Ambassador

SARIDOGAN Ertan

University College London Hospitals
London, England

Consultant in Reproductive Medicine and Minimal Access Surgery, University College London Hospitals, England

Ertan Saridogan MD PhD FRCOG studied medicine at Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine in Turkey and completed his initial specialist training in the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department, Istanbul University Cerrahpasa School of Medicine in 1991. He then moved to London for further postgraduate training in Reproductive Medicine and completed his PhD studies in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at St Bartholomew’s and The Royal London School of Medicine, University of London.

In 1996, he was granted Associate Professorship by the Higher Education Council of Turkey. Following this, he embarked on training in Minimal Access Surgery and was appointed as a Consultant in Reproductive Medicine and Minimal Access Surgery at University College London Hospitals in 2000. He was the President of the British Society for Gynaecological Endoscopy (BSGE) between 2014 and 2016, a Trustee and the Chairman of Medical Advisory Panel of Endometriosis UK, and the Representative of United Kingdom for the European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE). Currently he is the Scientific Chair of the European Society for Gynaecological Endoscopy (ESGE) Annual Congresses, a member of the ESGE Executive Board, President of the International Society of Fallopian Tubes and Reproductive Surgery and Director of the BSGE Gynaecological Endoscopic Surgery Education and Assessment (GESEA) Programme.

His clinical interests include laparoscopic and hysteroscopic surgery, endometriosis and outpatient hysteroscopy. His research interests include healthy and diseased Fallopian tube function and clinical outcomes following endometriosis surgery.

Dr Saridogan has been a WES Ambassador since 2011.

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Ambassador

METTLER Liselotte

University Hospitals Schleswig-Holstein
Kiel, Germany

Emeritus Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Hospitals Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany. Honorary Patron of the Kiel School of Gyne Endoscopy and Reproductive Medicine, Germany. Lecturer and Visiting Professor at the German Medical Center, Dubai Healthcare City, UAE. General Manager of Gyne Consulting, Kiel, Germany

Professor Dr Med Liselotte Mettler was born in Vienna, Austria. From 1959-1981 she conducted her medical studies, doctorate, gynaecological specialist training, habilitation, and professorship in Tübingen, Vienna, and Kiel. From 1981-2008 she was Deputy Director of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University Hospitals Schleswig-Holstein. From 1990 – 2008 she was Director of the Kiel School of Gynecological Endoscopy and also Head of the Kiel Gynaecological Endocrinology and Reproductive Medicine Division.

Her main fields of activity are reproductive medicine, gynaecological endoscopy, and gynaecological endocrinology. Professor Mettler is actively participating in many societies and organisations. She was president of many societies and received numerous honors. She has written over 700 publications, 20 books, and five textbooks.

Despite retiring in 2008 she also serves as General Secretary of the International Academy of Human Reproduction (IAHR) with the 15th World Congress planned for March 2013 in Venice, Italy. Of the Academy of Human Reproduction and serves on the Scientific Program Committee for the International Federation of Fertility Societies (IFFS) September 2013 in Boston, USA.

Dr Mettler has been a WES Ambassador since 2011.

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Ambassador

CANIS Michel

CNRS Research Unit on Computer Vision and Endoscopy
Clermont-Ferrand, France

Director of a CNRS Research Unit on Computer Vision and Endoscopy (ENCOV, part of The Pascal Institute of Clermont-Ferrand Auvergne University), France

Professor Canis is full Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology since 2003 and served as head of the department of Gynecologic Surgery in the CHU of Clermont-Ferrand up to 1 July 2018.

Michel Canis was born in October 1957 in Chamalières in the Clermont-Ferrand area. He went to Clermont-Ferrand medical school from 1974 to 1980 and did his residency from 1980 to 1984. He became a resident in Professor’s Bruhat department in 1982 where he confirmed his interest in laparoscopic surgery which he discovered as a medical student attending many laparoscopic surgical procedures with Dr Hubert Manhès who pioneered laparoscopic surgery in Europe.

Professor Canis’s interest in Endometriosis begun during his residency. He performed a literature review on this topic, from this work Pr Bruhat and he selected all the speakers of the first world congress on endometriosis which was organized in Clermont-Ferrand in November 1986. Since then he has been involved both in the development of advanced laparoscopic surgical procedures, such as laparoscopic radical hysterectomy and excision of deep endometriotic nodules, and in basic research on the pathophysiology of endometriosis and of the peritoneal surgical environment.

He is full Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology since 2003 and served as head of the department of Gynecologic Surgery in the CHU of Clermont-Ferrand up to 1 July 2018. Since 2012, he is, together with Pr Bartoli, director of a CNRS Research Unit on Computer Vision and Endoscopy (ENCOV part of The Pascal Institute of Clermont Ferrand Auvergne University).

Professor Canis has two children: Hugo and Anouk.

Professor Canis has been a WES Ambassador since 2011.

