Priv.- Doz. Dr. Jakob Lackner graduated from the University of Innsbruck, Austria in 1999 with his thesis on Neurogenic bladder dysfunction. In 2002 he started his urology residency at the Medical University of Vienna. During this residency he specialized in urologic andrology. He finished his residency in 2006 and became Fellow of the European Board of Urology (F.E.B.U.). Since then he is a senior staff at the Department of Urology, where his work is focused mainly on Andrology. He has published about 20 scientific articles and over 35 abstracts on semen analysis, testicular cancer and male infertility treatment.

Priv.- Doz. Dr. Jakob Lackner is one of the leading academic andrologists in Austria.

In 2007 Dr. Lackner received the degree of Privatdozent (Priv.- Doz.) at the Medical University of Vienna. He is working to establish an international cooperation with the best institutes for andrologic research, like the Center of Reproductive Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic.

Dr Eleonora Bedin Pasqualotto received her M.D. degree from the University of Caxias do Sul, RS, Brazil in 1994. She completed her residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology (1996) and Fellowship in Gynecology (1997) in the Santa Casa Hospital, Porto Alegre, Brazil. She was a Research Fellow at the Center for Advanced Research in Human Reproduction, Infertility and Sexual Function, Cleveland Clinic Foundation from 1998-1999. She received her Ph.D. degree (2002) from the Department of Gynecology, University of São Paulo, Brazil and her post-doctorate from the University of Caxias do Sul, RS, Brazil in 2003. She is an Assistant Professor of Gynecology at the University of Caxias do Sul, RS, Brazil. In addition, she is the Clinical Director, CONCEPTION - Center for Human Reproduction, Caxias do Sul, RS, Brazil.
 
Dr. Pasqualotto received the prestigious Gold Hysteroscope Award from the American Association of the Gynecologist Laparoscopists (AAGL) in 1999. She is member of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE), Brazilian Society for Human Reproduction and Brazilian Society for Assisted Reproduction. Her special interests are in the area of reproductive endocrinology and are: embryo implantation, pathophysiology of female infertility, and clinical and surgical treatment of female infertility. Research interests include: embryology, biomarkers of female infertility, and female sexual dysfunction. Dr. Pasqualotto has published more than 20 original articles and 40 abstracts in American or European journals/meetings. She has also published 8 book chapters in the area of infertility.

Dr Fábio Firmbach Pasqualotto received his M.D. degree from the University of Caxias do Sul, RS, Brazil in 1993. Completed his residency in general surgery and urology in the Santa Casa Hospital, Porto Alegre, Brazil in 1997. He was a Research Fellow at the Center for Advanced Research in Human Reproduction, Infertility and Sexual Function, Cleveland clinic Foundation from 1998-1999. He received his Masters degree (2001) and Ph.D. degree (2002) from the Department of Urology, University of São Paulo, Brazil and his post-doctorate from the University of Caxias do Sul, RS, Brazil in 2003. He is a Full Professor of Anatomy, Embryology and Urology at the University of Caxias do Sul, Professor of post-graduation in the Institute of Biotechnology, University of Caxias do Sul and Professor of Clinical Andrology in the post-graduate course in Infertility and Human Reproduction, Sapientae Institute, São Paulo, Brazil. In addition, he is the Director of CONCEPTION - Center for Human Reproduction, Caxias do Sul, RS, Brazil.

Dr. Pasqualotto received the Society for Male Reproduction and Urology (SMRU) travel award from the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) in 1999 and the International Society for Andrology (ISA) travel award in 2001. He is member of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine and the Andrology Section of the Brazilian Society for Human Reproduction. His special interests are in the area of andrology are: the pathophysiology of male infertility, sperm cryopreservation, microsurgery, clinical and surgical treatment of male infertility, DNA damage and testicular apoptosis. Research interests include: embryology, erectile dysfunction, male contraception, hormonal replacement therapy, role of antioxidants in male infertility, DNA damage, testicular apoptosis, sperm pathology and biomarkers of male infertility. Dr. Pasqualotto has published more than 70 original articles and 170 abstracts in American or European journals/meetings, and has more than 150 presentations at Brazilian meetings/congresses. Also, he has published 6 book chapters in the area of infertility and 2 books (male infertility and erectile dysfunction) and stem cells (In press). Reviewer of the following journals: Fertility and Sterility, Human Reproduction, Journal of Urology, RBM Online, American Journal of Reproductive Immunology, Asian Journal of Andrology, Singapore Medical Journal, Indian Journal of Urology, Medical Science Monitor, Journal of Postgraduate Medicine, International Brazilian Journal of Biological and Medical Research and Cadernos de Saude Publica.

