive health. Her work spans fertility and infertility, assisted reproductive technologies (ART), donor-assisted and third-party reproduction, pregnancy loss, and women’s mental health. She provides psychological assessments, individual and couple counseling, and has led professional training for healthcare professionals across medical and psychosocial fields. She also promotes public education on fertility and reproductive well-being and has recently developed integrated perinatal bereavement care for families affected by miscarriage, stillbirth, and neonatal loss.
Celia’s research and teaching interests focus on interdisciplinary medical social work, ART regulation, and evidence-based practice. She is internationally recognized for developing the Integrative Body-Mind-Spirit (I-BMS) Intervention Model, which blends Eastern philosophies with Western therapeutic approaches to support holistic well-being. Her current research involves cross-national studies in Asia-Pacific countries to examine culturally responsive psychosocial interventions in reproductive and maternal health. Her work bridges clinical practice, academic research, education, and policy engagement to improve services and outcomes for individuals and families navigating complex reproductive and health-related challenges.
Deepak Modi
Deepak Modi
Prof Deepak Modi is a senior scientist a the ICMR-National Institute of Research in Reproductive and Child Health. His research focus on mechanisms that drive embryo implantation and disorders of the endometrium and genetics of male and female infertility. He is the elected fellow aof the National Academy of Sciences India and ranked in the Top 2% of scientists in the world by Stanford University.
Editorial board member
- Fertility Science and Research
- Human Reproduction
- Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics
DESIGNATION:
Scientist G and Head
CURRENT AFFILIATION:
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Laboratory
- ICMR-National Institute for Research in Reproductive and Child Health
RESEARCH AREA:
- Mechanisms in embryo implantation and placental development
- Genetics of infertility and sexual development
- COVID-19 and reproduction
MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS:
- Elected Fellow of National Academy of Sciences India (NASI) 2020
- Ranked in the Top 2% of scientists in the world by Stanford University
Recipient of the
- INSA young Scientist award
- National academy of Sciences India (NASI) Young Scientist award
- Innovative Young Biotechnologist Award 2007
- ICMR Young scientist award
- PM Bhargava Oration award
Duru Shah
Duru Shah
Prof. Duru Shah, MD FRCOG FCPS FICS FICOG FICMCH DGO DFP
Dr. Duru Shah is the Director, Gynaecworld, the “Center for Women’s Health & Fertility” in Mumbai. She is currently the Founder President of the “The PCOS Society” (India), of “Metropolis Foundation”, Vice-President and Chair of Education Committee- Asia Pacific Initiative on Reproduction (ASPIRE) and Member of the Women’s Health Vertical of C-20, Government of India.
Dr. Shah has occupied the highest position in the field of Obst. Gyn. in India as the President of Federation of Obstetrics and Gynecological Societies of India, (FOGSI), “The Indian Menopause Society”, the “Indian Society for Assisted Reproduction (ISAR)” and the Chair of the Indian College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists (ICOG) On the International front she has served as a Member of the Ethics Committee of International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics for 6 years and has also been the “Director of Digital Education” and “Chair of the IMPART Program” on the Board of The International Menopause Society” for 8 years. She is the Immediate Chair of the “ASPIRE Special Interest Group (SIG) on Reproductive Endocrinology & PCOS, has been the International Advisor of ESHRE’s Special Interest Group “Safety & Quality in ART” (SQART). Chair of the Council of Affiliated Menopause Societies (CAMS) IMS, Chair
Dr. Shah’s areas of interest are Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. She has lectured extensively both nationally and internationally and created excellent academic programs for postgraduate students and clinicians in the field of PCOS, Assisted Reproduction and Menopause. Dr. Shah is a Member on the Editorial Board of various International and National Journals, niz. TOG, RCOG, London, Climacteric- (IMS), Journal of Human Reproductive Science (JHRS)-(ISAR), Dr. Duru Shah co-authored the approved International Guidelines published in 2018 and 2023, and was the Indian lead on the International Guidelines on Screening, diagnostic and risk assessment and life stage in 2023.
Dr. Shah has been the proud recipient of many Orations, Awards and Honours, the most prominent being the “FIGO-Distinguished Merit Award” being the first and only Indian Recipient of this Prestigious Award and has been conferred the “Honorary Fellowship of the Royal College of Obstetrics & Gynecology”. The “Mahatma Award 2021” for Social Responsibilities and Gender Equality, and has been conferred with the Life time Achievement Awards for excellence in the field of Infertility and women’s health, and the “Iconic Gynecologist & Fertility Expert” , by the Honorable Bhagat Singh Koshyari, Governor of Maharashtra, India. Conferred the International Menopause Society Distinguished Service Award 2024 and Indian Menopause Society: Life Time Achievement Award 2024 – 2025.
As President of the PCOS Society of India, Dr. Shah has created an awareness program on a very important health disorder called “PCOS” which affects women from puberty to beyond menopause, through a Project “Vijayeta – the winner”.
Her passion has always been Women’s Empowerment
Hong-Yuan Huang
Hong-Yuan Huang
Hong-Yuan Huang, MD.
Professor Hong-Yuan Huang received his MD from Chung-Shan Medical University in Tai-Chung, Taiwan. He held the position of Professor and Deputy chair in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital. He completed his fellowship in reproductive immunology in Stanford University, United States.
Professor Huang is also a full Professor of the Chang Gung University and College of Medicine. He has published and recognized as author or co-author of more than 120 peer-reviewed articles. and is a past President of the Taiwanese Society for Reproductive Medicine (TSRM) and Taiwanese Menopause Society (TMS). He is presently served as President of Taiwan Endometriosis Society (TES). His research is aimed at various aspects of reproductive medicine; especially in reproductive endocrinology and immunology, endometriosis, microfluidic biology and nanomedicine.
Huiyu Xu
Huiyu Xu
Xu Huiyu is the Head of the Endocrine Lab at the Reproductive Medicine Center, Peking University Third Hospital, a committee member of the Asia Pacific Initiative on Reproduction (ASPIRE) SIG group, and the Deputy Director of the Translational Medicine Committee of the Beijing Chronic Disease Association. She specializes in the clinical application of sex hormones and big data research, having published over 40 SCI papers, with more than 30 as the first author.
She has filed or obtained over 20 national invention patents and more than 20 PCT international patents, several of which have been successfully translated into applications. Xu has received several prestigious awards, including the First Prize of Maternal and Child Health Scientific and Technological Achievements in 2021 (ranked 3rd/15), the Second Prize of the Ministry of Education’s Scientific and Technological Progress Award in 2019 (ranked 5th/15), and the Peking University Award for Outstanding Industry-University-Research Cooperation Projects in 2021.
As one of the primary developers, she has successfully transformed her patents into clinical applications, which have been incorporated into expert consensus guidelines. Notably, her innovation, OvaRePred—the world’s first AI tool for ovarian reserve assessment and perimenopause prediction—was recognized as one of the Top 10 Innovations of 2023 by The Innovation Journal. This tool has also been licensed to Heronova, a U.S. company, for further market exploration.
Ivan Sini
Ivan Sini
Dr Ivan Sini is a world-known and respected IVF and fertility physician/surgeon from Indonesia. He was trained in Australia and obtained his post graduate degrees in Reproductive Medicine and Minimal invasive Surgery from University of Adelaide, Australia. His doctoral degree was obtained from Universitas Indonesia. Currently he is Dean of Faculty of Medicine, IPB University and appointed President of Indonesian College of O&G. He is also active as a President of Indonesian Genomics Association and founding member of Asian Society of Gynecology Robotic Surgeons. He is clinically active as fertility specialist and robotic surgeon. His academic interest is in infertility, reproductive suurgery, genomics and IVF. He actively published his scientific work in international peer review journals and co-authored several books.
Dr Sini is the Chairman PT Bundamedik, an Indonesian public listed healthcare company and CEO of Morula Indonesia, the largest IVF group in Indonesia. He has received many national and international scientific and entrepreneurship awards.
Jack Huang
Jack Huang
Dr. Jack Yu Jen Huang, MD, PhD, FACOG
Dr. Jack Yu Jen Huang is the founding President of Taiwan IVF Group and the Executive Vice President of Ton Yen General Hospital in Hsinchu, Taiwan. He is also an Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at Stanford University.
Dr. Huang received his pre-medicine and medical degrees from McGill University, where he completed his residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology and earned a Ph.D. in Experimental Medicine. He further specialized in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility through a fellowship at Weill Cornell Medical College/New York Presbyterian Hospital. He is board-certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Dr. Huang is the editor of Development of In-Vitro Maturation of Human Oocytes and serves on the Editorial Board of The Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics. He is also a reviewer for Fertility and Sterility. His research focuses on oocyte cryopreservation, in vitro maturation, and fertility preservation and has been presented at leading international medical conferences across the U.S., Europe, and Asia.
Joop Laven
Joop Laven
Short CV Professor Joop S.E. Laven
Professor of Reproductive Medicine, Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam The Netherlands.
