Dr. Signe Altmäe is an Associate Professor at the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Granada, Spain and visiting researcher at the Div. Obsteterics and Gynaecology, Karolinska Institute, Sweden. Signe is the deputy of the ESHRE Special Interest group of Reproductive Genetics and belongs to the working-group of Reproductive Genetics of Spanish Society of Reproduction. She is the Editor of Reproductive BioMedicine Online and Associate Editor of Molecular Human Reproduction journals. Her research focusses on molecular aspects of female and male infertility. She is also investigating microorganismal composition of human reproductive tract, and the associations of how the microbial communities could associate with reproductive parameters, with fertility and infertility in women and men.
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Claus Yding Andersen is Scientific Director of Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, University Hospital of Copenhagen, Denmark and Professor of Human Reproductive Physiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen.
Professor Andersen was member of the team that introduced IVF to Denmark in the mid-1980s and has during the last 20 years headed a national program of cryopreservation of human ovarian and testicular tissue. He is considered one of the pioneers in this field.
Professor Andersen’s major research contributions are ovarian endocrinology, oocyte maturation, cryopreservation of gonadal tissue, human embryonic stem cells and development of new principles for ovarian stimulation including introduction of the agonist trigger and novel approaches to luteal phase support.
He has published more than 440 scientific papers. His current H-index is 80 (Google Scholar) with more than 22.000 citations and he has made numerous international presentations and is currently chief editor on the Reproduction section of Frontiers in Endocrinology (IF 5.5).

Ana Luísa Fialho Amaral de Areia completed her PhD in Doctoral Program in Health Sciences in 2015/07/24 from the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Coimbra, master’s in medicine in 2009 from the University of Coimbra and Degree in Medicine in 1999 from the University of Coimbra. She is Principal Investigator at the University of Coimbra, Vice-President of the Portuguese Society of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Graduate Assistant at the Hospital and University Center of Coimbra EPE, Invited Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Coimbra, has the Sub-Specialty in Maternal-Fetal Medicine of the Order of Physicians and is a Researcher at the Association to Support the Center for Research in Genetic Environment and Oncobiology. She has published 37 articles in specialized journals, of which 27 in indexed journals, and of these she is first author of 16 articles. She has written 4 book chapters. Organized 8 events. Participated in 60 events. Supervised 2 doctoral theses. Supervised 27 master’s dissertations and co-supervised 2. Received 1 award. Participates and/or has participated as a Researcher in 3 funded projects, being Principal Investigator in 1 project. She works in Medical and Health Sciences with emphasis on Basic Medicine and Medical and Health Sciences with emphasis on Clinical Medicine. In her professional activities she interacted with 139 collaborator(s) in co-authorship of scientific works. In her Ciência Vitae curriculum the most frequent terms in the contextualization of scientific, technological, and artistic-cultural production are: Regulatory T cells; Childbirth/Labour; Innate Lymphoid Cells; Pregnancy; Treg; Progesterone; mPRalpha; Preterm birth; Pregnancy; Preterm labor; IL-10; TGF-ß; cytokines; obstetrics.

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Baris Ata, M.D., M.Sc., is a clinical researcher on female infertility, endometriosis and clinical aspects of assisted reproduction. He is the President of the Turkish Society of Reproductive Medicine. He serves on editorial boards of leading journals in the field. He holds multiple awards for research, education and quality of patient care by several prestigious institutions. He currently works at ART Fertility Clinics, Dubai UAE and Koç University, Istanbul, Turkiye as a Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Dr. Amir Aviram is a graduate of the Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel. He completed his post-graduate training in Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Endocrinology at the Helen Schneider Hospital for Women, Rabin Medical Center at the Lis Maternity and Women’s Hospital, The Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Centre, Israel. He completed his Maternal-Fetal Medicine sub-specialty training in 2020 at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and Mount Sinai Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON. Today, Dr. Aviram is the head of the placental disorders clinic at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON, and hold an academic rank of an Associated Professor at the Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON. He has authored and co-authored more than 125 manuscripts in the peer reviewed journals, as well as numerous reviews and book chapters, and he also serves as the Trustworthy Editor for the AJOG MFM journal.
His research interests include placental disorders and multifetal gestations.

DIOGO AYRES-DE-CAMPOS, MD, PhD is a Full Professor and Chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Medical School, University of Lisbon, Portugal. He is also Chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology the Santa Maria University Hospital, Lisbon.
His main scientific areas of interest are intrapartum fetal monitoring and obstetric simulation. He is a co-inventor of the “Omniview-SisPorto®” program for computer analysis of fetal monitoring signals (Speculum, Lisbon, Portugal, 2006), the clinical record database Obscare (Virtualcare, Porto, Portugal, 2002), and was the medical consultant for the development of the “Lucina®” obstetric simulator (CAE Healthcare, Montreal, Canada, 2014).
With an h-index of 35, he has published 149 papers in international Medline-indexed journals, edited 2 international books, and has given 252 invited lectures at international scientific meetings. He was Editor-in-chief of the “Acta Obstetrica e Ginecologica Portuguesa” 2006-2010, and Associate Editor of “ISRN Obstetrics and Gynecology” 2012-2014.
He is the President of the “European Association of Perinatal Medicine – EAPM”, Executive Committe Member of the “European Board and College of Obstetrics and Gynecology – EBCOG”, and co-ordinator of the EBCOG Part 2 Exam. Between 2010 and 2018 he integrated the “Safe Motherhood and Newborn Health committee” at the “International Federation of Obstetrics and Gynecology – FIGO”, where he co-ordinated the 2015 revision of the “FIGO guidelines on intrapartum fetal monitoring”. He participated in the World Health Organisation consensus panels for “Recommendations on antenatal care” and “Intrapartum care and reduction of unnecessary caesarean section”.
He is the President of the “Federation of Portuguese Societies of Obstetrics and Gynecology – FSPOG”, a Board member of the Subespeciality in Maternal-Fetal Medicine of the Portuguese General Medical Council, and presided over the “National Commission for Reduction of Cesarean Section rates”, nominated by the Portuguese Ministery of Health.

Alessandra Graziottin, MD
Alessandra Graziottin is specialized in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, and in Oncology and a certified Therapist in Sexual Medicine.
She is Director of the Centre of Gynaecology and Medical Sexology at the H. San Raffaele Resnati in Milano, Italy.
She is Founder and Chair of the Alessandra Graziottin Foundation for the cure and care of pain in women NPO (since 2008).
She is currently:
– professor on contract at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of University of Verona;
– faculty member at the International School of Surgical Anatomy (ISSA) in Negrar di Valpolicella (Verona);
– lecturer on “Gynecological endocrinology, menopause and female sexuality” at the Specialty School of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases of the University Federico II of Napoli.
In September 2022 she chaired the Atelier 15 on “Endometriosis and comorbid pain: impact on women’s and couple’s sexuality” at the Endometriosis Consensus Strasbourg 2022.
Since 2019 she has been collaborator for the Higher Education in the Medical Area and professor at the First Level University Master in Clinical Sexology at Milan Bicocca University. Since 2017 she has been member of the Core Faculty of the European School of Oncology (ESO) and, since 2011, member of the International Organizing Committee (IOC) of Controversies in Obstetrics, Gynecology & Infertility (COGI).
In June 2004 she has been awarded the Honorary Membership by the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC) and, in 2018, the “National Health Prize” for Medicine in Italy.
Professor Graziottin has published 27 scientific books and proceedings, over then 90 chapters of scientific books and more than 130 peer-reviewed papers. She has given more than 1800 lectures (including 110 state of the art lectures) at international and national meetings and CME courses.
In the course of her activity she has been president or member of the board of 21 scientific societies.
Passionate about health and quality of life of women and couples in the clinical, didactic and educational fields, she is frequently guest of web, television and radio on the topics of gynecology, chronic pain and sexual medicine. She is currently regular columnist of the monthly magazine “Benessere”, the weekly “Oggi”, and the newspapers “Il Gazzettino” and “Il Mattino”.

Asma Khalil is a Professor of Obstetrics and Maternal Fetal Medicine at St George’s Hospital, University of London. She is the Obstetric Lead of the National Maternity and Perinatal Audit (NMPA). She gained her MD(Res) at the University of London in 2008. She also has a Masters degree in Epidemiology from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and an MRC scholarship. She is a subspecialist in Maternal and Fetal Medicine. Since 2008, she has maintained busy clinical (Obstetrics, Fetomaternal Medicine), research and teaching roles. Asma is the Lead for the Twin and Multiple Pregnancy service at St George’s Hospital. She also leads the Reproductive Health Research Group at St George’s Hospital.She has published more than 350 peer reviewed papers, and many published review articles and chapters. She was awarded many research prizes, both at national and international meetings. Her research interests include twin pregnancy, fetal growth restriction, hypertensive disorders in pregnancy and infections in pregnancy.She is passionate about innovation. She is the inventor of the HAMPTON, which is an award-winning digital innovation which enables pregnant women to monitor their blood pressure safely at home. She is a National Innovation Accelerator (NIA) Fellow.She is committed to the implementation of clinical guidelines in practice and believes that they could reduce inequalities in care across the NHS. She had a three year Fellowship with NICE and has been a member of the NICE Clinical Standards and Expert Advisor to the NICE Centre for Clinical guidelines.

She is an Editor for the Ultrasound on obstetrics and Gynecology Journal. She is an International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology (ISUOG) Trustee and is an Ambassador to North Africa and the Middle East. She works closely with the Twins trust Charity and together has set up the world-first Twins Trust Centre for Research and Clinical Excellence at St George’s Hospital.

Professor Anja Pinborg is an MD, specialist in obstetrics/gynecology and expert in clinical reproductive medicine and was appointed professor at University of Copenhagen in 2013. Since 2018 she has been professor and medical director at the Fertility Department at Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital. She has published more than 250 original papers and authored nine book-chapters and has an H-index of 62. She is past member of ESHRE EXCO (2017-2021) and of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (2015-2021) and former president for Nordic Fertility Society (2011-2015). She is the former AE of Human Reproduction Update and RBMOnline. Her main research focus areas are quality and safety in ART including maternal and child health.