Alumni Award for Excellence in Andrology Research
ASRM Meeting, Washington, DC, October 14, 2007

Dr. Philip Kumanov is a Professor of Endocrinology at the Medical University of Sofia, Bulgaria. He is a full member of the European Academy of Andrology since 1997. He is, also, an Executive Committee member of the European Neuroendocrine Association (ENEA) and was a member of the American society for Reproductive Medicine. His special interests are in the area of andrology, neuroendocrinology, biorhythms and reproductive system, androgens and cardiovascular disorders, and abnormalities of sexual differentiation. Research interests include: Clinical Neuroendocrinology, Andrology, Puberty and its disorders. Dr. Kumanov has published more than 100 original articles, reviews, chapters, and abstracts. In 2002 he published the monograph, "Male Climacteric". He is a member of the Scientific Advisory Board of Andrologia.

Certificate of Dr. Kumanov's visit and talk in Cleveland Clinic, June 2006

Dr. Angela Cadavid Jaramillo received her MD degree in 1986, her master degree in Inmunology in 1991 and her doctoral degree in biomedical sciences with emphasis in reproductive immunology in 1998 from the University of Antioquia, Medellin-Colombia. She is currently an Associate Professor at School of Medicine and the Head of the Reproduction Group at the University of Antioquia.

Her special interests are reproductive immunology focused in recurrent pregnacy loss, preeclampsia, new mechanisms of action of aspirin in reproductive alterations, antiphospholipid syndrome, natural products for anticonception, andrology and the role of male factor in early embryo death. She offers immunological diagnosis and consults in recurrent pregnancy. Dr. Cadavid is the recipient of several grants from public organizations in Colombia and received Silver Medal for her scientific contribution by the Mayor of Medellin-Colombia in 2008; Cum Laude distinction for her doctoral thesis in immunology of recurrent abortion in 1998 and Eastman Kodak Young Investigator Award in 1996. She has published 26 articles and 25 reviews or book chapters and presented 30 papers at national and international congresses.

Dr Abdelrazik received his MD degree in 1997 from Suez Canal University in Egypt. He was trained in Andrology at the Cairo University from 2001 to 2003. He received his Master Degree in Dermatology and Andrology in 2003 and a diploma in General Surgery in 2008. He is a Board Certified Clinical Embryologist from the American Board of Bioanalysis since 2008. He is an assistant Lecturer of Andrology and member of the IVF unit committee in Suez Canal University. His primary areas of interest are improvement of embryos quality in ART and the effect of sperm DNA damage.

Dr. Uwe Paasch received his doctorate degree from the Department of Dermatology, University of Leipzig, Germany in 1996. He joined Department of Andrology at University of Leipzig, Germany as a post-doctoral fellow where he obtained training in clinical and experimental andrology. Dr. Paasch's research interests are in reproductive biology, in particular, in understanding the biology and prevention of male infertility. He has authored over 58 manuscripts, over 30 abstracts and many presentations at various scientific and professional meetings. He has been a principal investigator or co-investigator of federally funded research grants and clinical trials.

Dr. Sonja Grunewald received her doctorate degree from the Department of Dermatology, University of Leipzig, Germany in 2003. She joined Department of Andrology at University of Leipzig, Germany as a post-doctoral fellow where she obtained training in clinical and experimental andrology and will complete her residency at the Department of Dermatology in spring 2008. She is member of the American Society for Andrology (ASA) since 2002 and of the German Society for Andrology (DGA) since 2004. Dr. Grunewald received the prestigious Jenapharm Research Grant of the German Society of Andrology in 2006. Her research interests are in reproductive biology, in particular, in understanding signal transduction pathways and developing molecular-based sperm separation techniques. She has authored over 28 manuscripts, over 100 abstracts and many presentations at various scientific and professional meetings. She has been a principal investigator of junior research grants and co-investigator of federally funded research grants.