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Ambassador

ATTAR Erkut

University of Istanbul
Istanbul, Turkey

Faculty, Istanbul University, Istanbul Medical School, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, CAPA, Istanbul, Turkey. Advisory Board Member of International Pelvic Pain Society (IPPS). President of the Pelvic Pain and Endometriosis Society of Turkey

Dr Erkut Attar qualified as a medical doctor at Istanbul University and currently working for Istanbul University Istanbul Medical School, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility as a Faculty.

He worked as a Research Fellow at Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in the University of Connecticut Health Center (USA). Subsequently, he was a postdoctoral fellow at Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yale University, New Haven (USA).

As member of the group he won the Reproductive Immunology Special Interest Group Prize of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine in 1995, and he received the Travel Award of American Society for Reproductive Immunology (ASRI) in 1994.

His study, The Effect of Selective COX-2 Blockers on IL1-beta Protein Expression in Human Endometrial Cells in Culture was selected as a prize poster at ASRM meeting in November 2002 in Seattle, USA.

Dr Attar became a member of American Society for Gynecological Investigation (SGI) in 2007. He was awarded by International Pelvic Pain Society (IPPS) in 2009 for his work on the experimental treatment of endometriosis.

He used to work as invited faculty and research associate at Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA. Dr Attar is currently advisory board member of IPPS.

He has published more than hundreds of papers on peer reviewed journals. He established Pelvic Pain and Endometriosis Society of Turkey and is a current President of this society. He published books and book chapters in national and international publications. He has been invited to many international and national meetings as a speaker and keynote lecturer. He organised scientific meetings (SGI Summit 2013, IPPS 2011, 2017).

His research interests include implantation, pelvic pain, endometriosis and reproductive immunology.

Dr Attar has been a WES Ambassador since 2011.

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Ambassador

NOTHNICK Warrren

University of Kansas
Kansas City, USA

Professor, Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology and Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Kansas Medical Center, USA

Warren B Nothnick PhD HCLD graduated from the Ohio State University with his Bachelor of Science in 1987, and his Master of Science in 1989.  He did his post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Kentucky and completed his PhD there in 1994.

Research in Professor Nothnick’s laboratory focuses on deciphering the role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in the pathophysiology of endometriosis and the potential of targeting these miRNAs and/or their target transcripts as potential therapies for endometriosis treatment.  miRNAs have emerged as critical post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression that are fundamental for development and function of many organ systems.  Work from Professor Nothnick’s laboratory as well as that from others have shown that miRNAs are mis-expressed in endometriosis and may modulate physiological pathways relevant to endometriotic lesion survival.  Emphasis is placed upon dissecting these miRNA-mediated pathways utilizing both in vitro and in vivo models.  Secondary interests focus on the regulation and function of microRNAs in the decidualization process and endometrial infertility associated with endometriosis and progesterone resistance.

Recent endometriosis publications (from a total of 57 publications) include:

1. Nothnick WB, Falcone T, Joshi N, Fazleabas AT, Graham A. (2017) Serum miR-451a levels are significantly elevated in women with endometriosis and recapitulated in baboons (Papio anubis) with experimentally-induced disease. Reprod Sci. 24:1195-1202.
2. Nothnick, WB. (2016) Non-coding RNAs in uterine development, function and disease.  Adv Exp Med Biol. 886:171-186.
3. Graham A, Holbert J, Nothnick WB (2017) miR-181b-5p modulation of TIMP-3 expression during in vitro decidualization of a human endometrial stromal cell line and identification of miR-181b-5p targets by differential in-gel analysis. Reprod Sci. 24: 1264-1274.
4. Nothnick WB (2017) MicroRNAs and endometriosis:  distinguishing drivers from passengers in disease pathogenesis.  Sem Reprod Med. 35: 173 – 180.
5. Nothnick WB, Falcone T, Fazleabas AT, Olsen M, Tawfik OW, Graham A. (2018) Macrophage migration inhibitory factor receptor, CD74, is over-expressed in human and baboon (Papio Anubis) endometriotic lesions and modulates endometriotic epithelial cell survival and interleukin-8 expression. Reprod Sci (doi: 10.1177/1933719118766262).

Professor Nothnick has been a WES Ambassador since 2011.

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Ambassador

HULL Louise

University of Adelaide
Adelaide, Australia

Associate Professor, The Robinson Research Institute, University of Adelaide, Australia

Associate Professor M. Louise Hull is a gynaecologist and reproductive medicine specialist with a biomedical science background who has worked in Christchurch, New Zealand, Cambridge, UK and Adelaide, Australia.  She undertook a PhD in Endometriosis at Cambridge University and now leads the Endometriosis Research Group at the Robinson Research Institute (www.adelaide.edu.au/directory/louise.hull).  She advocates strongly for women with endometriosis in the media (@MLouiseHull), at international, national and local conferences and by advancing our knowledge of endometriosis by publishing scientific papers.

Her team were one of the first to explore the transcriptome and its regulation by microRNAs using global expression platforms. She has developed unique mouse models of endometriosis to explore the basic biology of endometriosis. After undertaking the first series of Diagnostic Test Accuracy Cochrane reviews for endometriosis, her group continues to explore the role of microRNAs, cytokines and environmental factors as risk factors, diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic tools for endometriosis.  Assoc. Prof Hull has also undertaken clinical trials for Pharma, has participated in international consensus groups for the World Endometriosis Society and was invited to the round table to develop the Australian National Action Plan for Endometriosis. She was an Associate Editor for Human Reproduction and is an International Ambassador for the World Endometriosis Society.