Baris Ata, M.D., M.Sc., is a clinical researcher on female infertility, endometriosis and clinical aspects of assisted reproduction. He is the President of the Turkish Society of Reproductive Medicine. He serves on editorial boards of leading journals in the field. He holds multiple awards for research, education and quality of patient care by several prestigious institutions. He currently works at ART Fertility Clinics, Dubai UAE and Koç University, Istanbul, Turkiye as a Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Education
Graduated from Tel Aviv University (TAU), Board certified in Ob/Gyn in Israel and USA.
1983;1992: Board Certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology, in Israel and USA
1984-1987, NIH Fellow in Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology, Department of Ob/Gyn, Hospital of University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia
2009: Member of world College of Reproduction; Chairmen of Scientific Program, Venice, Italy
Medical Experience
1989: Professor, Tel Aviv University
1991-2007: Chairmen, Department of Gynecology, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Campus, and Golda Campus
1997: Incumbent of the Tarnesby Chair of Fertility and Fertility Regulation Tel Aviv University
1999-2005, President, Israeli Menopause Association
Currently, IVF unite, Laniado Medical Center
Congress Experience
1989: Secretary, 6th world Congress in “In Vitro Fertilization’, Jerusalem
Founder and Chairman of the Mediterranean Sea Congress, Eilat
2006: Co-Founder, World Congress on Controversies in Obesity, Diabetes and Hypertension (CODHy)
2006–2007: Founder & Co-Chair, Gender Based Medicine World Congress
1999 – present: Founder and Chairmen, COGI-World Congress of Controversies in Obstetrics, Gynecology and Infertility
Scientific Publications
About 400 Scientific Publications; 2 books written 12 books edited
Reviewer and previously editorial board in International Journals including F&S
Founder and editor of a Series of debates entitled “Controversies” in the “J of IVF and Genetics”
Supervisor of MD thesis to numerous doctors
Advisor to start up and medical device companies
Biking, Hiking, Skiing, Reading history

Martin Blomberg Jensen achieved his MD from University of Copenhagen in 2006 and completed his internship in 2008. In 2012 he became an EAA certified Andrologist. From 2008 to 2014 he initiated and pursued translational research uncovering the role of vitamin D and calcium signaling for male reproductive function at Rigshospitalet Denmark. Afterwards he established group of skeletal, mineral and gonadal endocrinology working on vitamin D regulated genes and the novel crosslink between the skeleton, gonads, pituitary and kidney. From the start of 2015 he moved his group to work with prof. Beate Lanske and Roland Baron at Harvard, Boston, US and returned in 2018 to Denmark. In 2023 he became head of research at department of Endocrinology Copenhagen University Hospital, Herlev-Gentofte. Uncovering endocrine crosstalk using a translational approach from the lab to the clinic.

Mark Brincat
MRCS, LRCP, PhD(Lond), FRCOG, FRCPI
Professor Brincat served as Chairman and Director of Obstetrics and Gynaecology with the Department of Health on the Maltese Islands from 1991-2018.He is currently Professor at the University of Malta Medical School (O&G) and Hon. Clinical Professor at Queen Mary University London (QMUL), from Nov ’17 to present (Medical Education). He is also an Associate Dean at QMUL, Bart’s Medical School (Malta).Professor Brincat has held several posts and has served on several committees including ISGE, EMAS, IMS and ESHRE. His academic work was mostly in Gynaecological Endocrinology. He has had a special interest in Menopause and his PhD (King’s College, University of London) concerned work on the relationship of the Menopause and HRT on connective tissue, particularly on the skin and bone.He has presented keynote lectures and published extensively on the subject of the menopause in a broad range of subjects. He also founded the first Maltese ART (IVF) Unit and has also had a long-standing interest in reproductive endocrinology and infertility.Prof Brincat continues to lecture both undergraduates and postgraduates and is still actively involved in Menopause and Infertility, recently also picking up an interest in the application of gynaecological laser techniques.

Frank Broekmans (1956), MD, PhD, is a gynaecologist and Professor in Reproductive Endocrinology and Surgery at the University Medical Center Utrecht. Recently, he has started to combine his academic career with clinical work in the Centre for Reproductive Medicine at the Dijklander Ziekenhuis in Purmerend. He graduated from the Faculty of Medicine at the VU Medical Center Amsterdam in 1983, became consultant OBGYN in 1990, completed a Fellowship in Reproductive Medicine at the VU Medical Center Amsterdam in 1993, and received his PhD degree in 1995. In October 2010 he was appointed Professor at the University Medical Center in Utrechtpeer-reviewed scientific papers, contributed 38 book chapters and presented over 161 invited lectures at international meetings.

Herjan Coelingh Bennink (HCB), MD, PhD
Herjan Coelingh Bennink (HCB), MD, PhD, trained in Internal Medicine and Gynaecology in the Netherlands and certified in 1976 as specialist in ObGyn. In 1974 he was Research Fellow at the Centre of Reproductive Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA (Prof Jan Behrman). Since 1976 he was director of the Department of Reproductive Endocrinology at the University Hospital in Utrecht. In 1980 he completed his PhD thesis on Gestational Diabetes. From 1997-2005 HCB was visiting professor Reproductive Medicine (RM) at the Free University in Brussels, Belgium (profs Devroey and van Steirteghem).
From 1987-2000 HCB was Executive VP of the Women’s Health R&D programme at Organon in The Netherlands, where he was responsible for the development of RM drugs such as recFSH (Puregon) and the GnRH antagonist Antagon, both for IVF; the contraceptive vaginal ring (Nuvaring), a progestogen implant for contraception (Implanon), a progestogen-only desogestrel oral contraceptive (Cerazette) and the steroid tibolone (Livial) for menopausal hormone therapy (MHT).
HCB founded Pantarhei Bioscience in December 2000, where he discovered (i) the natural fetal estrogen Estetrol (E4) as a drug for human use, licensed out to Mithra Pharmaceuticals in Belgium in 2015 for oral contraception and MHT, (ii) a new combined contraceptive pill containing DHEA to prevent symptoms caused by the loss of testosterone due to COCs (the Androgen Restored Contraception (ARC) pill), and (iii) an immunotherapy for the treatment of Zona Pellucida 3 Cancer (ZP3C) antigen expressing ovarian, prostate, breast, colon and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In 2014 Pantarhei Oncology was founded as a subsidiary of Pantarhei Bioscience to develop new cancer drugs in the field of Reproductive Endocrine Oncology (REO), with a focus on high dose E4 treatment of advanced breast cancer (BCa) and advanced prostate cancer (PCa). For both E4 cancer applications successful phase 2 proof-of-concept studies have been completed and published and next phase 2 and 3 studies are in preparation.
March 2024

Bart Fauser, MD, PhD, FRCOG, is a Professor Em. of Reproductive Medicine, former Head of the Department for Reproductive Medicine and Gynaecology and former Chair of the Division of Woman & Baby at the University of Utrecht and the University Medical Center Utrecht, The Netherlands.
He is a Fellow ad Eundum of the Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (RCOG), Honorary member of European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE), executive Board member and scientific director of the International Federation of Fertility Societies (IFFS), international member of the (US) National Academy of Medicine, Editor in Chief of Reproductive Biomedicine Online (RBMO), Night in the order of the Netherlands Lion, past member of the board of the Dutch Medical Research Counsel (ZonMW), past Editor in Chief of Human reproduction Update, and past Professor and Division Chief at the Erasmus Medical Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
He previously held posts as a Fulbright scholar at the University of California, San Diego; visiting professorships at Stanford University School of Medicine (California, USA), Free University (Brussels, Belgium), University of Siena (Italy), University of Southampton (UK), and the University of Adelaide (Australia). He was a past chair of the World Health Organization (WHO) steering committee for infertility guidelines.
His major research interests include the pathophysiology of human ovarian function (including PCOS, and POI), ovarian stimulation, IVF and women’s health (including contraception, menopause and healthy aging). He has published close to 500 peer-reviewed articles (Hirsch factor > 100), is one of the most cited authors in reproductive medicine and his work has been widely covered in the national and international lay press

Bert Smeets
Bert (Hubert) Smeets, PhD, is Professor in Clinical Genomics with focus on Mitochondrial Diseases. He is an internationally distinguished clinical molecular geneticist. Bert studied Molecular Biology at the University of Nijmegen, where he did a PhD on myotonic dystrophy. For 10 years he worked in Nijmegen, and since 1995 at Maastricht University, where he became Professor in 2010, combining research with DNA-diagnostics. His research initially focused on inherited neuromuscular and kidney diseases, but later concentrated on the genomics of mitochondrial disorders. His research involves identifying genetic defects by next-generation sequencing, studying the pathophysiology and mtDNA bottleneck mechanism in cell lines, iPSC and zebrafish models, developing new treatment options (compounds or autologous stem cells) and preventing the transmission of mitochondrial diseases, either by prenatal diagnosis, preimplantation genetic diagnosis or whole exome preconception screening. His research is funded by national and international funding agencies, and he published over 250 original research articles, reviews and book chapters (Reproductive options in mitochondrial disease; doi: 10.1016/B978-0-12-821751-1.00004-X).

Claus Yding Andersen is Scientific Director of Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, University Hospital of Copenhagen, Denmark and Professor of Human Reproductive Physiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen.
Professor Andersen was member of the team that introduced IVF to Denmark in the mid-1980s and has during the last 20 years headed a national program of cryopreservation of human ovarian and testicular tissue. He is considered one of the pioneers in this field.
Professor Andersen’s major research contributions are ovarian endocrinology, oocyte maturation, cryopreservation of gonadal tissue, human embryonic stem cells and development of new principles for ovarian stimulation including introduction of the agonist trigger and novel approaches to luteal phase support.
He has published more than 440 scientific papers. His current H-index is 80 (Google Scholar) with more than 22.000 citations and he has made numerous international presentations and is currently chief editor on the Reproduction section of Frontiers in Endocrinology (IF 5.5).