Professor Joop S.E. Laven is professor in Obstetrics and Gynaecology and a subspecialist Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. He is a member of ESHRE, ASRM, the Endocrine Society, the Society for Reproductive Investigation (SRI) and the Royal Dutch College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. He is the past president of the Dutch Society of Reproductive Medicine. He is also the current president of the Androgen Excess PCOS society.
For many years he had a particular interest in the management of polycystic ovary syndrome covering the full spectrum from the effects of the syndrome during adolescence and adult life on the menstrual cycle, fertility, body weight and long-term health risks. More recently he focussed on the genetic basis of reproductive ageing and was involved in Genome Wide Association Studies (GWAS) exploring the genetic basis of PCOS, premature ovarian insufficiency, menarche and menopause.
Clinical work focuses on women’s health in particular reproductive endocrinology and menopause as well as on infertility treatment and ART and pregnancy outcome in infertile couples especially women with PCOS. He is the person Responsible for the Rotterdam Erasmus MC Reproductive Medicine Unit, which performs approximately 2400 IVF cycles per year. Works as a full-time clinician and is currently head of the Division of Reproductive Medicine of the department of OBGYN at Erasmus MC in Rotterdam.
He has published over 400 peer-reviewed papers and several reviews as well as chapters in books, and has delivered over 300 lectures to international scientific audiences. He was a member of the editorial board of Human Reproduction Update, Human Reproduction and is currently associate editor of the Journal of the Endocrine Society.
Currently he is living together with Annemarie Rietveld, he is the proud father of 4 sons. In his rare free private hours you might see him fly-fishing or biking or just being lazy on Sunday mornings listening to Van Morrison.
Jung Ryeol Lee
Jung Ryeol Lee
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 graduated from the Seoul National University College of Medicine, where he also earned his Ph.D. Following this, he completed his residency and fellowship at Seoul National University Hospital and Seoul National University Bundang Hospital. He is currently a professor at Seoul National University College of Medicine and Seoul National University Bundang Hospital and serves as the chairman of his department.
Professor Lee has conducted extensive research and published numerous articles in the areas of fertility preservation, assisted reproductive technologies, fertility regeneration, and minimally invasive surgery. His main academic interests are fertility preservation, regeneration and anti-aging in reproduction, minimally invasive surgery, and digital medicine. He is recognized as a leading figure among Korean clinicians and researchers in fertility preservation, reproductive endocrinology, and infertility. He is also a leading surgeon in the field of minimally invasive surgery, including single-port laparoscopic and robot-assisted surgery.
In addition, Professor Lee has served as an associate editor and editor-in-chief for many international peer-reviewed journals, such as Human Reproduction, Frontiers in Endocrinology, and Journal of Menopausal Medicine. As a board or council member, he has contributed to numerous International and Korean academic societies dedicated to reproductive endocrinology and fertility preservation.
Julian Savulescu
Julian Savulescu
Professor Julian Savulescu is the Chen Su Lan Centennial Professor in Medical Ethics and Director for the Centre for Biomedical Ethics at the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore (NUS). He is an award-winning ethicist and moral philosopher trained in neuroscience, medicine, and philosophy. He has held the Uehiro Chair in Practical Ethics at the University of Oxford since 2002. He is Visiting Professorial Fellow in Biomedical Ethics at Murdoch Children’s Research institute and Distinguished International Visiting Professor in Law at the University of Melbourne where he leads the Biomedical Ethics Research Group.
Jong Kil Joo
Jong Kil Joo
Department: Obstetrics and Gynecology
Affiliation: Pusan National University School of Medicine, Pusan National University Hospital
Address: Seo-Gu Amidong 1-10, Busan
Nationality: South Korea
Short Biography:
Jongkil Joo is the Professor of the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Busan, Korea. He graduated from Pusan National University School of Medicine with M.D. degree in 2000, completed his Ob/Gyn residency training at Pusan National University Hospital in 2005 and worked as a clinical fellow at the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Pusan National University Hospital until 2012. He was appointed as an Assistant Professor of the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Pusan National University School of Medicine in 2012 and became a professor in 2021. His main research fields are pathophysiology for endometriosis and infertility. He received numerous awards including the best oral presentation award at the annual congress of the Korean society for reproductive medicine 2012 and the Korean Society of Assisted Reproduction in 2012. He has published more than 40 peer reviewed journals and has authored several chapters in Ob/Gyn textbooks and presented more than 60 times in both Korean and International academic meetings.
Keiji Kuroda
Keiji Kuroda
Keiji Kuroda, M.D., Ph.D.
Dr. Keiji Kuroda is a specialist in reproductive medicine and a director, Sugiyama Clinic Marunouchi, Tokyo. He had researched human endometrium in Imperial College London and University of Warwick, UK, from 2010 to 2012. His current research interests include the relationship between endometrial dysfunction and implantation failure or pregnancy loss.
Mariam Faruqui
Mariam Faruqui
- Student of Batch K-32 of Dhaka Medical College having graduated in 1980.
- Obtained DGO from Dhaka University, MS from BIRDEM and MCPS & FCPS in Gynecology and Obstetrics from Bangladesh College of Physicians and Surgeons (BCPS).
- Served for over 25 years in various Government hospitals in Gynecology and Obstetrics department.
- Received advanced training in Assisted Reproductive Techniques in Korea and India.
- She has several national and international publications to her credit.
- Currently serving as Senior Consultant, Gynecology & Obstetrics & Infertility specialist at Lab Aid Specialized Hospital as well as Hope Infertility Centre.
Neil Johnson
Neil Johnson
Neil is a New Zealand gynaecologist and REI subspecialist in a practice with Auckland Gynaecology Group and Repromed Auckland. He is also medical director at Flinders Fertility, Adelaide, South Australia. Neil is professor of O&G at Flinders University and adjunct professor at the University of Adelaide, serves on the board of ASPIRE, was inaugural chairperson of the ASPIRE endometriosis special interest group and is a past president of the World Endometriosis Society.
Poonam Nayar
Poonam Nayar
Dr. Poonam Nayar Clinical Psychologist, Akanksha IVF Center. New Delhi ,India
I have been working in the field of clinical psychology since 1980. Having obtained much of my education in Zambia and Botswana , I developed interest in cross cultural differences This started with undergraduate research on differences in field dependency in the African population .For post graduate and doctoral studies , I shifted to India , working in the area of stress management with help of yoga based techniques . The main areas include teaching, research, and clinical work in a variety of settings
Teaching and Research (1981- present) in order to develop methods of attaining positive mental health based on mind-body therapy techniques derived from yoga. These were put into research paradigms as RCT and conducted in a multidisciplinary settings within the hospitals .Research projects included studies on common psychiatric disorders like anxiety and depression, burn-out in staff nurses, mild essential hypertension, psychogenic headache, domestic violence, reducing stress in couples undergoing fertility care or IVF. The findings have been published in indexed journals.
I am the Convener of the Special Interest Group “Counselling in infertility “of the Indian Fertility Society (IFS) from 2017 –present.
I have conducted workshops, presented papers in national (IFS) and international conferences (ASRM; ESHRE)
Chairperson for the Clinical Consensus Guideline for psychosocial care in Assisted Reproduction Technology .Published by the IFS 2024
Editor for Counselling in ART, Published by IFS 2023
Adolescent Mental Health (2003-2010 ):Conducted life skill education workshops , individual and family counselling to help adolescents deal with life challenges and concerns ,such as bullying, heterosexual relationships, dealing with dysfunctional families etc.
I was awarded Fellowship for attending the Annual Conference of faculty of Adolescent and Child Psychiatry, organized by the Royal College of Psychiatry,(London ,UK),Held at Madrid, Spain in 2006.
PC Wong
PC Wong
Professor PC Wong:
Founding President and previous Secretary-General of ASPIRE. He was the former head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in the National University of Singapore and founding director of the Center for Reproductive Education and Specialist Training (CREST).
He is currently the Emeritus Consultant and Head, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility in the National University Hospital (NUH).
Pramod Krishnappa
Pramod Krishnappa
Dr Pramod Krishnappa DNB (Urol), ChM (Edinburgh), FECSM
Bangalore, India
Dr Pramod Krishnappa is a Senior Consultant Urologist and Fellowship trained Andrologist at NU Hospitals, Bangalore, India. He is an expert in the medical and surgical management of Male Infertility and Men’s Sexual Health. He did the European Society for Sexual Medicine (ESSM) Penile Implant Fellowship in Madrid and subsequently gained clinical expertise in Male Infertility at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC). He is a panel member of the Urological Society of India (USI) Male Infertility guidelines. He received the Urological Association of Asia (UAA) Youth Section Fellowship Award in 2021 and the Best Young Researcher Award under the Clinician category from the Indian Society of Assisted Reproduction (ISAR) in 2022. His primary research interests are Peyronie’s disease, Erectile Dysfunction, Penile implants and Artificial Urinary Sphincters, on which he has multiple publications.