Certificate of Dr. Grunewald's visit and talk in Cleveland Clinic, August 2007

Dr. Satish Kumar Adiga received his Master of Clinical Embryology from the School of Postgraduate medical studies at the National University of Singapore, Singapore in 1998. He then received his Ph.D. from the Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India in 1999. From 2002-2004, Dr. Adiga completed his postdoctoral education at Kyoto University, Japan. He is presently an Associate Professor and the Chief Clinical Embryologist of the Division of Reproductive Medicine at the Kasturba Medical College & Hospital, Manipal, India.

Dr. Adiga received the Dr. TMA Pai Gold Medal for Excellence in Medical Research in 2002 and the Dr. TMA Pai Gold Medal and Best Research Award in 2000. His special interests are in vitro fertilization, micromanipulation, genetic and molecular regulation in gametes as well as early embryos, sperm DNA damage, and damage response in early embryos. Dr. Adiga has published more than 20 original articles in international and national journals and presented research work in several national and international conferences.

Dr. Rima Dada received her MD degree in Anatomy in 1996 and a PhD in Genetics from AIIMS, New Delhi in 2003. She is currently an Associate Professor at All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi. Dr. Dada is actively engaged in teaching and research and has established the laboratory for Molecular Reproduction and Genetics. She offers genetic diagnostic services and is pursuing research on genetic aspects of infertility, reproductive failure and recurrent ART failure.

Dr Dada has received the ICMR National Award for significant contribution in the field of genetics of infertility. She has also received the Young Scientist award at 2nd European American Course in Clinical and Forensic Genetics in Croatia (1999), GP Talwar Gold Medal (2007) at Indian Society for Research in Reproduction Meeting and Best paper award at 33rd Annual Congress of Indian Society of Andrology in 2007. Dr Dada has published more than 30 original articles, 18 book chapters and DBT workshop manual and 30 abstracts in American or European meetings/journals. Dr Dada is a member of various professional societies and an ad-hoc reviewer for several scientific journals.

Dr. Pratap Kumar is presently a Professor and the Head of The Division of Reproductive Medicine at the Kasturba Medical College & Hospital, Manipal, India. In 1999, Dr. Kumar was the National Vice President of the Federation of Obstetrics and Gynecology. He was also appointed as a Senate Member and the Chairman of the Board of Studies in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Manipal Academy of Higher Education. Dr. Kumar is on the editorial committee of the British Medical Journal: Indian Section, the Indian Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology Practice, the Asian Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and the Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology as well.

His special interests are reproductive endocrinology and surgery, infertility, and assisted reproduction. Dr. Kumar has published more than 100 original articles in international and national journals and presented over 250 papers in several national and international conferences as well. He has edited a book on Ultrasound in which two editions have been created within a three year span. He has also conducted several workshops on Ultrasound while chairing the Imaging Science Committee from 1991 to 1996.

Dr. Sunil Kumar is a Deputy Director in the Division of Reproductive and Cytotoxicology, National Institute of Occupational Health, India. His research interest range from: studies on reproductive dysfunction among occupationally/environmentally exposed workers, chemical radiation protection and prevention of toxicity of anti cancer drugs by synthetic as well as natural compounds, role of tobacco/areca nut chewing in oral diseases in human, studies on the genotoxicity and clastogenicity of environmental persistent chemicals including smoke dried food using experimental system, etc. His research is supported by grants from CSIR, ICMR and DST.

Dr. Kumar is the recipient of several awards including the Shakuntala Amir Chand from ICMR for significant research contribution in the field of chemical radiation protection, the JEB Prize (1990) of the Academy of Environmental Biology, India in recognition of outstanding contribution in the field of chemical radiation protection and protection against the toxicity of anticancer drugs. Dr. Kumar is a member of various professional societies and an ad-hoc reviewer for several scientific journals. He has over 70 research articles, 30 of them are in foreign journals.

Dr. Sonia Malik graduated and completed her residency from Rohtak Medical College, India. Dr Malik is Director of Southend Infertility & IVF Centre at Holy Angels Hospital, New Delhi. She is also the Coordinator for Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility Services at Fortis La Femme, a leading corporate hospital in New Delhi, India. She is associated with many leading Obstetrics and Gynecology organizations in India. Dr Malik has been the organizer of many national and international meetings and has delivered lectures at both national and international Ob/ Gyn forums. She has published many papers and presented prize winning papers at various national and international conferences. She has also written several book chapters on the subject of infertility and genital tuberculosis. She won the best paper award at Indian Society of Assisted Reproduction meeting in 1997 and at Federation of Obstetrics and Gynecological Society of India meeting at Lucknow in 1999. She has been awarded the Indian Medical Association (IMA) Award for meritorious service in Family Welfare for the year 2004 and the Dr. B.C. Roy Choudhry Appreciation Award for meritorious service by IMA. She has been working with equal enthusiasm in the field of menopause and is a member of the group for developing practice guidelines for menopause in India. Dr Malik conducts FOGSI recognized training courses in Infertility at her centre.