Herjan Coelingh Bennink (HCB), MD, PhD
Herjan Coelingh Bennink (HCB), MD, PhD, trained in Internal Medicine and Gynaecology in the Netherlands and certified in 1976 as specialist in ObGyn. In 1974 he was Research Fellow at the Centre of Reproductive Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA (Prof Jan Behrman). Since 1976 he was director of the Department of Reproductive Endocrinology at the University Hospital in Utrecht. In 1980 he completed his PhD thesis on Gestational Diabetes. From 1997-2005 HCB was visiting professor Reproductive Medicine (RM) at the Free University in Brussels, Belgium (profs Devroey and van Steirteghem).
From 1987-2000 HCB was Executive VP of the Women’s Health R&D programme at Organon in The Netherlands, where he was responsible for the development of RM drugs such as recFSH (Puregon) and the GnRH antagonist Antagon, both for IVF; the contraceptive vaginal ring (Nuvaring), a progestogen implant for contraception (Implanon), a progestogen-only desogestrel oral contraceptive (Cerazette) and the steroid tibolone (Livial) for menopausal hormone therapy (MHT).
HCB founded Pantarhei Bioscience in December 2000, where he discovered (i) the natural fetal estrogen Estetrol (E4) as a drug for human use, licensed out to Mithra Pharmaceuticals in Belgium in 2015 for oral contraception and MHT, (ii) a new combined contraceptive pill containing DHEA to prevent symptoms caused by the loss of testosterone due to COCs (the Androgen Restored Contraception (ARC) pill), and (iii) an immunotherapy for the treatment of Zona Pellucida 3 Cancer (ZP3C) antigen expressing ovarian, prostate, breast, colon and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In 2014 Pantarhei Oncology was founded as a subsidiary of Pantarhei Bioscience to develop new cancer drugs in the field of Reproductive Endocrine Oncology (REO), with a focus on high dose E4 treatment of advanced breast cancer (BCa) and advanced prostate cancer (PCa). For both E4 cancer applications successful phase 2 proof-of-concept studies have been completed and published and next phase 2 and 3 studies are in preparation.
March 2024

Nuno Costa-Borges is an embryologist that has been involved in both research and clinical practice for over 18 years. As a PhD fellow of the Portuguese national funding agency for science (FCT), Nuno spent several years developing strategies to improve the efficiency of animal cloning, having accomplished the first animals successfully cloned in Spain in 2009. After finishing his PhD at the University Autonomous of Barcelona, he joined the embryology team of IVI Barcelona, where he has worked as a clinical embryologist. Later on, he co-founded Embryotools, where he has been devoted on offering QC tests, training and consulting services to the IVF community worldwide. Additionally, as scientific director of Embryotools, Nuno has also been committed to the development of new IVF techniques, such as, the flicking method for the biopsy of blastocysts or the maternal spindle transfer technique. Nuno’s work has led to several peer-reviewed publications and he has been invited speaker in numerous international conferences and scientific meetings, as well as, awarded with prestigious prizes and grants. Stands out recent awards, such as: PaperPrize of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) in 2017; IVI foundation award in 2019; PaperPrize of the Society for Reproductive Biology and Technology (SARBT) ASRM 2022. He produced the embryos that resulted in the first world’s babies following maternal spindle transfer for the treatment of infertility associated to poor oocyte quality. Finally, he was involved in the team who developed a robot to perform ICSI automatically through which the first babies were born in 2023.

Mauro Cozzolino is a Gynecologist physician attending IVIRMA Roma, Italy where he serves as a specialist in Human Reproduction and Assisted Reproductive Techniques.
He obtained his MD degree from Federico II University, School of Medicine in Naples, Italy. He subsequently entered a residency program in Obstetrics and Gynecology at University Hospital Careggi, University of Florence. After completing a Fellowship in Reproductive Medicine at Instituto Valenciano de Infertilidad (IVI–Madrid), Spain, in 2017, he got his PhD at University Rey Juan Carlos in 2023. He got a Fellowship at the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences of Yale School of Medicine from 2018 to 2021. Dr. Cozzolino has been working on the potential mechanisms leading to infertility in women with adenomyosis and the possible effect of adenomyosis in ART. Within this context, Dr. Cozzolino studies determinants of oocyte and embryo health and mechanisms of ovarian aging. In addition, he investigates factors regulating the response to ovarian hyperstimulation during in vitro fertilization in patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and poor ovarian response.

PROF GEORGE K. CREATSAS MD, FACS, FRCOG (ae), FACOG (ae)
George K. Creatsas is Professor emeritus of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Ex Chairman of the 2nd Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Athens, Greece. He served as a Dean of the University of Athens Medical School for the years 2003-2007 and as a Vice Rector of the University of Athens Greece (2006 – 2010).
Professor Creatsas has published more than 433 papers with more than 4591 citations ( h index 33) in international peer review Journals in the fields of corrective gynecologic surgery, menopause, pediatric and adolescent gynecology and family planning. He is the Editor of 15 proceedings and 5 books in Obstetrics and Gynecology. He is Honorary Chief Editor of the European Journal of Contraception and Reproductive Health Care, Chief Editor of the Journal of Adolescent Gynecology – Reproduction and Menopause (Greece) as well as member of the Editorial Board of the Journals: Acta Obstetrica Gynecologica Scandinavica, Gynecological Endocrinology, and European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology.
Professor Creatsas was President and is currently Honorary President of the International Federation of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology (FIGIJ). He was also President of the European Society of Contraception (ESC), Vice President of the European Board and College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (EBCOG), President of the Hellenic Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the Hellenic Family Planning Association and member of the Board of the European Menopause and Andropause Society (EMAS). Is currently President of the Hellenic Society of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynaecology. He is also Fellow ad eundem of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (FRCOG) and the American College of Surgeons (FACS), Fellow ad eundem of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (FACOG), member of the International Academy of Human Reproduction and the American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM).
His main topics of scientific interest are Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology and Reconstructive Gynecologic Surgery as well as Contraception. He has developed a surgical technic for reconstcuction of vaginal aplasia modifying the Williams Vaginoplasty.- “Creatsas vaginoplasty”: Creatsas G. et al Creation of a neovagina after Creatsas modification of Williams vaginoplasty for the treatment of 200 patients with Mayer – Rokitansky – Kuster – Hauser syndrome. Fertil Steril, 94, 2010).
He has organized or contributed to the organization of many National and International Congresses, among which are: World Congresses of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology (FIGIJ), Congresses of the European Society of Contraception (ESC), Congresses of the European Board College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (EBCOG) and 12 Congresses on Women”s Health and Disease. Proceedings of the above meetings have been published in the Annals of New York Academy of Medicine.

Dr. Dir Melamed, MD, MSc
Dr. Melamed is a staff physician in the Maternal-Fetal Medicine Division at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Canada, and a Professor at the University of Toronto. He is a Senior Scientist at the Sunnybrook Research Institute and the Director of Research at the Women and Babies Program.
Dr. Melamed is the recipient of the Waugh Family Chair in Twin Research at the University of Toronto, the Director of the Sunnybrook Twin Research Center (https://twincentre.sunnybrook.ca/). Dr. Melamed has co-authored over 250 original research papers. His main topics of interest include twin pregnancies, placental disease, and fetal growth.

Claudia Spits studied Biology at the Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona. After obtaining an advanced master’s degree in genetics and cell biology, she joined the Centre for Medical Genetics of the UZ Brussels to pursue a PhD under the supervision of Prof. Liebaers. She competed her dissertation on novel approaches in preimplantation genetic testing in 2006, and was a postdoctoral fellow supported the Research Group Reproduction and Genetics from 2007 until 2014. She is currently assistant professor at the faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, where she teaches on stem cells and genetics. She is the principal investigator of group focusing on understanding how genetic variation determines cell fate in early human development. She has published a total of 60 peer-reviewed publications, that have been over 2600-times cited. Next to publishing, she is strongly involved in the sharing of scientific knowledge through meetings and societies. She has been very active within the European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE), where she has been deputy and later coordinator of the special interest group Reproduction and Genetics, in the period 2011-2019. She is also co-founder and president of the Belgian Society for Stem Cell Research, steering committee member of the International Stem Cell Initiative and Belgian Representative for the Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Registry. She has been invited a speaker both in international conferences and symposia as well as in talks for the lay public.

DIOGO AYRES-DE-CAMPOS, MD, PhD is a Full Professor and Chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Medical School, University of Lisbon, Portugal. He is also Chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology the Santa Maria University Hospital, Lisbon.
His main scientific areas of interest are intrapartum fetal monitoring and obstetric simulation. He is a co-inventor of the “Omniview-SisPorto®” program for computer analysis of fetal monitoring signals (Speculum, Lisbon, Portugal, 2006), the clinical record database Obscare (Virtualcare, Porto, Portugal, 2002), and was the medical consultant for the development of the “Lucina®” obstetric simulator (CAE Healthcare, Montreal, Canada, 2014).
With an h-index of 35, he has published 149 papers in international Medline-indexed journals, edited 2 international books, and has given 252 invited lectures at international scientific meetings. He was Editor-in-chief of the “Acta Obstetrica e Ginecologica Portuguesa” 2006-2010, and Associate Editor of “ISRN Obstetrics and Gynecology” 2012-2014.
He is the President of the “European Association of Perinatal Medicine – EAPM”, Executive Committe Member of the “European Board and College of Obstetrics and Gynecology – EBCOG”, and co-ordinator of the EBCOG Part 2 Exam. Between 2010 and 2018 he integrated the “Safe Motherhood and Newborn Health committee” at the “International Federation of Obstetrics and Gynecology – FIGO”, where he co-ordinated the 2015 revision of the “FIGO guidelines on intrapartum fetal monitoring”. He participated in the World Health Organisation consensus panels for “Recommendations on antenatal care” and “Intrapartum care and reduction of unnecessary caesarean section”.
He is the President of the “Federation of Portuguese Societies of Obstetrics and Gynecology – FSPOG”, a Board member of the Subespeciality in Maternal-Fetal Medicine of the Portuguese General Medical Council, and presided over the “National Commission for Reduction of Cesarean Section rates”, nominated by the Portuguese Ministery of Health.

Prof. Marie-Madeleine Dolmans earned her medical degree from the Université Catholique de Louvain in Brussels in 2000, and her PhD degree on “Cryopreservation and transplantation of human ovarian tissue” in 2006. She is gynecologist and divides her time equally between clinical and research activities. She succeeded Prof. Donnez as Head of the Gynecology Research Unit at the Université Catholique de Louvain in 2012. She is Past President of the International Society for Fertility Preservation (ISFP). Her research work focuses on human ovarian transplantation, fibroids and adenomyosis in the field of which she has published over 220 peer-reviewed articles. She is full professor and Specialty Editor for Fertility and Sterility.

Jacques Donnez is Professor Emeritus and past Chairman of the Université Catholique de Louvain (UCL). He is a Past Head of the Department of Gynecology, at the Cliniques Universitaires St-Luc and the founder of the Infertility Research Unit of the UCL. He has devoted his career to identifying and understanding the molecular and pathophysiological mechanisms underlying female infertility, and followed the development of new therapeutic advances to restore or preserve women’s health and fertility. His research activities focus on three main topics: Tubal infertility, Endometriosis, and Ovarian Cryopreservation and Transplantation. He has authored more than 800 publications in this field. He is a founding first president of the World Endometriosis Society, the International Society for Fertility Preservation, the International Society for Gynecological Endoscopy and the European Society for Gynecological Endoscopy. .

Edgardo Somigliana graduated in Medicine in 1994 and completed his residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology in 1999. In 2006, he completed a PhD in Prenatal Medicine. He is currently the head of the ART Unit and of the Obstet-Gynecol emergency service of the Policlinico Hospital in Milan, Italy. Since 2024 he is Full Professor at the Università degli Studi of Milan, Italy. He is editor in Chief of Human Reproduction Open. His major scientific interests are infertility and endometriosis. He is author or co-author of more than 450 articles in international journals and has an h-index of 75 (Scopus).