Rui Wang
Rui Wang
Dr Rui Wang is a reproductive epidemiologist and senior research fellow at the NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre, University of Sydney.
His main clinical research interests include infertility, polycystic ovary syndrome, fallopian tube disorders, endometriosis, assisted reproduction, early pregnancy complications and preterm birth. His methods interests include clinical trials, registry-based studies and meta-analysis.
He has led many large international collaborative evidence synthesis projects in reproductive medicine and has established multiple international collaborative networks involving trialists, clinicians and methodologists to share and reuse data from clinical trials, including the Ovulation Induction, IUI, INFORM, Venus and IHABT Collaborations. He has been collaborating closely with multiple fertility clinics in the Asia-Pacific region and Europe on large randomised controlled trials, registry-based studies and observational studies.
Rui is currently appointed as a Deputy Editor of Human Reproduction, an editorial board member of BJOG and the Cochrane Gynaecology and Fertility Group.
Rupin Shah
Rupin Shah
Dr Rupin Shah is India’s leading Andrologist and Male Infertility Microsurgeon. He has a vast experience in reconstructive microsurgery for obstructive azoospermia and has pioneered new approaches to sperm retrieval in non-obstructive azoospermia. He was Founder President of the South Asian Society of Sexual Medicine and is the recipient of the prestigious Dr B C Roy award from the President of India for developing Andrology in India. He has published and presented extensively and has contributed over 20 book chapters. He is Consultant Andrologist at the Lilavati Hospital and Research Centre, Mumbai. He is Associate editor of the ASPIRE journal – Fertility and Reproduction. He is Senior Advisor to the Global Andrology Forum. He is also a Co-Chair of the Male infertility and Sexual dysfunction committee, International Consultation on Sexual Medicine, 2024.
Rong Li
Rong Li
Prof. Li is serving as the Chairman, Reproductive medicine branch, China International Exchange and Promotive Association for Medical and Health Care, CPAM, Vice chairman, Reproductive Medicine Professional Committee of Chinese Medical Doctor Association, CARM, and the Director for Reproductive Medical Center, and the vice president of Peking University Third Hospital. She specializes in clinical treatment, education and medical researches within the fields of Obstetrics and Gynecology with research directions on reproductive medicine, female fertility evaluation, endometrial receptivity and PCOS. She published more than 150 SCI articles in medical journals, including Cell, Nature, Lancet, JAMA, et al. Her researches had been funded National Natural Science Foundation for Preeminence Youth Fund Sustentation Project in 2019.
Richard Choy
Richard Choy
Professor. Richard KW CHOY
Dr. Choy is a Professor in the Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, and the founder of the Preimplantation Genetic Testing Laboratory (PGT) and the Prenatal Genetic Diagnosis Centre (PGDC) at Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), serving now as the Deputy Director in charge of laboratory services. The PGT and PGDC are both one of the most active and productive centers in Asia, serving as a tertiary referral and training center for PGT and prenatal testing for both the public and private clinical sectors in Hong Kong, mainland China and Asia. As a pioneer in PGT and prenatal diagnosis, his team utilizes state-of-the-art genomic technologies, including chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) and genome sequencing, and first reported the outcome of a multi-centre mosaic embryo transfer pregnancy outcome in Asia and the contribution of pathogenic chromosome copy number variants (CNVs) in fetus with high nuchal translucency. In 2021, he established the Fertility Preservation Research Centre to enhance the outcome of in-vitro fertilization pregnancies Dr. Choy has over 230 publications in international peer-reviewed journals, with several landmark papers uncovering the contribution of CNVs in fetuses with structural malformations, and an H-index of 46. Recently, his team pioneered the novel application of Low-pass whole-genome sequencing (Low-pass WGS), a method which can detect balanced chromosomal structural variants (SVs) or rearrangements that contribute to human diseases. Dr. Choy serves as the vice-president of the Hong Kong Society of Genetic Counselling and board member of the PGDIS and ISPD.
Robert Norman
Robert Norman
Professor Robert Norman
Professor Robert Norman holds a personal chair as Emeritus Professor for Reproductive and Periconceptual Medicine at the University of Adelaide, and is a subspecialist in reproductive medicine (CREI) and in endocrine biochemistry (FRCPA). He was founding Director of the Robinson Research Institute at the University of Adelaide from 2008 to 2013. He has been President of the AE-PCOS Society, the Asia Pacific Initiative on Reproduction (ASPIRE) and leader of 2 Australian NHMRC Program grants while serving on several senior NHMRC Principal Committees. He is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences and was awarded an Order of Australia (AO) in 2013. He has more than 650 publications, an h score of 128 and 86000 citations. His major research contributions have been in IVF and reproductive endocrinology, particularly in PCOS, the effect of lifestyle on reproductive outcomes and periconception medicine. He was Medical Director at Fertility SA 2013-2018 and was an active reproductive medicine specialist at the Royal Adelaide Hospital. He was awarded the Distinguished Researcher Award by ASRM, Life Membership by ESHRE and the Fertility Society of Australia and the Lifetime Achievement Award by ASPIRE. He remains active as teacher, mentor and researcher while acting as an Editorial Editor for Fertility and Sterility.
Rebecca Kerner
Rebecca Kerner
Rebecca Kerner is an UK-trained, independent and private practice Psychotherapist and Senior Counsellor with over 24 years international experience specialising in infertility, grief and relationship issues. She has worked with individuals and couples in the UK, New Zealand, and Australia, and is a passionate advocate for patient centred care. Rebecca is the chair of the Australian and New Zealand Infertility Counsellors Association (ANZICA) and the Psychology and Counselling Special Interest group for the Asia Pacific Initiative on Reproduction (ASPIRE). She is also a person with a lived experience of infertility and the struggle to create a family.
Amongst her advocacy work, Rebecca has created the short film series “Care to Listen and Listen to Care,” helping to provide a voice for patients going through fertility treatment. She has also been a contributor to the Merck Serono Patient Podcast “Talking Pineapples”, this time providing guidance to patients in navigating the “Two week Wait “ https://www.merckgroup.com/au-en/podcasts/talking-pineapples-podcasts/talking-pineapple-episode-2.html
In her work with ANZICA, she has led numerous parliamentary submissions both at state and national levels, including the call for an urgent parliamentary inquiry into prolific online semen donors, and the need for a national donor conception register. She has also appeared before the Australian Senate Community Affairs Committee Inquiry Community into the Mitochondrial Donation Law Reform (Maeve’s Law) Bill 2021 and has sat on the Australian Guideline Development Group for the Australian adaptation of the evidence-based guideline for Unexplained Infertility.
Rebecca has been excited to help build the newly formed ASPIRE Psychology and Counselling SIG along with her Co-Chair Assoc Prof Sonja Goedeke and her fellow SIG leaders. The SIG has a clear focus in helping to promote an awareness of the crucial importance and understanding of the psychosocial issues, both short and long term, for those who access ART in the Asia Pacific.
R Muharam
R Muharam
Professor Muharam Natadisastra, MD (OG), REI, MPH, PhD
He is a board member of the Asia Pacific Initiative on Reproduction and Head of the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia.
Currently, he is the President-Elect of the Indonesian Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology (PERFITRI) for the 2021-2024 period. He also serves as the Vice President of the Indonesian Endocrinology-Reproduction and Fertility Association (HIFERI) since 2022. He was the Former President of the Indonesian Menopause Society from 2009 to 2013.
Since 2004 up until now, he has occupied the position of Head of IVF at Yasmin Kencana, part of Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, which focuses on Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. He was also the Head of the Immunoendocrinology Laboratory at the Makmal Diagnostic Centre.
After graduating as a specialist in Obstetrics and Gynecology in 2001, he resumed his studies and received his subspecialist training in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility from Universitas Indonesia in 2005.
He was appointed as a professor in the field of endocrinology reproduction at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Indonesia, in August 2023.
He has research published in local and international journals. His research focuses mainly on ART, endometriosis, PCOS, and menopause. Up until now, he has published 83 original articles in international journals indexed in Scopus, and 26 original articles indexed in PubMed, with an h-index of 10. He has developed research studying the improvement of poor responder IVF patients, improvement of IVF patients with endometriosis, and thin endometrium.
Currently, he is a member of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), The European Society for Reproductive Immunology (ESRI), The Official Journal of the Asia Pacific Initiative on Reproduction (ASPIRE), International Menopause Society (IMS), and International Committee for Monitoring Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ICMART).
Rebecca Moore
Rebecca Moore
Bec Moore is a highly experienced Registered Nurse based in Brisbane, Australia, with over 15 years in nursing and 11 years specializing in fertility care. She is currently a Fertility Nurse Coordinator at Care Fertility, where she is dedicated to guiding and
supporting individuals and couples through their fertility journey.
Bec holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Reproductive Medicine from UNSW and is among an elite group of nurses to achieve the prestigious ESHRE Certification for Nurses and Midwives—becoming only the second nurse in Australiato do so.