Certificate of Recognition
ASRM Meeting, Washington, DC, October 14, 2007

Dr. Premendu P. Mathur, Professor, Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology and Co-ordinator, Bioinformatics Centre (Centre of Excellence), Pondicherry University, Pondicherry, received his Ph.D. (1980) from Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi. He received his postdoctoral training at The Population Council, The Rockefeller University, New York (1985-87) as a Rockefeller Foundation Special Fellowship Awardee. Dr. Mathur was a visiting scientist at The Population Council, New York (1990, 1997, 1999, 2002), a recipient of The Rockefeller Foundation Biotechnology Career Award (1992-94) and INSA-German Academy (DFG) Fellowship Award (1998) at the Institute of Reproductive Medicine, W.W. Universität, Münster, Germany. Dr Mathur has mentored several M.Phil. and Ph.D. students. He is the Regional Coordinator (Asia) of the Asian Journal of Andrology and has published more than 85 research papers and chapters in Indian and foreign journals and books.

Dr. Mathur was elected as a Member of the National Academy of Medical Sciences, India in 2000. He has received Dr. P.N. Shah Memorial US Vitamin (India) Oration Award of the Endocrine Society of India in 2002 Prof. Mathur is serving on the Committee on Reproduction and the Environment of the Society for the Study of Reproduction, U.S.A. (2008-09) and is an Elected member of the Executive Council of the Indian Science Congress Association (2008-09). He is acting as Vice-Chairman of Scientific Committee of Third Asia-Pacific Forum on Andrology, China, 2009.

Dr. Alex C Varghese is the Scientific Director and Chief embryologist at the Fertility Clinic, AMRI Hospital, Kolkata, India. He received his PhD in year 2005 from University of Calcutta, India for his thesis based on ART. He joined then, as the Director of R&D at Molecular Research & Investigation Center, Kolkata. He was a Research Fellow at the Center for Reproductive Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, USA from 2007-2008. Dr. Alex's research interests are in assisted reproductive technology, in particular, in understanding the molecular causes and prevention of male infertility, genomics and metabolomics in embryology and vitrification of gametes and embryos. He has authored over 30 manuscripts, over 25 abstracts and many presentations at various scientific and professional meetings (ASRM& ESHRE). He has also published 10 book chapters in the area of assisted conception. He is also a co-investigator of federally funded research grants (ICMR) and clinical trials. Dr. Alex is also a member and office bearer of various societies such as, Secretary of Institute of Reproductive Health and Toxicology, Founder-member, Indian Andrology Forum etc.

Certificate of Collaboration

Dr. Giovanni M. Colpi is a specialist in Urology, Andrology, and Endocrinology. He is the Head of Andrology Services at San Paolo Hospital in Milan, Italy. He is a member of a number of scientific committees in the field of reproduction and the Editorial Board of European Urology. Dr. Colpi has published numerous articles in European and American Journals.

Giancarlo Balercia is Professor in Endocrinology and teaches Endocrinology at the Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona. His research is directed in Endocrinology, Clinical and Experimental Andrology, Genetic of Male Infertility and Erectile Dysfunction.

He is the Chief of the Andrology Unit in Endocrinology, Umberto I Hospital, Ancona. Dr. Balercia is a Full member of European Academy of Andrology, of Italian Society of Endocrinology and of Italian Society of Andrology and Medical Sexology (SIAMS). He has been member of the Council of the Italian Society of Medicine of Sexuality until 2008 and he is a Regional Coordinator of the same Society. He is also the Director of the Ancona EAA Training Centre for Andrology.

Dr. Balercia has authored over 200 scientific works, including over 80 articles in International Journals.

Dr. Juris Erenpreiss received his MD degree from the Latvian Academy of Medicine, Latvia, in 1998, and his doctorate degree from the Riga Stradins University, Latvia, in 2003. He is the Director and leading researcher of the Andrology laboratory, Riga Stradins University, Latvia since 2005.