Frank Broekmans (1956), MD, PhD, is a gynaecologist and Professor in Reproductive Endocrinology and Surgery at the University Medical Center Utrecht. Recently, he has started to combine his academic career with clinical work in the Centre for Reproductive Medicine at the Dijklander Ziekenhuis in Purmerend. He graduated from the Faculty of Medicine at the VU Medical Center Amsterdam in 1983, became consultant OBGYN in 1990, completed a Fellowship in Reproductive Medicine at the VU Medical Center Amsterdam in 1993, and received his PhD degree in 1995. In October 2010 he was appointed Professor at the University Medical Center in Utrechtpeer-reviewed scientific papers, contributed 38 book chapters and presented over 161 invited lectures at international meetings.

Bart Fauser, MD, PhD, FRCOG, is a Professor Em. of Reproductive Medicine, former Head of the Department for Reproductive Medicine and Gynaecology and former Chair of the Division of Woman & Baby at the University of Utrecht and the University Medical Center Utrecht, The Netherlands.
He is a Fellow ad Eundum of the Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (RCOG), Honorary member of European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE), executive Board member and scientific director of the International Federation of Fertility Societies (IFFS), international member of the (US) National Academy of Medicine, Editor in Chief of Reproductive Biomedicine Online (RBMO), Night in the order of the Netherlands Lion, past member of the board of the Dutch Medical Research Counsel (ZonMW), past Editor in Chief of Human reproduction Update, and past Professor and Division Chief at the Erasmus Medical Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
He previously held posts as a Fulbright scholar at the University of California, San Diego; visiting professorships at Stanford University School of Medicine (California, USA), Free University (Brussels, Belgium), University of Siena (Italy), University of Southampton (UK), and the University of Adelaide (Australia). He was a past chair of the World Health Organization (WHO) steering committee for infertility guidelines.
His major research interests include the pathophysiology of human ovarian function (including PCOS, and POI), ovarian stimulation, IVF and women’s health (including contraception, menopause and healthy aging). He has published close to 500 peer-reviewed articles (Hirsch factor > 100), is one of the most cited authors in reproductive medicine and his work has been widely covered in the national and international lay press

Filipa B. Osório , MD
Current Position:
Medical Assistant in Obstetrics and Gynecology Department of Hospital da Luz, Lisbon– Portugal.
Main actvity: Minimally invasive surgery – Laparoscopic advance gynecological surgery
Professional curriculum:
General Residency in Hospital de Santa Maria, Lisboa – Portugal, from 2001-2002
Residency in Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reprodutive Medicine Department of Hospital de Santa Maria, Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Norte EPE, Lisbon – Portugal from 2003 to 2008
Fellowship with Professor Arnaud Wattiez, in Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery in Gynaecology, in IRCAD (Institut de Recherche Contre les Cancers de L’ Appareil Digestif
– European Institute of TeleSurgery) Strasbourg – France.
Expert Degree in Obstetrics and Gynecology in February 2009 – 19,7 points in 20
Faculty member in Laparoscopic Gynecological Surgery Advanced courses in IRCAD, Strasbourg – France, since 2007
Junior Deputy – Special Interest Group- Reproductive Surgery – ESRHE – 2015/2017
Chief Mentor at Lisbon GESEA (Gynecological Endoscopic Surgical Education and Assessment) Diploma Center since April 2017
Medical Consultant degree in Gynecology and Obstetrics in 2019
Postgraduate in Healthcare Management 2021
ESGE Advisory Board member since 2022
Secretary of Endoscopic Section of Portuguese Gynecological Society – SPG – Since January 2023
Coordinator of the Referral Endometriosis Center in Hospital da Luz Lisboa
FIGO Committee member on Minimal Access Surgery since 2024
Many endoscopic live surgeries during both national and international scientific events
(namely for ESGE, AAGL and ESHRE)

PROF GEORGE K. CREATSAS MD, FACS, FRCOG (ae), FACOG (ae)
George K. Creatsas is Professor emeritus of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Ex Chairman of the 2nd Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Athens, Greece. He served as a Dean of the University of Athens Medical School for the years 2003-2007 and as a Vice Rector of the University of Athens Greece (2006 – 2010).
Professor Creatsas has published more than 433 papers with more than 4591 citations ( h index 33) in international peer review Journals in the fields of corrective gynecologic surgery, menopause, pediatric and adolescent gynecology and family planning. He is the Editor of 15 proceedings and 5 books in Obstetrics and Gynecology. He is Honorary Chief Editor of the European Journal of Contraception and Reproductive Health Care, Chief Editor of the Journal of Adolescent Gynecology – Reproduction and Menopause (Greece) as well as member of the Editorial Board of the Journals: Acta Obstetrica Gynecologica Scandinavica, Gynecological Endocrinology, and European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology.
Professor Creatsas was President and is currently Honorary President of the International Federation of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology (FIGIJ). He was also President of the European Society of Contraception (ESC), Vice President of the European Board and College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (EBCOG), President of the Hellenic Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the Hellenic Family Planning Association and member of the Board of the European Menopause and Andropause Society (EMAS). Is currently President of the Hellenic Society of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynaecology. He is also Fellow ad eundem of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (FRCOG) and the American College of Surgeons (FACS), Fellow ad eundem of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (FACOG), member of the International Academy of Human Reproduction and the American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM).
His main topics of scientific interest are Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology and Reconstructive Gynecologic Surgery as well as Contraception. He has developed a surgical technic for reconstcuction of vaginal aplasia modifying the Williams Vaginoplasty.- “Creatsas vaginoplasty”: Creatsas G. et al Creation of a neovagina after Creatsas modification of Williams vaginoplasty for the treatment of 200 patients with Mayer – Rokitansky – Kuster – Hauser syndrome. Fertil Steril, 94, 2010).
He has organized or contributed to the organization of many National and International Congresses, among which are: World Congresses of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology (FIGIJ), Congresses of the European Society of Contraception (ESC), Congresses of the European Board College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (EBCOG) and 12 Congresses on Women”s Health and Disease. Proceedings of the above meetings have been published in the Annals of New York Academy of Medicine.

Dr. Norbert Gleicher, MD, FACOG, FACS, is the Chief Scientist and Medical Director at the Center for Human Reproduction in New York, NY.
Dr. Gleicher grew up in Vienna, Austria, where he initiated his medical studies at Vienna University Medical School. After preclinical years, he switched to Tel Aviv University’s Sackler School of Medicine in Israel, where he graduated and completed a year of rotating internship. He then moved to New York City for a residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology, and a fellowship in reproductive immunology at Mount Sinai Medical Center. As Chief Resident he was awarded the Dr. Solomon Silver Award in Clinical Medicine, given annually to “that younger member of The Mount Sinai Hospital and Medical Center staff who best exemplifies the ability to apply the advance in research to the practice of clinical medicine.”
Upon graduation, Dr. Gleicher was appointed to the medical school faculty of Mount Sinai School of Medicine as Assistant Professor, in the department as Head of the Division of Reproductive Immunology and given responsibility for all student and resident education in Obstetrics and Gynecology. Two years later he moved to Chicago as Chairman of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Mount Sinai Hospital and Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Immunology/Microbiology at Rush Medical College. He held these positions for 10 years until his resignation in 1990, when he started to concentrate on development of the Center for Human Reproduction (CHR), which he founded in 1981. Since 1990 Dr. Gleicher has held a variety of academic professorial appointments at Chicago Medical School and, after his move back to New York City, at New York University School of Medicine and Yale University School of Medicine. Since 1999 he is President, Medical Director and Chief Scientist of CHR-New York and President of the not-for-profit Foundation for Reproductive Medicine. He also holds an appointment as Guest Investigator at Rockefeller University and Professor (Adj.) at Medical University Vienna.
Dr. Gleicher has published over 400 peer-reviewed scientific papers, hundreds of abstracts and book chapters in reproductive endocrinology and infertility, relating to medical complications in pregnancy and to the immune system in reproduction. He served as founding Editor-in-Chief for the American Journal of Reproductive Immunology (AJRI), and for 30 years as founding editor of the Journal of In Vitro Fertilization and Embryo Transfer, in 1992 renamed Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics (JARG), now an official organ of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM). He in addition served and is serving as editor and/or editorial board member on many other medical journals and edited several major textbooks. In 1991, he was awarded Austria’s highest scientific and cultural award, the Austrian Honor Cross for Science and Art for his scientific achievements. In 2009, Dr. Gleicher was invited to give the prestigious bi-annual Patrick Steptoe Memorial Lecture to the British Fertility Society, in recognition of his contributions to advancements in the in vitro fertilization field.
He is a Fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and of the American College of Surgeons, and, in addition to many other societies and professional organizations, a member of the ASRM and the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE).

Alessandra Graziottin, MD
Alessandra Graziottin is specialized in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, and in Oncology and a certified Therapist in Sexual Medicine.
She is Director of the Centre of Gynaecology and Medical Sexology at the H. San Raffaele Resnati in Milano, Italy.
She is Founder and Chair of the Alessandra Graziottin Foundation for the cure and care of pain in women NPO (since 2008).
She is currently:
– professor on contract at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of University of Verona;
– faculty member at the International School of Surgical Anatomy (ISSA) in Negrar di Valpolicella (Verona);
– lecturer on “Gynecological endocrinology, menopause and female sexuality” at the Specialty School of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases of the University Federico II of Napoli.
In September 2022 she chaired the Atelier 15 on “Endometriosis and comorbid pain: impact on women’s and couple’s sexuality” at the Endometriosis Consensus Strasbourg 2022.
Since 2019 she has been collaborator for the Higher Education in the Medical Area and professor at the First Level University Master in Clinical Sexology at Milan Bicocca University. Since 2017 she has been member of the Core Faculty of the European School of Oncology (ESO) and, since 2011, member of the International Organizing Committee (IOC) of Controversies in Obstetrics, Gynecology & Infertility (COGI).
In June 2004 she has been awarded the Honorary Membership by the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC) and, in 2018, the “National Health Prize” for Medicine in Italy.
Professor Graziottin has published 27 scientific books and proceedings, over then 90 chapters of scientific books and more than 130 peer-reviewed papers. She has given more than 1800 lectures (including 110 state of the art lectures) at international and national meetings and CME courses.
In the course of her activity she has been president or member of the board of 21 scientific societies.
Passionate about health and quality of life of women and couples in the clinical, didactic and educational fields, she is frequently guest of web, television and radio on the topics of gynecology, chronic pain and sexual medicine. She is currently regular columnist of the monthly magazine “Benessere”, the weekly “Oggi”, and the newspapers “Il Gazzettino” and “Il Mattino”.

Prof. Gerard H.A.Visser
Emeritus professor Obstetrics and former head of department, University Medical Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands. Member and past chair FIGO Committee Safe Motherhood Newborn Health. Former president of the European Association of Perinatal Medicine. Honorary Fellow of the Flemish, South African, Royal ( British; fellow ad eudem) and Romanian Colleges of O&G and of the German and Greek Perinatal Societies. Awarded the Maternity price of the European Association of Perinatal Medicine in 2016. Research interests: fetal ( neurological) development, fetal monitoring, asphyxia, IUGR, cesarean section, diabetes and pregnancy. Over 570 PubMed articles, which have been cited over 45.000 times according to Google Scholar; Hirsch factor 99. Supervisor of 73 completed PhD projects..