In addition to her clinical expertise, Bec has contributed to fertility research, focusing on the knowledge and attitudes of female medical students regarding delaying childbearing, oocyte freezing, and fertility preservation options. Her work highlights the
importance of education and awareness in reproductive choices and future fertility planning.
Passionate about patient-centered fertility care, Bec is committed to delivering compassionate, high-quality support to those undergoing fertility treatment. Her expertise, dedication, and deep understanding of reproductive medicine ensure that every patient receives the best possible care throughout their journey.
Somjate Manipalviratn
Somjate Manipalviratn
Dr. Somjate Manipalviratn is currently the Medical Director of Jetanin Hospital which is a specialized hospital for fertility treatment in Bangkok. He graduated his medical degree, Obstetric and Gyneology training and Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility training from Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand. After his graduation is Thailand, he went to the United States of America to be a research follow under the mentor of Prof. Dr. Alan DeCherney at the University of California, Los Angeles before moving to the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
He currently has served ASPIRE as the country representative for Thailand. He also is a board member of ASPIRE educational committee and also as a board member of ASPIRE Endometrium and Implantation Special Interest Group. He also is a board member of Thai Society of Reproductive Medicine.
He has been an active speaker in the field of fertility treatment and fertility preservation both locally and internationally.
Sonja Goedeke
Sonja Goedeke
Sonja Goedeke (BSocSci Hons, MA, PhD) Associate Professor, School of Psychology and Neuroscience, AUT
Sonja is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience at the Auckland University of Technology and is a registered clinical psychologist. Her research focuses on the psychosocial and ethical implications of infertility and its treatment for men, women, their families, and individuals conceived through treatment, in particular, through donor conception. She has published papers, presented at conferences and to practitioner and consumer groups, and supervised research students in a range of areas including on embryo donation experiences, views on recognition and compensation for donation, counselling practice, motivations for and experiences of egg donation, parenting after infertility, choice motherhood, experiences of donor conception and cross border reproductive care. Sonja is the co-investigator of the DIANZ (Donor Identity Aotearoa New Zealand) project, co-chair of the Special Interest Group for ASPIRE (Asia Pacific Initiative on Reproduction), a former Associate Editor for Human Reproduction, a board advisor for FertilityNZ, and a member of the Australian and New Zealand Infertility Counsellors’ Association (ANZICA) research and membership committees.
Sharon Lim
Sharon Lim
Dr Sharon Lim
Counsellor
Fertilityconnectz, Singapore
Sharon Lim is an integrative counsellor who works with clients who are experiencing stress, burnout, anxiety or sadness as a result of grief and challenging circumstances. An area of specific interest is supporting individuals and couples who are on challenging fertility journeys (from pre-conception to post-natal phases).
She draws on various therapeutic modalities such as Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Solution-focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Grief and Loss (Transitions) work. Sharon believes that balance can only be achieved by attending holistically to mental, emotional and physical health.
She has a Master of Counselling degree, and is a registered counsellor in Singapore, and an accredited clinical counselling supervisor in Singapore and Australia. Before training as a counsellor, she was a physician in the UK, and has also worked in the pharmaceutical industry.
Professional affiliations:
APACS (Association of Psychotherapists and Counsellors, Singapore)
SAC (Singapore Association of Counselling)
ACA (Australian Counselling Association)
ANZICA (Australian and New Zealand Infertility Counsellors Association)
ASPIRE (Asia Pacific Initiative on Reproduction)
MRCP (Member of the Royal College of Physicians UK)
Sujata Kar
Sujata Kar
Dr. Sujata Kar is the leading Gynecologist in Bhubaneswar for almost three decades. Kar Clinic Women’s Wing and IVF centre is the most sought after health care provider in the field of infertility, gynecologic endoscopic surgery , assisted reproduction, gynecologic sonography , Obstetric and neonatal intensive care. Many firsts and novelties in these fields are to her credit. She has through hard work and dedication to her field become an established ART and endoscopic surgeon having devoted her life to her profession. She has been a topper and has won seven gold medals in MBBS. Her name is now synonymous with infertility treatment and Gynecologic surgery in the state of Odisha , and Kar clinic Women’s Wing is a level three referral center.
After completing her MBBS & MD from SCB medical college in Cuttack, one of the most prestigious colleges in Odisha Dr. Kar completed her DNB from the National Board and then pursued her advanced training in laparoscopic surgery from Calcutta. She has also done her IVF training in Belgium under Professor Paul Devroey and the Harley Street Fertility center in London. She also developed advanced Laparoscopic skills from multiple programs in the USA.
She has achieved professional excellence through hard work and unparalleled experience in her field of expertise. She has been running a full-fledged assisted reproduction unit for the past twenty three years . She is credited with the 1st IVF, 1st ICSI baby of eastern Odisha, 1st Cryopreserved baby, 1st assisted laser hatching pregnancy and live birth of Odisha. She has started the first stem cell treatment center in Odisha .
She has been an active executive member of multiple national bodies like ISAR ,The PCOS society of India, The Fertility preservation society of India , IAGE ,ISSRF top professional societies of the country . She is currently the Vice president of the Indian Society for Assisted reproduction , a huge body of doctors practicing IVF in India. She is a keen academician with many original publications in the field of Polycystic ovary syndrome , and male infertility and travels extensively for continued medical education.
Sophie Turner
Sophie Turner
Sophie Turner is a Donor Conceived Person (DCP) from Aotearoa, New Zealand. She is a founding member of Donor Conceived Aotearoa, an advocacy group founded by and for donor conceived New Zealanders in 2021 to improve donor conception practices in New Zealand. In addition to supporting advocacy and education initiatives in New Zealand, Sophie has also contributed to legislative reform in Queensland, Australia where she currently resides.
Sophie’s parents conceived her using a sperm donor in the mid-1980s, through a hospital-based program in Wellington, New Zealand. Uncharacteristically for the time, the donor assigned to her parents donated with identity release provisions. Sophie’s parents also ignored the prevailing advice from the era and told her and her brother at a young age that they were donor conceived.
Sophie and her brother have nine half siblings – seven of which were conceived by different families using the same donor, and two of which are the donor’s raised children. Sadly, Sophie and her siblings have no identifying information about several of their donor conceived siblings. She has been working to identify her missing siblings for several years. In 2021, she discovered that one of her missing siblings was a close friend who she had known since kindergarten, but she still has three more siblings to find.
Samuel Chong
Samuel Chong
Associate Professor Samuel Chong is a molecular geneticist in both the Departments of Paediatrics and Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore. He is also Director of the Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis Centre at the National University Centre for Women and Children, and Scientific Advisor to the Molecular Diagnosis Centre and Cytogenetics Laboratory in the Department of Laboratory Medicine, both at the National University Hospital.
Dr Chong obtained his BSc (Honours) from the National University of Singapore, his MSc from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada, and his PhD in Human and Molecular Genetics from the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, USA. This was followed by a visiting fellowship at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland, and faculty positions at Georgetown University Medical Centre in Washington, D.C., and at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland.
At the turn of the 21st century, Dr Chong returned and joined the faculty of the National University of Singapore School of Medicine.
He spends most of his time developing innovative solutions for molecular diagnosis and screening of challenging genetic and genomic disorders, and has published nearly 200 scientific articles and book chapters. He also teaches undergraduate and post-graduate life sciences students in human genetics and genomics.
Tin-Chiu Li
Tin-Chiu Li
Prof TC Li
MD, PhD, FRCOG, FRCP, Hon FHKCOG
Head of the Union Reproductive Medicine Centre, Hong Kong
Hon Professor of Obs & Gynae, Chinese University of Hong Kong
Immediate past President of ASPIRE
Published 450 papers in peer-reviewed journals
Xiaoyan Liang
Xiaoyan Liang
Dr.Liang, a distinguished professor and Ph.D. advisor at Sun Yat-sen University, founded the Reproductive Center at the Sixth Affiliated Hospital. Graduating with a Master’s in Gynecological Endocrinology in 1986 and a Ph.D. in Reproductive Endocrinology in 1996, Dr.Liang has published over 150 influential papers and authored key texts in assisted reproductive technology. As the principal investigator, they led national projects on optimizing in vitro maturation (IVM) systems and contributed to national guidelines on PCOS and amenorrhea. Notably, they achieved Guangdong’s first IVM baby in 2002 and pioneered ovarian tissue transplantation in 2012. In 2017, they executed a groundbreaking mitochondrial injection procedure, resulting in a successful birth. Dr.Liang has played a pivotal role in training and establishing reproductive centers nationwide, significantly advancing reproductive endocrinology and fertility preservation.
Xiaoyan Chen
Xiaoyan Chen
Dr. Xiaoyan Chen, BMed (Hons), MBE (Harvard), PhD (CUHK)
Associate Consultant, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology & Director of Maternal-Fetal Research Institute, Shenzhen Baoan Women’s and Children’s Hospital, China
Adjunct Associate Professor, The Chinese University of Hong Kong.