Dr. Erenpreiss was the Director of the Family Planning Department of Riga Stradins University, Latvia (2002-2004), Lecturer in Andrology at Riga Stradins University (1998-2004), and a leading researcher at the Latvian University Biomedicine Centre, Latvia from 2003-2005. He has worked as a visiting researcher, post-doctoral fellow and as an andrologist at the Fertility Centre and Molecular Reproductive Research Unit of Lund University, Sweden from 2003-2006. His main research interests are related to sperm chromatin structure abnormalities and male infertility, epidemiological studies of reproductive function in young men from Baltic countries, the relation of the androgen receptor polymorphisms to male reproductive function, and sperm epigenetics.

Dr. Erenpreiss has authored or co-authored 11 manuscripts, over 40 abstracts, one book (in Latvian), over 25 papers in Latvian medical/scientific issues, and many presentations at scientific and professional meetings. Dr. Erenpreiss is a board member of the Baltic Society for Andrology, and a full member of the European Academy of Andrology.

Certificate of Dr. Erenpreiss's visit to Cleveland Clinic in April 2006

Dr Stefan S du Plessis is Head of the Division of Medical Physiology and senior lecturer in the Faculty of Health Sciences at Stellenbosch University, South Africa. He graduated with a B.Sc. (1989), BSc. Hon. (1990), M.Sc. cum laude (1994), Hon.B., B&A (1997), MBA (1999) and Ph.D. (2002). The title oh his Ph.D. dissertation was "A study of the intracellular signaling events involved in the zona pellucida-induced acrosome reaction in human spermatozoa". Dr du Plessis also heads up the SpermLab in the Department of Biomedical Sciences, responsible for basic research on male gametes and post graduate student training. His research interests are in the fields of oxidative stress (ROS & RNS) and anti-oxidants as well as elucidating the roles of obesity, insulin, leptin, glucose and GLUT8 on sperm parameters and function. Dr du Plessis collaborates extensively with Prof Ashok Agarwal (Center for Reproductive Medicine, Cleveland Clinic, Ohio, USA) and other internationally recognized scientists. He has published more than 25 peer reviewed scientific articles. He serves on the editorial board of two leading international journals and regularly acts as an ad hoc reviewer for various scientific journals.

Dr. Juan G. Alvarez received his MD Degree in 1979 from the University of Santiago de Compostela in Spain. He received his Ph.D. Degree in Chemistry in 1991 from the University of Villanova, Pennsylvania. He was an Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Biology at Harvard Medical School, Boston, from 1993 to 1997. He was promoted to Associate Professor and Co-Director of the Women's Health Research Institute, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and, also, as Director of Research in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology from 1997-2000. Dr. Alvarez is a member of various scientific societies and has received several awards and honors for his scientific contribution. The primary area of his research is biochemistry of cystic fibrosis in human reproduction as well as the study of production of reactive oxygen species and sperm DNA damage. Dr. Alvarez is the recipient of several grants from private organizations and from the National Institute of Health. He has published over 100 articles and 10 reviews or book chapters made more than 60 presentations at national and international congresses. Dr. Alvarez owns 10 patents for his research and is recognized as an international authority on lipid peroxidative damage on human spermatozoa. He is currently Director of the Male Infertility Clinic ANDROGEN in La Coruña, Spain, and Scientific Director of Institute Marqués in Barcelona, one of the top IVF clinics in Europe.

Dr. Marcos Meseguer received his Biological Sciences Degree in 1997 from the University of Valencia in Spain. He did a pre-doctoral fellowship in St Mary´s Hospital, Manchester University, United Kingdom and received his Ph.D. Degree in Obstetrics and Gynecoloy in 2002 from the University of Valencia, Spain, and the European Doctor Degree form the same university. He has also a master degree in Research Methods; Design and Statistics from Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, Spain. He was Co-Director of the Andrology Laboratory at the Instituto Valenciano de Infertilidad (IVI) from 2000 to 2004. He was promoted to Senior Embryologist in the IVF unit of IVI Valencia. Dr. Meseguer is a member of various scientific societies and has received the prize paper of the Society of Reproduction and Infertility (American Society of Reproductive Medicine) and twice the reasearch award from the Spanish Society of Fertility. The primary areas of his research are the molecular markers of male infertility and assisted reproduction in HIV/VHC serodiscordant couples. Dr. Meseguer is the recipient of several grants from public organizations in Spain. He has published over 45 articles and 22 reviews or book chapters, made more than 96 presentations at national and international congresses. He is also currently statistics assessor of IVI Valencia the biggest infertility clinic in Spain and one of the most famous in Europe, and Professor of the Master in Biotechnology from Instituto Universitario IVI, Valencia University.

