The programme is made up of 8 modules which will be delivered by online videos. The preliminary syllabus (subject to change) is listed here.
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1. The Laboratory – from gamete to embryo
- The Laboratory – from gamete to embryo, introduction to the module: Joyce Harper
- The history of events leading to the birth of the worlds first IVF babies: Kay Elder
- Introduction to laboratory equipment and staff: Xavier Viñals Gonzalez
- Culture media – development and composition: Joyce Harper
- Culture media: sequential and single step – what embryologist should consider: Kiri Beilby
- Semen assessment: Steven Fleming
- Preparing sperm for ART: Alpesh Doshi
- Laboratory aspects of IVF: Xavier Viñals Gonzalez
- Laboratory aspects of ICSI: Rachel Cutting
- The embryologist role in the egg collection: Alpesh Doshi
- How to do the PN check: Mara Simopoulou
- Blastocyst culture; advantages and disadvantages and in which patients? Catherine Racowsky
- Embryo selection and scoring: Kay Elder
- Laboratory aspects of the embryo transfer procedure: Alpesh Doshi
- How should we bring new technology into the IVF lab – a discussion of the adjuncts: Joyce Harper
- Assisted Hatching: Glora Calderon
- Introduction to time lapse: Walid Maalouf
- Model building with time lapse technology: Cristina Hickman
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2. Oocyte, sperm and embryo cryopreservation
- Intro to the module – Joyce Harper
- Principles of cryopreservation: TBC
- Sperm freezing: Steven Fleming
- Embryo cryopreservation: Laura Rienzi
- Oocyte cryopreservation: Ana Cobo
- Ovarian tissue cryopreservation: Richard Anderson
- The frozen-thaw cycle: TBC
- Should we be doing freeze all cycles? TBC
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3. Lab design, quality assessment and trouble shooting
- Laboratory design and construction
- Air quality in the IVF lab: VOCs monitoring
- How to decide which equipment to buy for the lab
- Managing a high throughput laboratory
- Quality management in the IVF lab
- How to ensure a stable culture system
- Monitoring your performance and KPIs
- Auditing the IVF lab
- Trouble shooting in the IVF lab
- Managing infections in an IVF lab
- IVF regulation and legislation
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4. PGT and prenatal diagnosis
- Basic genetics
- Inherited diseases
- Chromosome abnormalities
- Genetics of infertility
- Introduction to PGT
- Polar body, cleavage stage and blastocyst biopsy for PGT
- Genetic diagnosis for PGT
- PGT-A
- How to interpret PGT results
- Non invasive prenatal diagnosis
- Prenatal diagnosis
- Genetic counselling
- Discussion of ethical issues
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5. New technology and ethical considerations in ART
- Introduction to the module, Joyce Harper
- Ethical considerations in ART, Dan Reisel
- Using donor eggs and sperm – what needs to be considered, Saghar Kasiri
- The global surrogacy market, Christina Weis
- Cross border reproductive care, Francoise Shenfield
- Embryo culture system: what will be next, Roger Sturmey
- Mitochondrial replacement techniques, Mary Herbert
- Genome editing, Helen O’Neill
- The future of reproduction, Joyce Harper
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6. Clinical aspects of ART
- Introduction to the module, Joyce Harper
- Causes of male infertility, Amr Raheen
- Clinical andrology, Pippa Sangster
- Causes of female infertility and investigations, Anis Feki
- Clinical aspects of infertility treatments, Timur Gurgan
- Drug regimes in ART, Svend Lindenberg
- Monitoring an IVF cycle, Michel De Vos
- The failed cycle, Yacoub Khalaf
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7. Gametogenesis and preimplantation development
- Introduction to the module Joyce Harper
- Anatomy of the female and male reproductive tract and meiosis Joyce Harper
- Oogenesis –John Carroll
- Spermatogenesis Greg Fitzharris
- Fertilisation and oocyte activation – Karl Swann
- Preimplantation development; blastocysts in 2019, Giovanni Coticchio
- Implantation, Siobhan Quenby
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8. Reproductive health
- Introduction to the module, Joyce Harper
- Puberty and the menstrual, cycle Joyce Harper
- Sexually transmitted infections, TBC
- Contraception, TBC
- Preconception care, Judith Stephenson
- Pregnancy: TBC
- Miscarriage and termination, TBC
- Menopause Ertan Saridogan
Exit Exam
The exit exam includes submission and feedback of a 3000 word essay, a practical exam, approval of the log book and an oral exam. The exit exam can only be taken when the student has passed all eight modules.