Herjan Coelingh Bennink (HCB), MD, PhD
Herjan Coelingh Bennink (HCB), MD, PhD, trained in Internal Medicine and Gynaecology in the Netherlands and certified in 1976 as specialist in ObGyn. In 1974 he was Research Fellow at the Centre of Reproductive Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA (Prof Jan Behrman). Since 1976 he was director of the Department of Reproductive Endocrinology at the University Hospital in Utrecht. In 1980 he completed his PhD thesis on Gestational Diabetes. From 1997-2005 HCB was visiting professor Reproductive Medicine (RM) at the Free University in Brussels, Belgium (profs Devroey and van Steirteghem).
From 1987-2000 HCB was Executive VP of the Women’s Health R&D programme at Organon in The Netherlands, where he was responsible for the development of RM drugs such as recFSH (Puregon) and the GnRH antagonist Antagon, both for IVF; the contraceptive vaginal ring (Nuvaring), a progestogen implant for contraception (Implanon), a progestogen-only desogestrel oral contraceptive (Cerazette) and the steroid tibolone (Livial) for menopausal hormone therapy (MHT).
HCB founded Pantarhei Bioscience in December 2000, where he discovered (i) the natural fetal estrogen Estetrol (E4) as a drug for human use, licensed out to Mithra Pharmaceuticals in Belgium in 2015 for oral contraception and MHT, (ii) a new combined contraceptive pill containing DHEA to prevent symptoms caused by the loss of testosterone due to COCs (the Androgen Restored Contraception (ARC) pill), and (iii) an immunotherapy for the treatment of Zona Pellucida 3 Cancer (ZP3C) antigen expressing ovarian, prostate, breast, colon and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In 2014 Pantarhei Oncology was founded as a subsidiary of Pantarhei Bioscience to develop new cancer drugs in the field of Reproductive Endocrine Oncology (REO), with a focus on high dose E4 treatment of advanced breast cancer (BCa) and advanced prostate cancer (PCa). For both E4 cancer applications successful phase 2 proof-of-concept studies have been completed and published and next phase 2 and 3 studies are in preparation.
March 2024

Sergio Haimovich

• Director of the Gynecology Department. Laniado University Hospital. Netanya, Israel
• Head of the Reproductive Surgery Unit. Embriogyn Clinic. Tarragona, Spain
• Immediate Past-Chair of the AAGL Hysteroscopy SIG
• Co-Chair and co-Founder of the “Global Community of Hysteroscopy”
• Director of the International School of Laser in Gynecology. Nadezhda Hospital. Sofia, Bulgaria
• Associated Professor at the Faculty of Medicine, Republic University, Uruguay
• Clinical Assistant Professor at the Adelson Faculty of Medicine. Ariel University, Israel
• PhD in Obstetrics and Gynecology (Cum Laude) Barcelona Autonomous University

Prof. Liran Hiersch received his MD from Tel Aviv University, Israel. He did a residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Rabin Medical Center and Lis Hospital for Women, both affiliated to Tel Aviv University, followed by a fellowship in Advanced Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine at the University of Toronto (Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada). He is the Director of the Department of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and the High-Risk Pregnancy outpatient clinics at Lis Hospital for Women and a Professor at Tel Aviv University. He has published more than 170 original manuscripts, reviews and chapters in books, focusing on the field of pregnancy-complications and maternal-fetal medicine.

SOPHIA N. KALANTARIDOU, MD, PhD
Current positions:
-Professor of Obstetrics – Gynecology and Infertility, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA)
-Head of the Unit of Reproductive Endocrinology, Menopause and Premature Ovarian Insufficiency, 3rd Dept of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
-President of the Hellenic Society of Family Planning, Contraception and Reproductive Health.
-Vice-president of the Hellenic Menopause Society
Short CV.
Professor of Obstetrics – Gynecology and Infertility, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. Graduated from the Medical School of the University of Athens (1989). She completed her residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University Hospital of Ioannina (1996). Her postdoctoral training took place at the Section on Women’s Health, Developmental Endocrinology Branch, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA (Visiting Fellow, Fogarty International Visiting Fellowship Award, 1996-1999). She has received scholarships from the Alexander Onassis Public Benefit Foundation (for postdoctoral research in reproductive endocrinology), and the Hellenic College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (D.B Kaskarelis Award). She is the recipient of ten honors and awards from the American Endocrine Society, the International Society of Gynecological Endocrinology, the Hellenic College of Endocrinology and the Hellenic Heart Society. Her research interests include premature menopause/ primary ovarian insufficiency, folliculogenesis, menopause, polycystic ovary syndrome, repeated pregnancy loss, assisted reproduction and embryo implantation. She has 130 publications in peer reviewed Journals and books, such as Nature Immunology, Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, Trends in Endocrinology and Metabolism, Human Reproduction, Fertility and Sterility, Obstetrics and Gynecology etc. She is President of the Hellenic Society of Family Planning, Contraception and Reproductive Health and Vice-president of the Hellenic Society of Menopause.

H-index = 43, Citations = 5926 (Scopus)
Book Chapters: 10.
Publications: 118
Medical Education:
M.D.: 1989, Medical School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece
Ph.D.: 1996, Medical School of the University of Ioannina, Greece (Summa Cum Laude)
Academic Positions:
1999 – 2003: Lecturer of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical School of the University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
2003-2007: Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical School of the University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
2007 – 2012: Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology & Reproductive Endocrinology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical School of the University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
2012 – 2015: Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology & Reproductive Endocrinology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical School of the University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
2015 – 2018: Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology & Infertility, Second Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aretaieion University Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, Athens, Greece
2016 – 2018: Member of the Hellenic Authority for Assisted Reproduction
2018 – 2020: President of the Hellenic Authority for Assisted Reproduction
2018 – 2021: Chair of the 3rd Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Attikon University Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, Athens, Greece
2018 – 2022: Director of the Master of Science (MSc) of the Medical School of the NKUA entitled: “High-risk Pregnancy”

Asma Khalil is a Professor of Obstetrics and Maternal Fetal Medicine at St George’s Hospital, University of London. She is the Obstetric Lead of the National Maternity and Perinatal Audit (NMPA). She gained her MD(Res) at the University of London in 2008. She also has a Masters degree in Epidemiology from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and an MRC scholarship. She is a subspecialist in Maternal and Fetal Medicine. Since 2008, she has maintained busy clinical (Obstetrics, Fetomaternal Medicine), research and teaching roles. Asma is the Lead for the Twin and Multiple Pregnancy service at St George’s Hospital. She also leads the Reproductive Health Research Group at St George’s Hospital.She has published more than 350 peer reviewed papers, and many published review articles and chapters. She was awarded many research prizes, both at national and international meetings. Her research interests include twin pregnancy, fetal growth restriction, hypertensive disorders in pregnancy and infections in pregnancy.She is passionate about innovation. She is the inventor of the HAMPTON, which is an award-winning digital innovation which enables pregnant women to monitor their blood pressure safely at home. She is a National Innovation Accelerator (NIA) Fellow.She is committed to the implementation of clinical guidelines in practice and believes that they could reduce inequalities in care across the NHS. She had a three year Fellowship with NICE and has been a member of the NICE Clinical Standards and Expert Advisor to the NICE Centre for Clinical guidelines.

She is an Editor for the Ultrasound on obstetrics and Gynecology Journal. She is an International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology (ISUOG) Trustee and is an Ambassador to North Africa and the Middle East. She works closely with the Twins trust Charity and together has set up the world-first Twins Trust Centre for Research and Clinical Excellence at St George’s Hospital.

Prof. Liran Hiersch received his MD from Tel Aviv University, Israel. He did a residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Rabin Medical Center and Lis Hospital for Women, both affiliated to Tel Aviv University, followed by a fellowship in Advanced Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine at the University of Toronto (Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada). He is the Director of the Department of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and the High-Risk Pregnancy outpatient clinics at Lis Hospital for Women and a Professor at Tel Aviv University. He has published more than 170 original manuscripts, reviews and chapters in books, focusing on the field of pregnancy-complications and maternal-fetal medicine.

Professor Joop S.E. Laven is professor in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility based at Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam in the Netherlands and was initially trained at the University of Utrecht in the same country. After Medical school he completed his Ph.D. thesis on clinical and experimental aspects of varicocele at Utrecht University in 1991. From 1991 till 1997 he continued his training at the University Medical Center St. Radboud in Nijmegen. In 1997 he became board certified in OBGYN (FRCOG) and moved to the Erasmus Medical Center in Rotterdam. In 2000 he became certified subspecialist Reproductive Medicine. He is a member of ESHRE, ASRM, the Endocrine Society, the Society of Gynecological Investigation (SGI) and the Royal Dutch College of Obstetrics and Gynecology. He is the past president of the Dutch Society of Reproductive Medicine and the current president of AE-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 cosmetic aspects. During the last decade the research focussed on more fundamental effects that PCOS may have on quality of life and long-term health risks as well as the genetic basis of the disease. More recently he was also involved in Genome Wide Association Studies (GWAS) exploring the genetic basis of PCOS, premature ovarian insufficiency, menarche and menopause.
He has published over 350 peer-reviewed papers and several reviews as well as chapters in books, and has delivered over 400 lectures to international scientific audiences. He is a past member of the editorial board of Human Reproduction Update, Human Reproduction and the Journal of Endocrine Society. He is a visiting professor at the University of Shandong, Shandong, China and the University of Adelaide, Australia. He is also a member of the international guideline groups for PCOS, POI and unexplained infertility within the Center of Research Excellence (WHIRL) Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.

Luís Ferreira Vicente
IVF Coordinator of Centro PMA, Hospital Lusíadas, Lisbon
Medical degree since 1995 from Universidade Nova, Lisbon, Portugal.
Obstetric and Gynecology Specialist since 2004- Maternidade Dr.Alfredo da Costa, Lisbon.
President of the Portuguese Ginecological Endoscopic Society (SPEG) since January of 2019 till December 2022.
Vice President of the Portuguese Gynecological Society since January 2023
Vice President of the Portuguese Reproductive Medicine Society (SPMR), since 2018
Associated Editor of the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology since 2023

Martin Blomberg Jensen achieved his MD from University of Copenhagen in 2006 and completed his internship in 2008. In 2012 he became an EAA certified Andrologist. From 2008 to 2014 he initiated and pursued translational research uncovering the role of vitamin D and calcium signaling for male reproductive function at Rigshospitalet Denmark. Afterwards he established group of skeletal, mineral and gonadal endocrinology working on vitamin D regulated genes and the novel crosslink between the skeleton, gonads, pituitary and kidney. From the start of 2015 he moved his group to work with prof. Beate Lanske and Roland Baron at Harvard, Boston, US and returned in 2018 to Denmark. In 2023 he became head of research at department of Endocrinology Copenhagen University Hospital, Herlev-Gentofte. Uncovering endocrine crosstalk using a translational approach from the lab to the clinic.

