Saturday November 29, 2008

7:45 Registration

8:15 Welcome from SSIF
J-D. Baki, Switzerland
R. Fischer, Germany

8:20 Introduction to the conference
Z. Shoham, Israel

Session 1
Stem Cells for Reproductive and Regeneration Medicine
Capsule:  Stem cell based medicine; What are the expectations, what is feasible?
Chairpersons: Y. Verlinsky, USA, G. Palermo, USA & N. Frydman, France

08:30 Where are we now in the understanding of endometrial stem cells?
C. Simon, Spain

09:00 Can Stem cells serve as a source of gametes?
A. Marques, Spain

09:30 Reprogramming as a new approach to obtain patient specific stem cells
R. Ensenat-Waser, Spain

10:00 Coffee Break

Session 2
In Vitro Maturation
Capsule: IVM is becoming more effective: benefits, risk and pitfalls of the procedure
Chairpersons: R. Frydman, France, H.I. Nielsen, Denmark & A. Weissman, Israel

Debate: Can IVM now be offered as a treatment?

10:30 IVM is ready as a treatment for PCOS patients
M. Leong, Hong Kong

10:45 IVM is not ready as a treatment
B. Tarlazis, Greece

11:00 Discussion

What is the optimum preparation for IVM?

11:10 FSH priming for IVM
A.L. Mikkelsen, Denmark

11:25  hCG priming  for IVM
R.C. Chian, Canada

11:40 Discussion

IVM and fertility preservation

11:50 The role of IVM in the preservation of fertility
S.L. Tan, Canada

12:05  Efficiency of IVM treatment
R. Fadini, Italy

12:20 Discussion

12:30 Lunch Break

Session 03
Cryopreservation of Gametes and Ovarian Tissue
Capsule: The optimum method for cryopreserving oocytes and ovarian tissue is yet to be decided
Chairpersons: Z. Rosenwaks, USA, P. Patrizio, USA & C. Poirot, France

13:30 What do we know and what is our future course?
R. Gosden, USA

Debate: What are the best methods for the cryopreservation of human oocytes?

14:00 Human oocyte cryopreservation: The slow freezing technique
A. Borini, Italy

14:30  Autotransplantation of frozen human ovarian tissue and follicles
J. Donnez, Belgium

15:00 Whole ovary cryopreservation and transplantation in sheep
B. Salle, France

15:30 Coffee break

Session 4
New Cryotechnologies for Gametes, Ovarian tissue and Stem Cells
Capsule: New cryopreservation technologies can enhance clinical results
Chairpersons: R. Gosden, USA, A. Arav, Israel & J. Dor, Israel

16.00 Vitrification of human blastocysts: An update
J. Liebermann, USA

16:30 Freezing whole human ovaries
P. Patrizio, USA

16:50 Freezing/drying of spermatozoa
J. Biggers, USA

17:10 Freeze/drying of stem cells
A. Arav, Israel

Special lecture in honour of Prof. Edwards
Chairpersons: V. Gomel, Canada & R. Frydman, France

17:30 Reproductive medicine in the era of the personal genome
A. Handyside, UK

18:05 End of the course