Certificate of Dr. Messeguer's visit and talk in Cleveland Clinic, April 2007

Dr. Nicolás Garrido received his Biological Sciences Degree in 1997 from the University of Valencia in Spain. He did a pre-doctoral fellowship at the Frauenklinik, Düsseldorf, Germany. He received his Ph.D. Degree in Obstetrics and Gynaecology in 2001 from the University of Valencia, Spain, and the Extraordinary Prize for his thesis work in 2002. He also has a Master degree in Research Methods; Design and Statistics from Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, Spain. Since 2000, he is the Director of the Andrology Laboratory and Sperm Bank at the Instituto Valenciano de Infertilidad (IVI). Dr. Garrido is a member of several scientific societies and has twice received the reasearch award from the Spanish Society of Fertility, and the Prize Paper of the Spanish Society of Urology. The primary areas of his research are the molecular markers of male infertility and sperm survival after freezing/thawing, assisted reproduction in HIV/VHC serodiscordant couples, and sperm banking. Dr. Garrido is the recipient of several grants from public and private organizations in Spain. He has published over 40 articles and 20 reviews or book chapters, made almost 100 presentations at national and international congresses. He is also currently statistics assessor of IVI Valencia the biggest infertility clinic in Spain.

Dr. Garrido coordinates the fellowship courses from the Teaching Area of the IVI group (actually 14 Infertility clinics worldwide, presenting more than 50 courses and 4 different Master studies) and is Professor of the post graduate Master in Biotechnology of the Human Reproduction from Instituto Universitario IVI, Valencia University.

Certificate of Dr. Garrido's visit and talk in Cleveland Clinic, April 2007

Professor Jaime Gosálvez is a permanent member of the Department of Genetics of the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid in Spain. He received his Ph.D. in Biology with specialization in Genetics in 1979. Prof. Gosálvez has visited several overseas institutions for research collaboration such as: the University of East Anglia (Prof. GM Hewitt, UK), Medical Research Centre in Edinburgh (Dr. A Summer, UK), Dipartimento de Biología di la Universitá di Cagliari (Dr. V Mezzanotte, Italy), Hospital Juan Canalejo in La Coruña (Dr. JL Fernández and V Goyanes, Spain). As an active person in academia he is in-charge of courses of Molecular Cytogenetics, Models and Evolutive Processes and Advanced Technologies for Biology. His special interests are in the area of Genetics (Molecular Cytogenetics) with special emphasis in DNA structure and function. As defined by his alter-ego (Dr. C López-Fernández) in the laboratory he conducts, he could be considered a "Chromosome Lover". Nowadays, he is deeply involved in the analysis of different aspect of the DNA molecule in the sperm and their possible implications in male infertility, with special emphasis in human, other mammalian species and fish, as well as those clinical aspects of the male factor to achieve pregnancy. In full coordination with Dr. JL Fernández and Dr. V Goyanes, the Sperm Chromatin Dispersion Test (SCD) was developed and patented. On the basis of this patent, which belong to the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, some comercial products have been developed with the basic SCD technology. Dr. Gosálvez has published more than 210 original articles and around 190 abstracts have been presented in different national and international meetings. Graphic material of some articles were selected by the editorial board as front-page in journals such as Cytogenetics and Cell Genetics, Genome, Experimental Cell Research, Fertility and Sterility, Journal of Andrology (2) and Biotech. Also, he has published 15 book chapters in the area of Cytogenetics and sperm quality assessment and has edited two books. He has been the Principal Investigator of more than 30 national and international competitive research applications, fully financed. He participates as an active reviewer of National and International Research projects and scientific journals. He is co-author of two patents with world-wide protection and exploited by different companies and he acts as a free-external advisor for scientific aspects of the methodologies patented and licensed by the Autónoma University under University-Private Companies contracts. He acts as one of the scientific assessors of the Madrid Technological Park, where most of the emerging spin-off companies are located and he is member of the committee of the Socrates-Erasmus European mobility program for student interchange.