Mark Brincat
MRCS, LRCP, PhD(Lond), FRCOG, FRCPI
Professor Brincat served as Chairman and Director of Obstetrics and Gynaecology with the Department of Health on the Maltese Islands from 1991-2018.He is currently Professor at the University of Malta Medical School (O&G) and Hon. Clinical Professor at Queen Mary University London (QMUL), from Nov ’17 to present (Medical Education). He is also an Associate Dean at QMUL, Bart’s Medical School (Malta).Professor Brincat has held several posts and has served on several committees including ISGE, EMAS, IMS and ESHRE. His academic work was mostly in Gynaecological Endocrinology. He has had a special interest in Menopause and his PhD (King’s College, University of London) concerned work on the relationship of the Menopause and HRT on connective tissue, particularly on the skin and bone.He has presented keynote lectures and published extensively on the subject of the menopause in a broad range of subjects. He also founded the first Maltese ART (IVF) Unit and has also had a long-standing interest in reproductive endocrinology and infertility.Prof Brincat continues to lecture both undergraduates and postgraduates and is still actively involved in Menopause and Infertility, recently also picking up an interest in the application of gynaecological laser techniques.

Mauro Cozzolino is a Gynecologist physician attending IVIRMA Roma, Italy where he serves as a specialist in Human Reproduction and Assisted Reproductive Techniques.
He obtained his MD degree from Federico II University, School of Medicine in Naples, Italy. He subsequently entered a residency program in Obstetrics and Gynecology at University Hospital Careggi, University of Florence. After completing a Fellowship in Reproductive Medicine at Instituto Valenciano de Infertilidad (IVI–Madrid), Spain, in 2017, he got his PhD at University Rey Juan Carlos in 2023. He got a Fellowship at the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences of Yale School of Medicine from 2018 to 2021. Dr. Cozzolino has been working on the potential mechanisms leading to infertility in women with adenomyosis and the possible effect of adenomyosis in ART. Within this context, Dr. Cozzolino studies determinants of oocyte and embryo health and mechanisms of ovarian aging. In addition, he investigates factors regulating the response to ovarian hyperstimulation during in vitro fertilization in patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and poor ovarian response.

Prof. Marie-Madeleine Dolmans earned her medical degree from the Université Catholique de Louvain in Brussels in 2000, and her PhD degree on “Cryopreservation and transplantation of human ovarian tissue” in 2006. She is gynecologist and divides her time equally between clinical and research activities. She succeeded Prof. Donnez as Head of the Gynecology Research Unit at the Université Catholique de Louvain in 2012. She is Past President of the International Society for Fertility Preservation (ISFP). Her research work focuses on human ovarian transplantation, fibroids and adenomyosis in the field of which she has published over 220 peer-reviewed articles. She is full professor and Specialty Editor for Fertility and Sterility.

Shari Mackens , MD, PhD
Brussels IVF
Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel
Jette, Belgium
Shari Mackens graduated as a medical doctor from the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Belgium, in 2012. Immediately afterwards, she started working at the Centre for Reproductive Medicine at the University Hospital Brussels, Belgium, as a PhD student and as a specialist in training in obstetrics and gynecology. From 2012 until 2017, she performed basic science research on endometrial receptivity and human embryo implantation. Her research was presented in her PhD thesis entitled ‘Hypes and hopes for endometrial receptivity in ART’ (2020). At present, she is a medical director in Brussels IVF at the University Hospital Brussels and a clinical professor at the VUB with a specific interest in translational research focusing on the role of the endometrium in ART (research group Genetics, Reproduction and Development – GRAD). As of October 2022, she is section editor for Reproductive Biomedicine Online. In 2024, she was elected as member of the Young Academy, the youth academy of the Royal Flemish Academy of Belgium for Science and the Arts (KVAB). She has authored more than 50 publications in peer-reviewed journals and lectures frequently at national and international meetings.

Dr. Dir Melamed, MD, MSc
Dr. Melamed is a staff physician in the Maternal-Fetal Medicine Division at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Canada, and a Professor at the University of Toronto. He is a Senior Scientist at the Sunnybrook Research Institute and the Director of Research at the Women and Babies Program.
Dr. Melamed is the recipient of the Waugh Family Chair in Twin Research at the University of Toronto, the Director of the Sunnybrook Twin Research Center (https://twincentre.sunnybrook.ca/). Dr. Melamed has co-authored over 250 original research papers. His main topics of interest include twin pregnancies, placental disease, and fetal growth.

Micheline Misrahi
Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University Paris-Saclay
Molecular Genetics of Reproductive and Metabolic diseases
Bicetre Hospital, France
Research Interests: Reproductive Endocrinology. Gonadotropins and their receptors. Progesterone receptor. Thyrotropin receptor. Reproductive genetics. Genetics of male and female infertility. Primary ovarian insufficiency. Disorders of puberty. Genetic diseases of G protein coupled receptors

Nuno Costa-Borges is an embryologist that has been involved in both research and clinical practice for over 18 years. As a PhD fellow of the Portuguese national funding agency for science (FCT), Nuno spent several years developing strategies to improve the efficiency of animal cloning, having accomplished the first animals successfully cloned in Spain in 2009. After finishing his PhD at the University Autonomous of Barcelona, he joined the embryology team of IVI Barcelona, where he has worked as a clinical embryologist. Later on, he co-founded Embryotools, where he has been devoted on offering QC tests, training and consulting services to the IVF community worldwide. Additionally, as scientific director of Embryotools, Nuno has also been committed to the development of new IVF techniques, such as, the flicking method for the biopsy of blastocysts or the maternal spindle transfer technique. Nuno’s work has led to several peer-reviewed publications and he has been invited speaker in numerous international conferences and scientific meetings, as well as, awarded with prestigious prizes and grants. Stands out recent awards, such as: PaperPrize of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) in 2017; IVI foundation award in 2019; PaperPrize of the Society for Reproductive Biology and Technology (SARBT) ASRM 2022. He produced the embryos that resulted in the first world’s babies following maternal spindle transfer for the treatment of infertility associated to poor oocyte quality. Finally, he was involved in the team who developed a robot to perform ICSI automatically through which the first babies were born in 2023.

Dr. Norbert Gleicher, MD, FACOG, FACS, is the Chief Scientist and Medical Director at the Center for Human Reproduction in New York, NY.
Dr. Gleicher grew up in Vienna, Austria, where he initiated his medical studies at Vienna University Medical School. After preclinical years, he switched to Tel Aviv University’s Sackler School of Medicine in Israel, where he graduated and completed a year of rotating internship. He then moved to New York City for a residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology, and a fellowship in reproductive immunology at Mount Sinai Medical Center. As Chief Resident he was awarded the Dr. Solomon Silver Award in Clinical Medicine, given annually to “that younger member of The Mount Sinai Hospital and Medical Center staff who best exemplifies the ability to apply the advance in research to the practice of clinical medicine.”
Upon graduation, Dr. Gleicher was appointed to the medical school faculty of Mount Sinai School of Medicine as Assistant Professor, in the department as Head of the Division of Reproductive Immunology and given responsibility for all student and resident education in Obstetrics and Gynecology. Two years later he moved to Chicago as Chairman of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Mount Sinai Hospital and Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Immunology/Microbiology at Rush Medical College. He held these positions for 10 years until his resignation in 1990, when he started to concentrate on development of the Center for Human Reproduction (CHR), which he founded in 1981. Since 1990 Dr. Gleicher has held a variety of academic professorial appointments at Chicago Medical School and, after his move back to New York City, at New York University School of Medicine and Yale University School of Medicine. Since 1999 he is President, Medical Director and Chief Scientist of CHR-New York and President of the not-for-profit Foundation for Reproductive Medicine. He also holds an appointment as Guest Investigator at Rockefeller University and Professor (Adj.) at Medical University Vienna.
Dr. Gleicher has published over 400 peer-reviewed scientific papers, hundreds of abstracts and book chapters in reproductive endocrinology and infertility, relating to medical complications in pregnancy and to the immune system in reproduction. He served as founding Editor-in-Chief for the American Journal of Reproductive Immunology (AJRI), and for 30 years as founding editor of the Journal of In Vitro Fertilization and Embryo Transfer, in 1992 renamed Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics (JARG), now an official organ of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM). He in addition served and is serving as editor and/or editorial board member on many other medical journals and edited several major textbooks. In 1991, he was awarded Austria’s highest scientific and cultural award, the Austrian Honor Cross for Science and Art for his scientific achievements. In 2009, Dr. Gleicher was invited to give the prestigious bi-annual Patrick Steptoe Memorial Lecture to the British Fertility Society, in recognition of his contributions to advancements in the in vitro fertilization field.
He is a Fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and of the American College of Surgeons, and, in addition to many other societies and professional organizations, a member of the ASRM and the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE).

Dr. Dir Melamed, MD, MSc
Dr. Melamed is a staff physician in the Maternal-Fetal Medicine Division at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Canada, and a Professor at the University of Toronto. He is a Senior Scientist at the Sunnybrook Research Institute and the Director of Research at the Women and Babies Program.
Dr. Melamed is the recipient of the Waugh Family Chair in Twin Research at the University of Toronto, the Director of the Sunnybrook Twin Research Center (https://twincentre.sunnybrook.ca/). Dr. Melamed has co-authored over 250 original research papers. His main topics of interest include twin pregnancies, placental disease, and fetal growth.

Rossella E. Nappi – Born in Naples (Italy) – 1965

Full Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chief of the Research Center for Reproductive Medicine and Gynecological Endocrinology-Menopause Unit, IRCCS San Matteo Foundation, University of Pavia (Italy)
MD, PhD
Gynecologist, Endocrinologist, Sexologist
Dr Nappi’s major interests are in the field of psychoneuroendocrinology of female reproductive and post-reproductive life with a special focus on women’s sexual health. She has published around 400 scientific articles in peer-reviewed journals and international books with around 23000 citations (HF Google Scholar 83).
She is a well-known speaker on women’s health from adolescence to menopause. She has been very active in many international meetings and research projects in the field of contraception, menopause and female sexual dysfunction.
She is past president of the International Society for the Study of Women Sexual Health (ISSWSH). At present, she is permanent member of the advisory board of the International Society of Gynecological Endocrinology (ISGE) and of the International Academy of Human Reproduction (IAHR) and President Elect of the International Menopause Society (IMS).