Dr. Chen has special interest in recurrent miscarriage, recurrent implantation failure, uterine structure, endometrial function, maternal-fetal interface, and embryonic development. She has received 14 full-grants as principle investigator from 2018 to 2024 and over 60 publications in international peer-reviewed journals, including Cell, AJOG. She is the awardee of Young Investigator Award for ASPIRE 2023.
Dr. Chen is a committee member of the Special Interest Group of Implantation and Endometrium, ASPIRE. She is also the section editor of Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology and the editorial board member of BMC pregnancy and Childbirth.
Yutaka Osuga
Yutaka Osuga
Yutaka Osuga, MD, PhD
- Professor and Chair, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Graduate School of Medicine, the University of Tokyo
- Deputy director, the University of Tokyo Hospital
- Vice Chairperson of the Executive Board, Chairperson of International Relations Committee, Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology
- President, Japan Society of Fertilization and Implantation
- Immediate past president, Japan Society for Reproductive Medicine
- Immediate past president, Japan Society of Gynecologic and Obstetric Endoscopy and Minimally Invasive Therapy
Prof. Osuga received his MD in 1985 and PhD in 1995 from the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Tokyo, Japan. He completed his OB/GYN residency training at the University of Tokyo. He trained as a postdoctoral fellow in the field of ovarian physiology in Stanford University from 1995 to 1997. He is board certified by Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Japan Society of Gynecologic and Obstetric Endoscopy and Minimally Invasive Therapy, Japan Society for Reproductive Medicine, and Japanese Society of Anti-Aging Medicine.
Prof. Osuga provides clinical services in gynecology and reproductive medicine with special expertise in laparoscopic surgery and assisted reproductive technology. His main research targets cover a wide variety of physiology and pathology of reproduction including endometriosis, implantation, folliculogenesis, and reproductive aging. He has authored over 500 research papers published in eminent peer-reviewed journals and has written and edited many textbooks. He serves as an executive board member of several medical groups and associations and an editor of several international journals. He is frequently sought out to provide his expertise at international medical conferences and academic institutions.
Yuji Endo
Yuji Endo
Professor Yuji Endo
Nishitan ART Clinic
Biography
Yuji Endo, Ph.D., is a globally recognized leader in the field of reproductive science, renowned for his pioneering contributions to human-assisted reproductive technology. He earned his Ph.D. in Reproductive Science from Okayama University in 2013, where his research laid the foundation for groundbreaking advancements in fertility treatments. Dr. Endo currently serves as the Scientific Director at Nishitan Art Clinic Group, an institution established in 2022 by Seiji Nishimura. Under their leadership, the clinic has rapidly evolved into Japan’s largest and most prestigious IVF network.
With over two decades of expertise, Dr. Endo is credited with developing the innovative single sperm vitrification procedure, utilizing Cryotop and CellSleeper technologies to assist patients with critically low sperm counts. His work has revolutionized fertility treatments, offering new hope to individuals with previously unmanageable reproductive challenges. A prolific researcher, Dr. Endo has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications and serves as a trusted reviewer for leading international scientific journals, cementing his reputation as one of the foremost authorities in his field. His pioneering contributions continue to shape the future of reproductive medicine, pushing the boundaries of what is possible in assisted reproduction and fertility preservation.
Ying Cheong
Ying Cheong
Name: Professor Ying Cheong
Position/Occupation: Professor in Reproductive Medicine, University of Southampton
University / Hospital / Association: University of Southampton; Complete Fertility Centre Southampton
Biography: Ying is a Subspecialist in Reproductive Medicine and Surgery and the Professor of Reproductive Medicine. She is the Medical Director of Complete Fertility Centre Southampton, UK. Ying’s research is on the endometrium and its environment for implantation and works across discipline with the School of Electronics and Computer Science, University of Southampton in the development of medical devices. She holds several NIHR and commercial grants and is an experience clinical trialist. She is currently ESHRE Special Interest Group Coordinator for Reproductive Endocrinology and Editor to several journals. Ying is active in undergraduate and postgraduate teaching.
Zhongwei Huang
Zhongwei Huang
Adjunct Assistant Prof Huang Zhongwei is Clinician-Scientist and Consultant at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, National University Hospital, Singapore. He is the Deputy Director of NUS Bia-Echo Asia Centre for Reproductive Longevity and Equality (ACRLE), specialising in research for women’s reproductive health, ageing, digital medicine, and leading the conversation in women’s reproductive longevity and equality. Adjunct Assistant Prof Huang supports couples with fertility, clinical andrology and sexual issues holistically as an integral part of his clinical practice. He also cares for mothers throughout their pregnancy and women in their post reproductive years.
Session Chairs
Emily Liu
Emily Liu
Dr Emily Liu (REI Subspeciliast & Gynaecologist, Auckland, New Zealand)
Emily is a New Zealand trained Fertility Specialist and Gynaecologist based in Auckland. She is a graduate from University of Otago, completed a Master in Reproductive Medicine with University of New South Wales, and is a certified subspecialist in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (CREI) with the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG).
She is a member of the Ethics Committee on Assisted Reproductive Technology (ECART) and is the current New Zealand Country Representative for ASPIRE. She has been involved in a number of clinical trials and systematic reviews, and has a strong interest in evidence based medicine.
Emily runs her private practice in Repromed and Auckland Gynaecology Group in Auckland.
Junhao Yan
Junhao Yan
Junhao Yan, M.D., Ph.D., a professor and chief physician at the Center for Reproductive Medicine, Shandong University. He currently serves as the President of the Center for Reproductive Medicine, Shandong University, Deputy Director of National Research Center for Assisted Reproductive Technology and Reproductive Genetics, Deputy Dean of the Institute of Women, Children and Reproductive Health, Shandong University. His primary interests as a clinical and translational researcher have been in the field of reproductive genetics, infertility, pregnancy loss and birth defects. His studies have also focused on standardizing the application of PGT technology. In recent years, he has published more than 70 peer reviewed papers as corresponding or first author in journals such as New Engl J Med、BMJ、J Clin Invest、JAMA Netw Open、Am J Hum Genet etc. He also led over 10 projects including the National Key R&D Program and National Natural Science Projects as a PI. He received multiple awards, including the Ministry of Education’s First Prize for Excellent Scientific Research Achievements in Higher Education Institutions, the first prize of Shandong Provincial Science and Technology Progress Award and the Young Scholar Award of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation of China, et al.
Jung Ryeol Lee
Jung Ryeol Lee
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 graduated from the Seoul National University College of Medicine, where he also earned his Ph.D. Following this, he completed his residency and fellowship at Seoul National University Hospital and Seoul National University Bundang Hospital. He is currently a professor at Seoul National University College of Medicine and Seoul National University Bundang Hospital and serves as the chairman of his department.
Professor Lee has conducted extensive research and published numerous articles in the areas of fertility preservation, assisted reproductive technologies, fertility regeneration, and minimally invasive surgery. His main academic interests are fertility preservation, regeneration and anti-aging in reproduction, minimally invasive surgery, and digital medicine. He is recognized as a leading figure among Korean clinicians and researchers in fertility preservation, reproductive endocrinology, and infertility. He is also a leading surgeon in the field of minimally invasive surgery, including single-port laparoscopic and robot-assisted surgery.
In addition, Professor Lee has served as an associate editor and editor-in-chief for many international peer-reviewed journals, such as Human Reproduction, Frontiers in Endocrinology, and Journal of Menopausal Medicine. As a board or council member, he has contributed to numerous International and Korean academic societies dedicated to reproductive endocrinology and fertility preservation.
Keiji Kuroda
Keiji Kuroda
Keiji Kuroda, M.D., Ph.D.
Bio: Dr. Keiji Kuroda is a specialist in reproductive medicine and a director, Sugiyama Clinic Marunouchi, Tokyo. He had researched human endometrium in Imperial College London and University of Warwick, UK, from 2010 to 2012. His current research interests include the relationship between endometrial dysfunction and implantation failure or pregnancy loss.
Kyunjoo Hwang
Kyunjoo Hwang
Kyunjoo Hwang M.D., Ph.D
He graduated from Yonsei University College of Medicine in 1988 and completed a residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Severance Hospital. Following this, He pursued a fellowship in reproductive endocrinology and infertility at Ajou University Hospital. In 1997, he was appointed as a professor at the Ajou University School of Medicine.
In 2002, he earned a Ph.D. in Science from Seoul Women’s University. From March 2017 to February 2023, he served as the Chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Ajou University School of Medicine.
In 2025, he became the President of the Korean Society for Reproductive Medicine.
Kyung Ah Jeong
Kyung Ah Jeong
I’m Kyungah Jeong with Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital in South Korea. I’m a professor of reproductive endocrinology, a director of Infertility/Fertility preservation center, Robotic surgery center and Hospital Vice President. I’ve been researching PCOS, Endometriosis, and ovarian aging and performed over two thousands cases of Robotic surgeries, especially for fertility preservation.
Kenji Ezoe
Kenji Ezoe
Kenji Ezoe is a senior scientist at the R&D laboratory of the Kato Ladies Clinic in Tokyo, Japan. He obtained his Ph.D. degree in agriculture from the Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology. His research interests include fertilization, embryology, cryopreservation, and blastocyst implantation.
