Prague Spring Symposium

Professor Handyside earned his Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees from the University of Cambridge, where he also completed his Ph.D. in human embryology. Professor Handyside's contributions have had a profound impact on the field of ART, leading to advancements in embryo selection, improved success rates, and a better understanding of the genetic factors that influence human reproduction. His work has also raised important ethical considerations regarding the use of genetic testing in ART.

Mgr Jakub Horák PhD graduated from Masaryk University Brno and completed his postgraduate doctoral studies at University of Tübingen. After eleven years of study and basic research in the field of molecular biology and genetics he started working at reproductive genetics diagnostic laboratory Repromeda Brno. He actively participated in the wider expansion of new methods and technologies of preimplantation genetic testing. Since 2015 he have continued as the director of the Repromeda laboratory. In 2020 Jakub was appointed Director for Preimplantation Genetic Testing at Gennet.

As a European Clinical Laboratory Geneticist and a Human Genetics Expert she has dedicated her career to advancing the field of preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) and improving the outcomes of assisted reproductive technology (ART). For over 19 years, she was the Head of the PGT Laboratory at Embryogenesis in a private IVF clinic, where she led a team of professionals in performing preimplantation genetic analysis and diagnosis for hundreds of couples with infertility and genetic disorders. She has extensive skills and knowledge in genetic testing, genetic analysis, and human genetics, and has contributed to multiple research projects and publications in this area. She is passionate about applying her expertise to help people to achieve their reproductive goals and overcome their genetic challenges. She is always looking for a new opportunity to collaborate with innovative consortia that share her vision and values of excellence, integrity, and compassion in the field of genetics and reproductive health.

Micheline Misrahi is a doctor, professor of biochemistry and molecular biology at the University of Paris-Saclay, France, member of the Academia Europaea and the European Academy of Sciences. She identified for the first time the structure of progesterone and LH receptors controlling reproduction and genetic causes of infertility. She is the national referent for genetic infertility and for primary ovarian insufficiency in France. She is a member of the board of directors of the Association of Women Managers of Higher Education, Research and Innovation.

Dr Lozano is a pediatric and adult clinical geneticist with training in neurodevelopmental and aging research. He has dedicated his research to better understanding the molecular basis of Fragile X-Related Disorders. Dr. Lozano serves as the clinical and research Director of the Fragile X Syndrome Spectrum Disorders Centre at Mount Sinai. His specialization lies in the diagnosis and treatment of Fragile X Syndrome, Fragile X-Associated Primary Ovarian Insufficiency, and Fragile X-associated Tremor Ataxia Syndrome.

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 gynaecologist and divides her time equally between clinical and research activities. She succeeded Prof. Donnez as Head of the Gynaecology 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, speciality editor for Fertility and Sterility and editorial board member for RBMonline, JARG, JCM..

Chair of Human Genetics, led by Prof. Maris Laan was established at the University of Tartu (UT) in 2003-2004 with the support of Welcome Trust International Senior Fellowship. Since 2016, the chair is positioned and active at the Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine. Its scientific ‘keywords’ are medical and reproductive genetics, genetics and molecular aetiology of infertility and pregnancy complications to be investigated by advanced DNA and RNA sequencing tools, translational research in medicine with the focus on genetics discoveries and novel biomarkers. This research has been facilitated by 20 years of successful collaboration with the Andrology Clinic and Women's Clinic, Tartu University Hospital. Since 2024, prof. Laan also serves as the Vice-Dean for Research at the Faculty of Medicine, UT.

Doctor Li Piani is the member of the Infertility Unit directed by Prof Edgardo Somigliana at Ospedale maggiore Policlinico Milan since 2019. Since 2020 she has focused her research on biomarkers useful for predicting IVF success, and has had the pleasure of collaborating with Prof Valentina Bollati's laboratory for the study of epigenetic clocks in infertility. She has just come back from one-year clinical and research fellowship in UZ Brussels IVF Clinic (director: Prof. Herman Tournaye). She has published an original paper on the potential role of epigenetic age in predicting IVF success and is currently coordinating a project at her IVF centre (EPIclock project) on the application of the Zbieć-Piekarska2 algorithm to infertile patients.

Prof Hromadníková is the head of the Department of Molecular Biology and Cell Pathology, 3rd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, located in the Institute for Mother and Child Care. She is the founder of the field of non-invasive prenatal diagnostics based on foetal microchimerism (the presence of foetal cells and foetal nucleic acids in the maternal circulation). She introduced into clinical practice non-invasive method of foetal sex determination, non-invasive methods of RHD and RHCE genotyping in the Czech Republic. She also focuses on the prediction of serious pregnancy complications such as gestational hypertension, pre-eclampsia, foetal growth restriction, foetuses small for the gestational period, gestational diabetes mellitus, and the long-term consequences of pregnancy complications on mother and child.

Andres Salumets is a biologist and biochemist. He completed his undergraduate and graduate studies at the University of Tartu in 1995. In October 2003 he received his PhD at the University of Helsinki. Since 2010 he has been working as Professor of Reproductive Medicine at the University of Tartu. At 2020 he has been appointed as Professor of Reproductive Medicine at Karolinska Institutet. His research interests are related to endometrial receptivity, reproductive toxicology, preimplantation and prenatal genetic diagnosis and stem cell biology.