Professor Nick Panay BSc MBBS FRCOG MFSRH
Consultant Gynecologist, Subspecialist in Reproductive Medicine,
Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust,
Professor of Practice, Imperial College London,
Guest Professor, Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Capital Medical University.

Summary CV
As director of the Menopause & PMS Centre at Queen Charlotte’s Hospital & Imperial College London, Nick leads a busy clinical and research team which publishes widely, presents at scientific meetings and trains health professionals at all levels. He and his team of research fellows and nurses run an active research programme consisting of translational, clinical and pharmaceutically sponsored research in menopause, premature ovarian insufficiency, premenstrual syndrome, androgens and contraception.

Nick has authored more than 200 peer reviewed publications with more than 10000 citations to date and has a Google Scholar h index of 49. He presents at numerous national and international conferences, as an invited keynote and plenary speaker.

Through his work with several societies, councils and women’s groups he campaigns actively for women’s health issues both nationally and internationally. His affiliations include:

President, International Menopause Society,
Past Chairman, British Menopause Society (BMS),
Medical Advisory Council Member, BMS,
Chairman, National Association for Premenstrual Syndromes,
Clinical Advisory Board Member, International Association for Premenstrual Disorders,
Patron, Daisy Network,
Past Honorary Director of Conferences, Past Council Member, RCOG,
Past President, Current Council Member, Royal Society of Medicine (O & G Division).

Filipa B. Osório , MD
Current Position:
Medical Assistant in Obstetrics and Gynecology Department of Hospital da Luz, Lisbon– Portugal.
Main actvity: Minimally invasive surgery – Laparoscopic advance gynecological surgery
Professional curriculum:
General Residency in Hospital de Santa Maria, Lisboa – Portugal, from 2001-2002
Residency in Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reprodutive Medicine Department of Hospital de Santa Maria, Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Norte EPE, Lisbon – Portugal from 2003 to 2008
Fellowship with Professor Arnaud Wattiez, in Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery in Gynaecology, in IRCAD (Institut de Recherche Contre les Cancers de L’ Appareil Digestif
– European Institute of TeleSurgery) Strasbourg – France.
Expert Degree in Obstetrics and Gynecology in February 2009 – 19,7 points in 20
Faculty member in Laparoscopic Gynecological Surgery Advanced courses in IRCAD, Strasbourg – France, since 2007
Junior Deputy – Special Interest Group- Reproductive Surgery – ESRHE – 2015/2017
Chief Mentor at Lisbon GESEA (Gynecological Endoscopic Surgical Education and Assessment) Diploma Center since April 2017
Medical Consultant degree in Gynecology and Obstetrics in 2019
Postgraduate in Healthcare Management 2021
ESGE Advisory Board member since 2022
Secretary of Endoscopic Section of Portuguese Gynecological Society – SPG – Since January 2023
Coordinator of the Referral Endometriosis Center in Hospital da Luz Lisboa
FIGO Committee member on Minimal Access Surgery since 2024
Many endoscopic live surgeries during both national and international scientific events
(namely for ESGE, AAGL and ESHRE)

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Johannes Ott , born in September 1980 in Vienna, Austria, currently is the deputy head of the Clinical Division of Gynecologic Endocrinology and Reproductive Medicine at the Medical University of Vienna, Austria. He has authored more than 100 peer-reviewed articles with a main focus on polycystic ovary syndrome, fertility surgery, recurrent miscarriage, artificial reproduction, thyroid function and autoimmune thyroiditis.

Professor Nick Panay BSc MBBS FRCOG MFSRH
Consultant Gynecologist, Subspecialist in Reproductive Medicine,
Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust,
Professor of Practice, Imperial College London,
Guest Professor, Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Capital Medical University.

Summary CV
As director of the Menopause & PMS Centre at Queen Charlotte’s Hospital & Imperial College London, Nick leads a busy clinical and research team which publishes widely, presents at scientific meetings and trains health professionals at all levels. He and his team of research fellows and nurses run an active research programme consisting of translational, clinical and pharmaceutically sponsored research in menopause, premature ovarian insufficiency, premenstrual syndrome, androgens and contraception.

Nick has authored more than 200 peer reviewed publications with more than 10000 citations to date and has a Google Scholar h index of 49. He presents at numerous national and international conferences, as an invited keynote and plenary speaker.

Through his work with several societies, councils and women’s groups he campaigns actively for women’s health issues both nationally and internationally. His affiliations include:

President, International Menopause Society,
Past Chairman, British Menopause Society (BMS),
Medical Advisory Council Member, BMS,
Chairman, National Association for Premenstrual Syndromes,
Clinical Advisory Board Member, International Association for Premenstrual Disorders,
Patron, Daisy Network,
Past Honorary Director of Conferences, Past Council Member, RCOG,
Past President, Current Council Member, Royal Society of Medicine (O & G Division).

Professor Anja Pinborg is an MD, specialist in obstetrics/gynecology and expert in clinical reproductive medicine and was appointed professor at University of Copenhagen in 2013. Since 2018 she has been professor and medical director at the Fertility Department at Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital. She has published more than 250 original papers and authored nine book-chapters and has an H-index of 62. She is past member of ESHRE EXCO (2017-2021) and of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (2015-2021) and former president for Nordic Fertility Society (2011-2015). She is the former AE of Human Reproduction Update and RBMOnline. Her main research focus areas are quality and safety in ART including maternal and child health.

Pedro Viana Pinto
Assistente Hospitalar do Centro Hospital e Universitário de São João, Serviço de Ginecologia
Departamento de Anatomia, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade do Porto
CUF Porto Instituto, Endometriosis Group

Secretary of the International Society for Placenta Accreta Spectrum
Member of the Board of Sociedade Portuguesa de Contracepão

Education
Graduated from Tel Aviv University (TAU), Board certified in Ob/Gyn in Israel and USA.
1983;1992: Board Certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology, in Israel and USA
1984-1987, NIH Fellow in Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology, Department of Ob/Gyn, Hospital of University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia
2009: Member of world College of Reproduction; Chairmen of Scientific Program, Venice, Italy
Medical Experience
1989: Professor, Tel Aviv University
1991-2007: Chairmen, Department of Gynecology, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Campus, and Golda Campus
1997: Incumbent of the Tarnesby Chair of Fertility and Fertility Regulation Tel Aviv University
1999-2005, President, Israeli Menopause Association
Currently, IVF unite, Laniado Medical Center
Congress Experience
1989: Secretary, 6th world Congress in “In Vitro Fertilization’, Jerusalem
Founder and Chairman of the Mediterranean Sea Congress, Eilat
2006: Co-Founder, World Congress on Controversies in Obesity, Diabetes and Hypertension (CODHy)
2006–2007: Founder & Co-Chair, Gender Based Medicine World Congress
1999 – present: Founder and Chairmen, COGI-World Congress of Controversies in Obstetrics, Gynecology and Infertility
Scientific Publications
About 400 Scientific Publications; 2 books written 12 books edited
Reviewer and previously editorial board in International Journals including F&S
Founder and editor of a Series of debates entitled “Controversies” in the “J of IVF and Genetics”
Supervisor of MD thesis to numerous doctors
Advisor to start up and medical device companies
Biking, Hiking, Skiing, Reading history

Rossella E. Nappi – Born in Naples (Italy) – 1965

Full Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chief of the Research Center for Reproductive Medicine and Gynecological Endocrinology-Menopause Unit, IRCCS San Matteo Foundation, University of Pavia (Italy)
MD, PhD
Gynecologist, Endocrinologist, Sexologist
Dr Nappi’s major interests are in the field of psychoneuroendocrinology of female reproductive and post-reproductive life with a special focus on women’s sexual health. She has published around 400 scientific articles in peer-reviewed journals and international books with around 23000 citations (HF Google Scholar 83).
She is a well-known speaker on women’s health from adolescence to menopause. She has been very active in many international meetings and research projects in the field of contraception, menopause and female sexual dysfunction.
She is past president of the International Society for the Study of Women Sexual Health (ISSWSH). At present, she is permanent member of the advisory board of the International Society of Gynecological Endocrinology (ISGE) and of the International Academy of Human Reproduction (IAHR) and President Elect of the International Menopause Society (IMS).

João Ramalho-Santos is Vice-Rector for Research at the University of Coimbra, Portugal and Full Professor at the Department of Life Sciences. His Research focuses on Reproductive Biology, Andrology and stem cells in terms of both basic research and application to Assisted Reproduction. The main research focus is on energy metabolism, mitochondrial function and oxidative stress; as well as science communication and bioethical issues. He was recently considered one of the top 2% of influential researchers worldwide, and is a member of the Portuguese National Council for Ethics in the Life Sciences (CNECV), co-authoring Council Reports on Assisted Reproduction, Scientific Integrity, Conflict of Interests, Novel Technologies, Artificial Embryos and One Health.

Dr. Vassena Dr. Vassena earned a DVM and a PhD in Biotechnology applied to reproduction from the University of Milan, Italy. She has worked and trained in Canada and the United States, and has been a researcher at the National Stem Cell Bank in Barcelona, Spain. She is the co-founder and CEO of Fecundis, a medtech company dedicated to the development of treatments for human infertility. Dr. Vassena is Associate Professor of translational medicine at the University of Barcelona; and she is the president of the Eugin ethics committee for clinical research.Dr. Vassena is co-author of more than 115 scientific articles in high-impact international journals, has been the coordinator of the ESHRE stem cell special interest group, and has served for two terms on the Executive Committee of the same society. She is currently serving in the executive committee of the Spanish Fertility Society.