Mukhri Hamdan
Mukhri Hamdan
Dr Mukhri Hamdan is a professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology with a subspecialist in reproductive medicine. He works as an O&G consultant at Universiti Malaya Medical (UMMC) and Specialist Centre (UMSC). He is the Head of the O&G Department in the Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya and also the Vice President for the College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Academy of Medicine Malaysia. He sits on the National Obstetrics & Gynaecology and Reproductive Medicine subspecialty evaluation committee for the Malaysian Medical Council (MMC). He is actively involved in the Advisory and Coordinating Committee for Reproductive Health (Subfertility) for LPPKN.
He holds a PhD from the University of Southampton UK in reproductive sciences (Endometriosis) and also a clinical master in Obstetrics and Gynaecology (MObGyn) from the University Malaya. He was trained locally and in the United Kingdom hospitals. After he completed his clinical master, he joined Complete Fertility Southampton, United Kingdom and gained advanced training in infertility. He is certified by British Fertility Society (BFS) to perform embryo transfer (IVF/ET) and intrauterine insemination (IUI).
Dr. Mukhri has been a keen researcher in the field of reproduction. He has presented his work in many international meetings and has published them in high-impact academic journals in various aspects of the endometriosis field. He has also been actively involved in writing up the National Curriculum for O&G. He speaks regularly in local and international congresses and is currently a member in ASPIRE SIG endometriosis
Nusrat Mahmud
Nusrat Mahmud
- Senior Consultant & Professor
Division of Reproductive Medicine & Infertility
Dept. of OBGYN, BIRDEM General Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh. - Honorary Clinical and Research, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University. USA.
Nusrat Mahmud’s (MBBS MS) main research interests are in the fertility aspect of PCOS and Endometriosis, male infertility, Diabetes Mellitus and Infertility, and also Climate change impact in infertility.
She is a Council member of South Asian Federation of Obstetricians & Gynecologists –(SAFOG). and the Country Representative for Asia Pacific Initiative on Reproduction (ASPIRE.) Recently she has been appointed as Member- REI committee Asia Oceania Federation of Obstetrician & Gynecologist (AOFOG) and also Member- Asian PCO Society.
She is keen in research and involved her commitment as the Associate Editor of Fertility and Reproduction, the official Journal of ASPIRE.
Nusrat is being appointed as the reviewer of official journal of SAFOG and also the International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
She emphasized on medical ethics and morals in professional and personal life while talking to her trainees.Her interest in teaching lead her to be the Course Coordinator (Gynecological Endoscopy) in different Institutes of Bangladesh both private and government sectors. Nusrat is engaged as resource hands in IUI trainings in different government and non-government organizations in the country.
She is appointed as the Treasurer of Fertility & Sterility Society, Join Secretary Endometriosis and Adenomyosis Society and Scientific Secretary of PCOS Society of Bangladesh. She is active member of IFFS, ESHRE and ASRM.
She is the author of a book and chapters of book which are published by internationally reputed publishing house. She is a good orator and given talks on international and national scientific meetings in home married and have and abroad.
She is married to an urologist by profession and blessed with two lovely children. Her daughter is carrying the family legacy.
Nandita Palshetkar
Nandita Palshetkar
Dr. Nandita Palshetkar – Leading IVF Specialist & Women’s Health Advocate
Dr. Nandita Palshetkar is a pioneering IVF specialist with over 30 years of experience in reproductive medicine. She is the Medical Director of Bloom IVF, a network of 10 fertility centers across India, and has played a key role in advancing assisted reproductive technology (ART) in the country.
A past President of FOGSI (2019), ISAR, IAGE, AMOGS, MOGS, and MSR, Dr. Palshetkar has been instrumental in shaping policies and initiatives that promote women’s health and fertility care. She is actively involved in national and international committees, including FIGO, AOFOG, and the Government of India’s ART and Surrogacy Bill Committees.
Dr. Palshetkar is known for her groundbreaking work in IVF, preimplantation genetic testing (PGT), ovarian tissue freezing, and advanced fertility preservation techniques. She has delivered over 1,000 lectures, authored more than 100 publications, and edited 25 books. Her dedication to excellence has earned her several prestigious awards, including the Honorary FRCOG by The Royal College of OBGY, Lifetime Achievement Award at IFS–Fertivision 2023 and the ISSRF Lifetime Achievement Award 2024.
Beyond fertility, she is passionate about public health advocacy, spearheading awareness campaigns on cervical cancer, reproductive rights, and maternal health. She was the Organizing Chair of AICOG 2025 (All India Congress OBCY), which marks FOGSI’s 75th anniversary and is set to be a landmark event in Indian obstetrics and gynecology.
A visionary leader, mentor, and advocate for women’s health, Dr. Nandita Palshetkar continues to shape the future of fertility care in India and beyond.
Poonam Nayar
Poonam Nayar
Dr. Poonam Nayar Clinical Psychologist, Akanksha IVF Center. New Delhi ,India
I have been working in the field of clinical psychology since 1980. Having obtained much of my education in Zambia and Botswana , I developed interest in cross cultural differences This started with undergraduate research on differences in field dependency in the African population .For post graduate and doctoral studies , I shifted to India , working in the area of stress management with help of yoga based techniques . The main areas include teaching, research, and clinical work in a variety of settings
Teaching and Research (1981- present) in order to develop methods of attaining positive mental health based on mind-body therapy techniques derived from yoga. These were put into research paradigms as RCT and conducted in a multidisciplinary settings within the hospitals .Research projects included studies on common psychiatric disorders like anxiety and depression, burn-out in staff nurses, mild essential hypertension, psychogenic headache, domestic violence, reducing stress in couples undergoing fertility care or IVF. The findings have been published in indexed journals.
I am the Convener of the Special Interest Group “Counselling in infertility “of the Indian Fertility Society (IFS) from 2017 –present.
I have conducted workshops, presented papers in national (IFS) and international conferences (ASRM; ESHRE)
Chairperson for the Clinical Consensus Guideline for psychosocial care in Assisted Reproduction Technology .Published by the IFS 2024
Editor for Counselling in ART, Published by IFS 2023
Adolescent Mental Health (2003-2010 ):Conducted life skill education workshops , individual and family counselling to help adolescents deal with life challenges and concerns ,such as bullying, heterosexual relationships, dealing with dysfunctional families etc.
I was awarded Fellowship for attending the Annual Conference of faculty of Adolescent and Child Psychiatry, organized by the Royal College of Psychiatry,(London ,UK),Held at Madrid, Spain in 2006.
Robert Lahoud
Robert Lahoud
Dr Robert Lahoud (MBBS, MMed, FRANZCOG, CREI)
Rob is a specialist doctor and has been a board-certified subspecialist in reproductive endocrinology for over 20 years now (Certificate in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (CREI)). Rob was trained both in Australia and Europe.
Current roles:
- Clinical Director of the IVFAustralia Greenwich Clinic (north shore).
- Visiting Medical Officer at the Sydney Adventist Hospital
- Senior lecturer at the University of Notre Dame.
- Exam director for the CREI subspeciality in Australia and New Zealand.
- Co-chair of the reproductive endocrine SIG and the Australian country representative for ASPIRE.
He has published several articles in major journals and has presented papers in many parts of the world.
Rebecca Moore
Rebecca Moore
Bec Moore is a highly experienced Registered Nurse based in Brisbane, Australia, with over 15 years in nursing and 11 years specializing in fertility care. She is currently a Fertility Nurse Coordinator at Care Fertility, where she is dedicated to guiding and
supporting individuals and couples through their fertility journey.
Bec holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Reproductive Medicine from UNSW and is among an elite group of nurses to achieve the prestigious ESHRE Certification for Nurses and Midwives—becoming only the second nurse in Australiato do so.
In addition to her clinical expertise, Bec has contributed to fertility research, focusing on the knowledge and attitudes of female medical students regarding delaying childbearing, oocyte freezing, and fertility preservation options. Her work highlights the
importance of education and awareness in reproductive choices and future fertility planning.
Passionate about patient-centered fertility care, Bec is committed to delivering compassionate, high-quality support to those undergoing fertility treatment. Her expertise, dedication, and deep understanding of reproductive medicine ensure that every patient receives the best possible care throughout their journey.