Certificate of Dr. Gosalvez's visit to Cleveland Clinic in October 2007

Dr. Enver Kerem Dirican is the Laboratory and Scientific Director at the MAYA Center for Reproductive Medicine, Ankara, Turkey. He is a certified Embryology Laboratory Director and Micromanipulation Specialist from the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Turkey.

Dr. Dirican received his B.Sc. degree from Ankara University, Department of Biology, Ankara Turkey; M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in Cellular Biology from Gazi University, Institute of Science, Department of Biology, Ankara, Turkey, under the supervision of Professor Yusuf Kalender. His Ph.D. thesis, “Testicular Toxicity of Dichlorvos and the Protective Role of Vitamins C and E in Rats”, was presented in the IFFS Meeting, 2007.

Dr. Dirican started his clinical IVF practice in 1995. he is one of the pioneers in Turkey in the use of spermatids and totally immotile spermatozoa for assisted reproduction, successful cryopreservation and thawing of testicular spermatozoa resulting in live births, presenting first clinical pregnancies after magnetic elimination of apoptotic spermatozoa by ICSI.

Dr. Dirican has published and presented over 25 scientific studies at both national and international magazines and scientific meetings. He is a member of several professional societies including: ESHRE (European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology) TSRM (Turkish Society for Reproductive Medicine), Society of Private IVF Centers of Turkey. Dr. Dirican is on the ad hoc reviewer board of Fertility and Sterility, Journal of Andrology and Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics.

Dr. Dirican is active in basic and clinical research and has trained more than 10 basic scientists and clinical researchers from Turkey and abroad. In addition over 20 medical/biological undergraduate students and observers have worked in his laboratory. His current research interests include the investigation of cellular injury and apoptosis of the male and female gametes and embryos, environmental factors and their effects on fertility and the roles of certain antioxidants on human reproduction.

Maya Center for Reproductive Medicine

Maya Center for Reproductive Medicine is one of the leading private IVF centers in Turkey. In 2008, Maya performed 800 fresh IVF cycles (mainly ICSI), 50 frozen-thawed ET cycles, 50 PGS applications, 150 MESA, 50 s-HLA-G expression analysis, 100 IUI treatments, 1500 basic semen analysis including 1000 strict morphology evaluations.
 
The clinical and the laboratory directors have about 15 years of experience in human IVF, and have performed more than 5000 complete IVF treatments, resulting in thousands of healthy babies. The mission of Maya is to use current knowledge to conduct research and development projects to improve IVF outcome.

Dr. Kubilay Inci is an Assistant Professor in Urology Department at Hacettepe University, in Ankara, Turkey. He received his MD degree from Hacettepe University School of Medicine, in 1995, and completed his residency in Urology at Hacettepe University in 2001. He was a Research Fellow at the Center for Reproductive Medicine, Cleveland Clinic in 2003. Dr. Inci's primary research interest is basic and clinical research in fertility and erectile dysfunction. He has authored or co-authored more than 30 articles in national and international journals and more than 80 abstracts in several national and international conferences. He is a member of various scientific societies.

Dr. Nabil F. Aziz is a Consultant in Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine and lead clinician at Liverpool Women's Hospital, United Kingdom. The Hospital is the largest women's hospital in Europe and houses the largest assisted conception unit in the UK. Dr. Aziz also serves as a lecturer in Gynaecology and Reproductive Medicine at the University of Liverpool, UK.
 
Dr. Aziz received his medical degree from Ain Shams University School of Medicine in Cairo, Egypt. He became a member of the Royal College of Obstetricians in 1988 and a Fellow in 2003. He was awarded the Doctorate (MD) degree in reproductive medicine from the University of Liverpool, UK in 1999.
 
Dr. Aziz's primary research interest is basic and clinical research in fertility and assisted reproductive technology. His research work led to the routine use of the single-channeled needle in oocyte aspiration. He developed the concept of Sperm Deformity Index as a reliable predictor of male infertility. Among his other interests are minimal invasive surgery and medical education. He has published more than 80 scientific papers, abstracts, and book chapters.
 
Dr. Aziz is on the editorial board of Archives of Andrology.

Certificate of Recognition

Certificate of Recognition
ASRM Meeting, Washington, DC, October 14, 2007

Appointment as Honorary Scientist