Dr. Signe Altmäe is an Associate Professor at the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Granada, Spain and visiting researcher at the Div. Obsteterics and Gynaecology, Karolinska Institute, Sweden. Signe is the deputy of the ESHRE Special Interest group of Reproductive Genetics and belongs to the working-group of Reproductive Genetics of Spanish Society of Reproduction. She is the Editor of Reproductive BioMedicine Online and Associate Editor of Molecular Human Reproduction journals. Her research focusses on molecular aspects of female and male infertility. She is also investigating microorganismal composition of human reproductive tract, and the associations of how the microbial communities could associate with reproductive parameters, with fertility and infertility in women and men.
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Sergio Haimovich

• Director of the Gynecology Department. Laniado University Hospital. Netanya, Israel
• Head of the Reproductive Surgery Unit. Embriogyn Clinic. Tarragona, Spain
• Immediate Past-Chair of the AAGL Hysteroscopy SIG
• Co-Chair and co-Founder of the “Global Community of Hysteroscopy”
• Director of the International School of Laser in Gynecology. Nadezhda Hospital. Sofia, Bulgaria
• Associated Professor at the Faculty of Medicine, Republic University, Uruguay
• Clinical Assistant Professor at the Adelson Faculty of Medicine. Ariel University, Israel
• PhD in Obstetrics and Gynecology (Cum Laude) Barcelona Autonomous University

SOPHIA N. KALANTARIDOU, MD, PhD
Current positions:
-Professor of Obstetrics – Gynecology and Infertility, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA)
-Head of the Unit of Reproductive Endocrinology, Menopause and Premature Ovarian Insufficiency, 3rd Dept of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
-President of the Hellenic Society of Family Planning, Contraception and Reproductive Health.
-Vice-president of the Hellenic Menopause Society
Short CV.
Professor of Obstetrics – Gynecology and Infertility, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. Graduated from the Medical School of the University of Athens (1989). She completed her residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University Hospital of Ioannina (1996). Her postdoctoral training took place at the Section on Women’s Health, Developmental Endocrinology Branch, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA (Visiting Fellow, Fogarty International Visiting Fellowship Award, 1996-1999). She has received scholarships from the Alexander Onassis Public Benefit Foundation (for postdoctoral research in reproductive endocrinology), and the Hellenic College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (D.B Kaskarelis Award). She is the recipient of ten honors and awards from the American Endocrine Society, the International Society of Gynecological Endocrinology, the Hellenic College of Endocrinology and the Hellenic Heart Society. Her research interests include premature menopause/ primary ovarian insufficiency, folliculogenesis, menopause, polycystic ovary syndrome, repeated pregnancy loss, assisted reproduction and embryo implantation. She has 130 publications in peer reviewed Journals and books, such as Nature Immunology, Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, Trends in Endocrinology and Metabolism, Human Reproduction, Fertility and Sterility, Obstetrics and Gynecology etc. She is President of the Hellenic Society of Family Planning, Contraception and Reproductive Health and Vice-president of the Hellenic Society of Menopause.

H-index = 43, Citations = 5926 (Scopus)
Book Chapters: 10.
Publications: 118
Medical Education:
M.D.: 1989, Medical School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece
Ph.D.: 1996, Medical School of the University of Ioannina, Greece (Summa Cum Laude)
Academic Positions:
1999 – 2003: Lecturer of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical School of the University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
2003-2007: Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical School of the University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
2007 – 2012: Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology & Reproductive Endocrinology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical School of the University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
2012 – 2015: Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology & Reproductive Endocrinology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical School of the University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
2015 – 2018: Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology & Infertility, Second Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aretaieion University Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, Athens, Greece
2016 – 2018: Member of the Hellenic Authority for Assisted Reproduction
2018 – 2020: President of the Hellenic Authority for Assisted Reproduction
2018 – 2021: Chair of the 3rd Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Attikon University Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, Athens, Greece
2018 – 2022: Director of the Master of Science (MSc) of the Medical School of the NKUA entitled: “High-risk Pregnancy”

Shari Mackens , MD, PhD
Brussels IVF
Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel
Jette, Belgium
Shari Mackens graduated as a medical doctor from the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Belgium, in 2012. Immediately afterwards, she started working at the Centre for Reproductive Medicine at the University Hospital Brussels, Belgium, as a PhD student and as a specialist in training in obstetrics and gynecology. From 2012 until 2017, she performed basic science research on endometrial receptivity and human embryo implantation. Her research was presented in her PhD thesis entitled ‘Hypes and hopes for endometrial receptivity in ART’ (2020). At present, she is a medical director in Brussels IVF at the University Hospital Brussels and a clinical professor at the VUB with a specific interest in translational research focusing on the role of the endometrium in ART (research group Genetics, Reproduction and Development – GRAD). As of October 2022, she is section editor for Reproductive Biomedicine Online. In 2024, she was elected as member of the Young Academy, the youth academy of the Royal Flemish Academy of Belgium for Science and the Arts (KVAB). She has authored more than 50 publications in peer-reviewed journals and lectures frequently at national and international meetings.

Professor Samuel Santos-Ribeiro is the Clinical Director and Scientific Coordinator at IVIRMA Lisbon and an Invited Professor at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Lisbon.
Born in South Africa, Professor Santos-Ribeiro obtained his medical degree from Nova Medical School in Lisbon, concluding his training in Obstetrics/Gynaecology at Hospital Santa Maria, Lisbon. He performed the Clinical Scholars Research Training at Harvard Medical School and a research programme at Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel with his Ph.D. thesis focusing primarily on the optimisation of endometrial receptivity. The main focus of his ongoing research is the relationship between infertility treatments and endometrial receptivity. Professor Santos-Ribeiro has authored and co-authored 70+ articles in international peer reviewed journals as well many chapters in textbooks regarding ART. He also currently serves as associated editor for Human Reproduction and is a board member of the ESHRE SIG on Safety and Quality of ART.
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Bert Smeets
Bert (Hubert) Smeets, PhD, is Professor in Clinical Genomics with focus on Mitochondrial Diseases. He is an internationally distinguished clinical molecular geneticist. Bert studied Molecular Biology at the University of Nijmegen, where he did a PhD on myotonic dystrophy. For 10 years he worked in Nijmegen, and since 1995 at Maastricht University, where he became Professor in 2010, combining research with DNA-diagnostics. His research initially focused on inherited neuromuscular and kidney diseases, but later concentrated on the genomics of mitochondrial disorders. His research involves identifying genetic defects by next-generation sequencing, studying the pathophysiology and mtDNA bottleneck mechanism in cell lines, iPSC and zebrafish models, developing new treatment options (compounds or autologous stem cells) and preventing the transmission of mitochondrial diseases, either by prenatal diagnosis, preimplantation genetic diagnosis or whole exome preconception screening. His research is funded by national and international funding agencies, and he published over 250 original research articles, reviews and book chapters (Reproductive options in mitochondrial disease; doi: 10.1016/B978-0-12-821751-1.00004-X).

Edgardo Somigliana graduated in Medicine in 1994 and completed his residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology in 1999. In 2006, he completed a PhD in Prenatal Medicine. He is currently the head of the ART Unit and of the Obstet-Gynecol emergency service of the Policlinico Hospital in Milan, Italy. Since 2024 he is Full Professor at the Università degli Studi of Milan, Italy. He is editor in Chief of Human Reproduction Open. His major scientific interests are infertility and endometriosis. He is author or co-author of more than 450 articles in international journals and has an h-index of 75 (Scopus).

Claudia Spits studied Biology at the Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona. After obtaining an advanced master’s degree in genetics and cell biology, she joined the Centre for Medical Genetics of the UZ Brussels to pursue a PhD under the supervision of Prof. Liebaers. She competed her dissertation on novel approaches in preimplantation genetic testing in 2006, and was a postdoctoral fellow supported the Research Group Reproduction and Genetics from 2007 until 2014. She is currently assistant professor at the faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, where she teaches on stem cells and genetics. She is the principal investigator of group focusing on understanding how genetic variation determines cell fate in early human development. She has published a total of 60 peer-reviewed publications, that have been over 2600-times cited. Next to publishing, she is strongly involved in the sharing of scientific knowledge through meetings and societies. She has been very active within the European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE), where she has been deputy and later coordinator of the special interest group Reproduction and Genetics, in the period 2011-2019. She is also co-founder and president of the Belgian Society for Stem Cell Research, steering committee member of the International Stem Cell Initiative and Belgian Representative for the Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Registry. She has been invited a speaker both in international conferences and symposia as well as in talks for the lay public.

Dr. Vassena Dr. Vassena earned a DVM and a PhD in Biotechnology applied to reproduction from the University of Milan, Italy. She has worked and trained in Canada and the United States, and has been a researcher at the National Stem Cell Bank in Barcelona, Spain. She is the co-founder and CEO of Fecundis, a medtech company dedicated to the development of treatments for human infertility. Dr. Vassena is Associate Professor of translational medicine at the University of Barcelona; and she is the president of the Eugin ethics committee for clinical research.Dr. Vassena is co-author of more than 115 scientific articles in high-impact international journals, has been the coordinator of the ESHRE stem cell special interest group, and has served for two terms on the Executive Committee of the same society. She is currently serving in the executive committee of the Spanish Fertility Society.

Luís Ferreira Vicente
IVF Coordinator of Centro PMA, Hospital Lusíadas, Lisbon
Medical degree since 1995 from Universidade Nova, Lisbon, Portugal.
Obstetric and Gynecology Specialist since 2004- Maternidade Dr.Alfredo da Costa, Lisbon.
President of the Portuguese Ginecological Endoscopic Society (SPEG) since January of 2019 till December 2022.
Vice President of the Portuguese Gynecological Society since January 2023
Vice President of the Portuguese Reproductive Medicine Society (SPMR), since 2018
Associated Editor of the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology since 2023

Prof. Gerard H.A.Visser
Emeritus professor Obstetrics and former head of department, University Medical Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands. Member and past chair FIGO Committee Safe Motherhood Newborn Health. Former president of the European Association of Perinatal Medicine. Honorary Fellow of the Flemish, South African, Royal ( British; fellow ad eudem) and Romanian Colleges of O&G and of the German and Greek Perinatal Societies. Awarded the Maternity price of the European Association of Perinatal Medicine in 2016. Research interests: fetal ( neurological) development, fetal monitoring, asphyxia, IUGR, cesarean section, diabetes and pregnancy. Over 570 PubMed articles, which have been cited over 45.000 times according to Google Scholar; Hirsch factor 99. Supervisor of 73 completed PhD projects..

Zdenko Vizintin has been working in laser technology for more than 45 years, having graduated from the Ljubljana Faculty of Electronics as an Electronics Engineer. Throughout his professional career he has been deeply involved in R&D and production of various laser systems for different industries. In his current position in Fotona as Medical Laser Program Director responsible for the Applications Development, and as Researcher and Expert Lecturer for Laser and Health Academy (LA&HA) Zdenko Vizintin is actively involved in new medical laser application development and validation through many clinical studies. He is the author and co-author of numerous laser engineering papers, as well as studies in the applications of laser in medicine. In last ten years Zdenko is deeply involved in development of novel minimally invasive laser therapies in gynecology.

Prof. Yariv Yogev graduated medical school in The Technion University, Haifa, Israel and completed his residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Helen Schneider Hospital, Rabin Medical Center. He completed his clinical and research fellowship in Maternal Fetal Medicine at Columbia University and St. Lukes-Roosvelt Hospital in New York. Currently, he is full professor at Tel Aviv University and the Chairman of Lis Hospital for Women in Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center which is a tertiary University affiliated Hospital with approximately 12,000 deliveries a year. Prof. Yogev is the past President of the Israel Society for Maternal and Fetal Medicine, the past moderator of the diabetes in pregnancy program in the American Society for Maternal Fetal Medicine (SMFM) and board member in the Israel residency board exams. He contributed more than 240 peer-reviewed articles, editor of 2 books and wrote many chapters in books, and his main in interest in research are pregnancy complication, especially diabetes and preterm labor.