Rupin Shah
Rupin Shah
Dr Rupin Shah is India’s leading Andrologist and Male Infertility Microsurgeon. He has a vast experience in reconstructive microsurgery for obstructive azoospermia and has pioneered new approaches to sperm retrieval in non-obstructive azoospermia. He was Founder President of the South Asian Society of Sexual Medicine and is the recipient of the prestigious Dr B C Roy award from the President of India for developing Andrology in India. He has published and presented extensively and has contributed over 20 book chapters. He is Consultant Andrologist at the Lilavati Hospital and Research Centre, Mumbai. He is Associate editor of the ASPIRE journal – Fertility and Reproduction. He is Senior Advisor to the Global Andrology Forum. He is also a Co-Chair of the Male infertility and Sexual dysfunction committee, International Consultation on Sexual Medicine, 2024
Rong Li
Rong Li
Prof. Li is serving as the Chairman, Reproductive medicine branch, China International Exchange and Promotive Association for Medical and Health Care, CPAM, Vice chairman, Reproductive Medicine Professional Committee of Chinese Medical Doctor Association, CARM, and the Director for Reproductive Medical Center, and the vice president of Peking University Third Hospital. She specializes in clinical treatment, education and medical researches within the fields of Obstetrics and Gynecology with research directions on reproductive medicine, female fertility evaluation, endometrial receptivity and PCOS. She published more than 150 SCI articles in medical journals, including Cell, Nature, Lancet, JAMA, et al. Her researches had been funded National Natural Science Foundation for Preeminence Youth Fund Sustentation Project in 2019.
Rohina Gul
Rohina Gul
DR ROHINA GUL
Fellow of Sexual medicine,
Fertility Specialist
MBBS, DGO, MCPS, FECSM, ARDMS
Diploma in fertility,
Dr Rohina Gul spend much of her career time in Fertility clinics. After 6 years work in Toronto, Canada, she joined LIFE (Pakistan) in 2015 till date. While working in Fertility she did her diploma in Gynae and OBS and Fellowship in sexual medicine and became first and only female Clinical Sexual medicine Fellow of Pakistan.
She deals with male and female sub fertility, doing most procedures like IUI, IVF/ICSI,OPU , ET, ERA Biopsies and Transfers. Alongside treating male and female sexual dysfunction, couple counselling and performing procedures like Injection botulinum for vaginismus, vaginal PRP for female sexual dysfunction, vaginal Laser / vaginal HIFU for pre-menopausal vaginal symptoms .
ASPIRE(AsiaPacific Initiative of reproductive Endocrinology)Country representative
Course coordinator of Certificate in A.R.T (CART)
Ronald Wang
Ronald Wang
Dr. Ronald Wang Chi Chiu is Deputy Editor of F&R and currently a Professor, Division Head and Deputy Director of Prenatal Genetic Diagnosis Centre of Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology at The Chinese University of Hong Kong. Dr. Wang joined the department after his MBBS degree with honours in 1994, and he received his first PhD in Surgical Sciences from the Chinese University of Hong Kong in 1998 and his second PhD in Genetics from Japan National Institute of Genetics in 2011. Dr. Wang has major research focus in studying reproduction and development. With wide range of experience in clinical and medical research and teaching, Dr. Wang was appointed to the editorial boards and review panels of many important research funding agents and journals. Dr. Wang has worked on many research projects received a total of over HK$116 million research grants and owned 22 patents. He has published over 308 ISI articles on many acclaimed journals including JAMA, Ann Int Med, Nat Cell Biol, Nat Commun, Adv Sci, Gene Dev, Cell Research, PNAS, Angiogenesis, J Biol Chem, FRBM, Hum Reprod Update, Hum Reprod, Mol Hum Reprod, and Fertil Steril. His success in translational O&G research has earned him multiple local and international scholarships and both research and innovation awards. He is also reviewer of BMJ, Lancet, Hum Reprod, Fertil Steril, BJOG, FRBM, FASEB, J Path, Development, Physiol Genomics, etc
R Muharam
R Muharam
Professor Muharam Natadisastra, MD (OG), REI, MPH, PhD
He is a board member of the Asia Pacific Initiative on Reproduction and Head of the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia.
Currently, he is the President-Elect of the Indonesian Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology (PERFITRI) for the 2021-2024 period. He also serves as the Vice President of the Indonesian Endocrinology-Reproduction and Fertility Association (HIFERI) since 2022. He was the Former President of the Indonesian Menopause Society from 2009 to 2013.
Since 2004 up until now, he has occupied the position of Head of IVF at Yasmin Kencana, part of Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, which focuses on Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. He was also the Head of the Immunoendocrinology Laboratory at the Makmal Diagnostic Centre.
After graduating as a specialist in Obstetrics and Gynecology in 2001, he resumed his studies and received his subspecialist training in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility from Universitas Indonesia in 2005.
He was appointed as a professor in the field of endocrinology reproduction at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Indonesia, in August 2023.
He has research published in local and international journals. His research focuses mainly on ART, endometriosis, PCOS, and menopause. Up until now, he has published 83 original articles in international journals indexed in Scopus, and 26 original articles indexed in PubMed, with an h-index of 10. He has developed research studying the improvement of poor responder IVF patients, improvement of IVF patients with endometriosis, and thin endometrium.
Currently, he is a member of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), The European Society for Reproductive Immunology (ESRI), The Official Journal of the Asia Pacific Initiative on Reproduction (ASPIRE), International Menopause Society (IMS), and International Committee for Monitoring Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ICMART).
Rubina Sohail
Rubina Sohail
Professor Rubina Sohail
FCPS, FRCOG, DCPS-HPE
Dr Rubina Sohail is a Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology with special interest in public health and is Deputy Chair of Scientific committee of FIGO Conference 2023.
She received medical training at the Allama Iqbal Medical College in Lahore and passed her fellowship examination in Obstetrics & Gyanecology and diploma in Health Professionals Education from College of Physicians & Surgeons, Pakistan (CPSP). She has served in various medical colleges in teaching capacity for more than 25 years. Her longest association is as Professor & head of department of OB/GYN and Director, Department of Medical Education at Services Institute of Medical Sciences.
She is a teacher, supervisor & examiner for undergraduate & postgraduate students in OB/GYN. She is the course director of longest standing clinical postgraduate course in Pakistan and author of three books including “Implementing sexual and reproductive rights in South Asia”. She has been instrumental in developing curricula for midwives & doctors and has been the Focal person in many national and international projects related to maternal and neonatal health
Being a founder member, Professor Sohail has worked in various capacities in SAFOG including Secretary General and President. Here, her contribution has been significant in bringing together the fraternity of OBG in South Asia with the primary objective of improving woman health in the region. Dr Rubina is member, executive SOGP and Vice president, Pakistan Menopause society. She has been a board member with Ipas and is currently member board PPIF. She has been associated in editorial capacity with JSAFOMS, JSAFOG, BMJ, Esculapio and specialty section of “Frontiers in Global Reproductive Health” Frontiers 2019.
Dr Rubina is currently Chair, FIGO Committee on Women Facing Crises: Human Rights, Refugees and Violence Against Women. Facilitator & organizer of many medical education and clinical workshops and national & international conferences in various capacities. Member of multiple technical committees with government of Punjab and developmental partners as WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, Jhpiego for initiatives related to contraception, EmONC, NCD, VAW, EENC and KMC.
Due to her work in maternal and neonatal health. Prof Rubina Sohail was awarded FRCOG (ad eundem) in 2019 and Distinguished Service Award by SAFOG in 2022.
Sharon Lim
Sharon Lim
Dr Sharon Lim
Counsellor
Counsellingconnectz, Singapore
Sharon Lim is an integrative counsellor who works with clients who are experiencing stress, burnout, anxiety or sadness as a result of grief and challenging circumstances. An area of specific interest is supporting individuals and couples who are on challenging fertility journeys (from pre-conception to post-natal phases).
She draws on various therapeutic modalities such as Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Solution-focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Grief and Loss (Transitions) work. Sharon believes that balance can only be achieved by attending holistically to mental, emotional and physical health.
She has a Master of Counselling degree, and is a registered counsellor in Singapore, and an accredited clinical counselling supervisor in Singapore and Australia. Before training as a counsellor, she was a physician in the UK, and has also worked in the pharmaceutical industry.
Professional affiliations:
APACS (Association of Psychotherapists and Counsellors, Singapore)
SAC (Singapore Association of Counselling)
ACA (Australian Counselling Association)
ANZICA (Australian and New Zealand Infertility Counsellors Association)
ASPIRE (Asia Pacific Initiative on Reproduction)
MRCP (Member of the Royal College of Physicians UK)
Somjate Manipalviratn
Somjate Manipalviratn
Dr. Somjate Manipalviratn is currently the Medical Director of Jetanin Hospital which is a specialized hospital for fertility treatment in Bangkok. He graduated his medical degree, Obstetric and Gyneology training and Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility training from Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand. After his graduation is Thailand, he went to the United States of America to be a research follow under the mentor of Prof. Dr. Alan DeCherney at the University of California, Los Angeles before moving to the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
He currently has served ASPIRE as the country representative for Thailand. He also is a board member of ASPIRE educational committee and also as a board member of ASPIRE Endometrium and Implantation Special Interest Group. He also is a board member of Thai Society of Reproductive Medicine.
He has been an active speaker in the field of fertility treatment and fertility preservation both locally and internationally.
Shin Yong Moon
Shin Yong Moon
Biography:
Professor Shin Yong Moon graduated from Seoul National University, College of Medicine in 1974. He completed his residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Seoul National University Hospital.