Associate Professor Hull has a clinical practice, seeing adolescents and adults with endometriosis and fertility problems, at Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Adelaide and in private practice at O& G, North Adelaide.  She co-founded the FertilitySA IVF unit and was their scientific and new developments director from 2009-2018. She supervises honours and PhD students, medical students and fellows, chairs the AGES grant committee, co-ordinates the written exam for the RANZCOG reproductive medicine subspecialty exams (CREI) and sits on the board of two companies.

Professor Hull has been a WES Ambassador since 2011.

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Ambassador

GARCIA-VELASCO Juan

IVI Madrid
Madrid, Spain

Director of IVI Madrid, Spain. Director of the Master Degree in Human Reproduction, Rey Juan Carlos University, Madrid, Spain. Director of the Post-graduate course in Nursing in Human Reproduction, Rey Juan Carlos University, Madrid, Spain. Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Rey Juan Carlos University, Madrid, Spain

Doctor Juan Antonio García Velasco graduated from Madrid University School of Medicine in 1990 and received his OBGYN certification from Autonoma University – Hospital La Paz in 1995. From 1997 to 1998 he studied at Yale University under a Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility Fellowship.

Dr Garcia Velasco’s main interest has been IVF and endometriosis. He has been invited to speak at several Societies (European Society for Human reproduction courses, American Society for Reproductive Medicine Spanish Fertility Society, Columbia Fertility Society, Mediterranean Society) and is part of the ESHRE publications committee and ESHRE Advisory Board, as well as referee for several journals (Lancet, Human Reproduction, Fertility and Sterility, American Journal Reproduction, J Assisted Reproduction, and Genetics) and a member of the panel of assessors for Continuing Medical Education Activities of SEGO.

He has received the Research Award of the Spanish Fertility Society and the Award of the Spanish Society of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

Dr Garcia Velasco has published over 100 articles in scientific journals, more than 22 book chapters, published four books as editor, and lectured in most reproductive medicine conferences around the world.

Dr Garcia Velasco has been a WES Ambassador since 2011.

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Ambassador

FAZLEABAS Asgi

Michigan State University
Grand Rapids, USA

University Distinguished Professor and MSU Foundation Professor, Obstetrics Gynaecology and Reproductive Biology, Michigan State University, USA. Director, Women’s Health Research, Michigan State University, USA. Co-Director, Reproductive and Developmental Sciences Programme, Michigan State University, USA

The laboratory of Professor Fazleabas utilises a baboon model for endometriosis in which the disease can be induced by inoculating the peritoneal cavity with autologous menstrual tissue. This permits us to study the etiology and pathophysiology of endometriosis from the onset of the disease and during its continued progression.

These studies have identified the progressive changes in gene expression in the eutopic endometrium which is a direct consequence of the presence of lesions. These changes are similar to that reported in women with disease and demonstrate that the development of progesterone resistance is a progressive process and may be related to epigenetic changes that are initiated during the initial establishment of the disease.

The kinetics of lesion development is also a progressive event following the induction of the disease and is governed by the up regulation genes that are involved in the process of angiogenesis and cell adhesion. The latter stages of lesion development are also associated with the presence of nerve fibers. Current studies are focused on the mechanisms by which microRNAs and their respective target genes regulate cell proliferation, apoptosis and inflammation which may contribute to the development of the disease and epigenetic changes in the eutopic endometrium that contributes to endometriosis associated infertility.

The unique nature of the primate model to study endometriosis and the strong multi-disciplinary collaborative group which we have established has led to important and fundamental findings regarding the causative effects of endometriosis and the mechanisms by which aberrant gene expression in the eutopic endometrium may contribute to infertility.

Professor Fazleabas has been a WES Ambassador since 2011.

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Ambassador

CARMONA Francisco

University of Barcelona
Barcelona, Spain

Professor, University of Barcelona, Spain. Chief of Gynecology, Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, Spain

Francisco Carmona was born and raised in Spain, where he graduated from the University of Barcelona Faculty of Medicine in 1982. He became a specialist in obstetrics and gynaecology in Spain and obtained his doctoral degree in 1991. His main area of interest is endometriosis and benign gynaecological diseases.

He has published more than 100 scientific papers in peer review journals, more than 15 book chapters, and is scientific reviewer for several scientific journals including Human Reproduction, Fertility and Sterilty, and many others. He is a member of the Editorial Board of the journal Gynecological Surgery.

Professor Carmona has been member of the Board Committee of the European Society for Gynecologic Endoscopy and was the president of the 19th Congress of that Society. Currently he is member of the Executive Committee of the Sociedad Ibero-Americana de Endoscopia Ginecológica e Imagenología, and a member of the Advisory Committee of the American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopy.

Professor Carmona has been a WES Ambassador since 2011.

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