He studied IVF Program at Jones Institute for Reproductive Medicine with Professor Howard and Georgeanna Segar Jones and Professor Anibal A. Acosta in 1984 at Norfolk, Virginia. Professor Moon succeeded in creating the first test-tube baby in Korea in 1985.
He was the foundation member and 2nd president of ASPIRE. He had put a lot of effort into developing ASPIRE. He has trained many doctors from Asia in his clinic and laboratory.
In 2006, “Isolation and Characterization of Human Embryonic Stem Cells from Human Blastocysts” was published in the journal Stem Cell by Professor Moon.
He worked for the development of human reproduction and genetics in Korea. He retired from Seoul National University in 2013 and established Professor Moon’s Institute for Human Reproduction and Genetics and M Fertility Center in Seoul, Korea.
Tin-Chiu Li
Tin-Chiu Li
Prof TC Li
MD, PhD, FRCOG, FRCP, Hon FHKCOG
Head of the Union Reproductive Medicine Centre, Hong Kong
Hon Professor of Obs & Gynae, Chinese University of Hong Kong
Immediate past President of ASPIRE
Published 450 papers in peer-reviewed journals
Wen-Jui Yang
Wen-Jui Yang
Wen-Jui Yang M.D., Ph.D.
Director of Reproductive Medicine, Taiwan IVF Group Center
Adjunct Associate Professor (OBS/GYN), The Chinese University of Hong Kong
MOLINDA WEN-JUI YANG M.D., PH.D.
Dr. Yang is Director of Reproductive Medicine at Taiwan IVF Group Center and currently invited as an adjunct associate Professor in the department of obstetrics and gynaecology of the Chinese University of Hong Kong.
Dr. Yang completed the residency training of Obstetrics and Gynecology and research fellow of reproductive medicine in Mackey Memorial Hospital and also completed her Ph.D. degree in National Chiao Tung University, Taiwan. She was a visiting research fellow of infertility and reproductive endocrinology in Stanford Reproductive Medical Center.
Her major research interests included clinical and basic reproductive medicine, endometrial receptivity, and pre-implantation genetic diagnosis. She has many research papers in reproductive medicine and also a reviewer of several international journals. She has been an invited speaker on topics in reproductive medicine.
Yutaka Osuga
Yutaka Osuga
Yutaka Osuga, MD, PhD
- Professor and Chair, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Graduate School of Medicine, the University of Tokyo
- Deputy director, the University of Tokyo Hospital
- Vice Chairperson of the Executive Board, Chairperson of International Relations Committee, Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology
- President, Japan Society of Fertilization and Implantation
- Immediate past president, Japan Society for Reproductive Medicine
- Immediate past president, Japan Society of Gynecologic and Obstetric Endoscopy and Minimally Invasive Therapy
Prof. Osuga received his MD in 1985 and PhD in 1995 from the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Tokyo, Japan. He completed his OB/GYN residency training at the University of Tokyo. He trained as a postdoctoral fellow in the field of ovarian physiology in Stanford University from 1995 to 1997. He is board certified by Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Japan Society of Gynecologic and Obstetric Endoscopy and Minimally Invasive Therapy, Japan Society for Reproductive Medicine, and Japanese Society of Anti-Aging Medicine.
Prof. Osuga provides clinical services in gynecology and reproductive medicine with special expertise in laparoscopic surgery and assisted reproductive technology. His main research targets cover a wide variety of physiology and pathology of reproduction including endometriosis, implantation, folliculogenesis, and reproductive aging. He has authored over 500 research papers published in eminent peer-reviewed journals and has written and edited many textbooks. He serves as an executive board member of several medical groups and associations and an editor of several international journals. He is frequently sought out to provide his expertise at international medical conferences and academic institutions.
Ying Cheong
Ying Cheong
Name: Professor Ying Cheong
Position/Occupation: Professor in Reproductive Medicine, University of Southampton
University / Hospital / Association: University of Southampton; Complete Fertility Centre Southampton
Biography: Ying is a Subspecialist in Reproductive Medicine and Surgery and the Professor of Reproductive Medicine. She is the Medical Director of Complete Fertility Centre Southampton, UK. Ying’s research is on the endometrium and its environment for implantation and works across discipline with the School of Electronics and Computer Science, University of Southampton in the development of medical devices. She holds several NIHR and commercial grants and is an experience clinical trialist. She is currently ESHRE Special Interest Group Coordinator for Reproductive Endocrinology and Editor to several journals. Ying is active in undergraduate and postgraduate teaching.
Company Symposium Faculty
Fabio Cruz
Fabio Cruz
Short bio:
Dr. Fábio Cruz is a senior gynecologist at IVI Valencia for the last 16 years and Professor at the University of Valencia.
Dr. Cruz received his medical and specialist degree from the Federal University of Bahia in Brazil, where he also worked as Associate Professor.
After moving to Spain, Dr. Cruz completed a Reproductive Medicine fellowship at IVI. After that he obtained master’s degree in Human Reproduction and later in Advanced Gynecological Endoscopic Surgery, both at University of Valencia. He’s currently finishing PhD degree at the same University.
Dr. Fábio Cruz has been for a board member of the research committee at IVI Valencia and is part of IVIRMA Global Education as a Professor and Coordinator of medical training.
Short presentation:
- Specialist in Reproductive Medicine at IVI Valencia
- Professor at the University of Valencia
- Coordinator and Professor at IVIRMA Global Education
Jung Ryeol Lee
Jung Ryeol Lee
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 graduated from the Seoul National University College of Medicine, where he also earned his Ph.D. Following this, he completed his residency and fellowship at Seoul National University Hospital and Seoul National University Bundang Hospital. He is currently a professor at Seoul National University College of Medicine and Seoul National University Bundang Hospital and serves as the chairman of his department.
Professor Lee has conducted extensive research and published numerous articles in the areas of fertility preservation, assisted reproductive technologies, fertility regeneration, and minimally invasive surgery. His main academic interests are fertility preservation, regeneration and anti-aging in reproduction, minimally invasive surgery, and digital medicine. He is recognized as a leading figure among Korean clinicians and researchers in fertility preservation, reproductive endocrinology, and infertility. He is also a leading surgeon in the field of minimally invasive surgery, including single-port laparoscopic and robot-assisted surgery.
In addition, Professor Lee has served as an associate editor and editor-in-chief for many international peer-reviewed journals, such as Human Reproduction, Frontiers in Endocrinology, and Journal of Menopausal Medicine. As a board or council member, he has contributed to numerous International and Korean academic societies dedicated to reproductive endocrinology and fertility preservation.
Le Long Ho
Le Long Ho
Dr. Le Long Ho is an IVF Specialist and the Head of the ART Department at IVFMD, My Duc Phu Nhuan Hospital. He earned his M.D. from Vietnam National University in 2016 and a Diploma in Assisted Reproductive Technology from the National University Hospital in 2019. With extensive experience in reproductive medicine, Dr. Ho has held key roles at My Duc Hospital since 2019. He is actively involved in teaching and research, contributing to numerous international conferences and publications in the field of assisted reproduction and in vitro maturation (IVM). His work focuses on improving fertility treatments and patient outcomes.
Suresh Nair
Suresh Nair
Dr. Suresh Nair is an Obstetrician and Gynecologist and Founder of the Seed of Life Fertility & Women’s Care Medical Centre in Singapore. He specializes in Reproductive Endocrinology, Infertility, Assisted Reproductive Techniques (IVF, ICSI, IUI), and advanced Robotic-Assisted surgeries. Dr. Nair received comprehensive training in Minimal Access Laparoscopic and Hysteroscopic Surgery from 1991 to 1993 in the US, UK, France, and Germany.
He holds a Masters in Reproductive Medicine from the University of New South Wales. Dr. Nair has served as Medical Director at several fertility centres and is the Founding Director of Monash IVF Singapore. He currently chairs the Reproductive Medicine Section at the College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Singapore.
He is also a member of the Education Committee of the Asia Pacific Initiative on Reproduction (ASPIRE), a Board Member of the Robotic Surgery Society of Singapore, and serves as the Honorary Treasurer of the Asian Society of Gynecological Robotic Surgeons.
Scott Nelson
Scott Nelson
Professor Scott Nelson
Biography:
Professor Scott Nelson is the Muirhead Chair of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Glasgow. In addition to this esteemed position, he is founder and Medical Director of Oxford Medical in Kuwait and also holds several other roles of note including Scientific Director of The Fertility Partnership, Medical Director of Access Fertility and a visiting Professor at the University of Bristol.
Prof. Nelson received his science and medical degrees from the University of Glasgow in 1994 and 1997 respectively, and in 2003, he obtained his PhD from the University of Dundee. On subsequently completing his training in obstetrics and gynaecology in the West of Scotland, he was promoted to full Professor at the University of Glasgow in 2008.
Throughout his career, Prof. Nelson has made significant contributions to the field of reproductive medicine, authoring over 300 peer-reviewed publications that are widely cited and recognized for their impact.
