Ambassador

LEONE ROBERTI MAGGIORE Umberto

Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori
Milan, Italy

Dr. Umberto Leone Roberti Maggiore is an Italian gynecologic oncologist whose work bridges clinical excellence with academic leadership. He currently serves at the Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori in Milan, one of Italy’s foremost centers for cancer research and treatment. His career has been marked by a continuous commitment to advancing women’s health, particularly in the fields of adenomyosis, endometriosis, and gynecologic oncology.

After earning his medical degree from the University of Genoa, Dr. Leone Roberti Maggiore completed his residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology and later obtained a PhD in Gynecological Sciences. Early in his professional journey, he gained valuable experience working at Institutions such as San Raffaele Hospital in Milan and IRCCS Policlinico San Martino in Genoa, before joining the National Cancer Institute in Milan in 2017.

Throughout his career, Dr. Leone Roberti Maggiore has distinguished himself as both a clinician and researcher. He has authored more than 200 scientific publications. His research has had a particular focus on the diagnosis and treatment of endometriosis and adenomyosis, fertility-sparing approaches in gynecologic oncology,.

Beyond his clinical and research achievements, Dr. Leone Roberti Maggiore plays a significant role in shaping international reproductive health policy and practice. He has been actively involved in the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE), where he currently serves as Coordinator of the Special Interest Group on Endometriosis and Endometrial Disorders.

Widely recognized for his academic impact, Dr. Leone Roberti Maggiore has an h-index of approximately 40 and over 6,500 citations. He frequently serves as a peer reviewer for prestigious journals including Human Reproduction, Fertility and Sterility, and European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, among others. He is also a sought-after speaker and moderator at national and international conferences.

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News · May 29, 2025

David Healy Award 2025 presented to Lindsay Guare

The David Healy Award for best Oral Presentation by an Early Career Scientist was presented to Lindsay Guare at the closing ceremony of the 16th World Congress on Endometriosis for her work on Expanding the Genetic Landscape of Endometriosis: Integrating Multi-omics with a Genome-wide Meta-analysis of Over 900,000 Genetically Diverse Women

L Guare1, J Das1, A Rajagopalan1, L Caruth1, S Namba2, Y Okada2, Y Shirai3, Y Yamamoto3, A Akerele4, J Jaworski4, D Velez-Edwards4, A Hill5, J Shortt5, N Elhadad6, G Jarvik7, L Kottyan8, Y Luo9, W Wei10, C Weng6, S Chapman11, Y Shi11, W Zhou11, A Mulford12, A Sanders12, B Brumpton13, E Moreno13, T Chen15, V Rovite14, Y Lin15,S Setia- Verma1

1University Of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, United States
2The University of Tokyo, Japan
3Osaka University, Suita, Japan
4Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, United States
5Colorado Center for Precision Medicine, Aurora, United States
6Columbia University, New York City, United States
7University of Washington, Seattle, United States
8Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, United States
9Northwestern University, Evanston, United States
10Vanderbilt University, Nashville, United States
11The Broad Institute, Cambridge, United States
12Endeavor Health, Evanston, United States
13Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
14Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Latvia
15National Health Research Institutes, Maoli County, Taiwan

Country: United States of America Introduction/Background

Endometriosis is a complex heritable disorder requiring comprehensive genomic investigation

across diverse populations. Previous studies have been somewhat limited by European-centric data. The Global Biobank Meta-Analysis Initiative (GBMI) enables large-scale genomic analysis across multiple genetic ancestry groups, complemented by computational multi-omic and single cell analyses to understand disease mechanisms.

Materials and Methods

We performed a Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS) meta-analysis across 14 biobanks worldwide, with 31% non-European samples. Multiple endometriosis phenotype definitions were analyzed, including broad and surgically-confirmed cases. Post-GWAS analyses included ancestry-stratified heritability estimation and fine-mapping. We conducted Transcriptome- wide and Proteome-wide association analyses, followed by single-cell analyses of implicated genes. Integration of multi-omic data through Mergeomics analysis enabled comprehensive pathway enrichment assessment.

Results

The GWAS (N=928,413 : 44,125 cases) identified 45 significant loci using a broad phenotype definition, including seven previously-unreported signals and the first genome-wide significant locus (POLR2M) in African ancestry. Narrow phenotypes and surgically confirmed cases replicated known loci near CDC42 and SYNE1. Observed heritability was consistent (10-12%) across ancestral groups. Cross-ancestry fine-mapping revealed putative causal variants in 38 loci. Multi-omic imputed association analyses identified 11 significantly-associated gene transcripts (two previously unknown: DTD1 and CCDC88B), two intronic splicing events (within PGR and NSRP1), and one protein, RSPO3. In silico single-cell analyses prioritized 18 disease-relevant cell types including venous cells and macrophages. The results of these analyses specified key players in enriched molecular pathways involving immunopathogenesis, angiogenesis, Wnt signaling, and balance between proliferation, differentiation, and migration of endometrial cells as major hallmarks in genomics of endometriosis.

Conclusion

This diverse GWAS combined with transcriptomic, splice-omic, proteomic, and single-cell analyses revealed novel genetic associations and molecular mechanisms in endometriosis. The identification of ancestry-specific variants and pathway interactions provides multiple targets for developing precise therapeutic interventions across diverse populations.

Key words: Genome wide association analyses, multi-omic data integration, diverse populations

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News ·

Rodolphe Maheux Award 2025 presented to Amelia Mardon

The 2025 Rodolphe Maheux Award for best Oral Presentation by an Early Career Clinician was awarded to Amelia Mardon at the closing ceremony of the 16th World Congress on Endometriosis for her presentation on Pain Science Education Concepts for Pelvic Pain: An e-Delphi of Expert Clinicians

A Mardon1,2, H Leake1, M Wilson2,3, E Karran2, R Parker4, R Malani5, L Moseley2, J Chalmers2

1NICM Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Westmead, Australia
2IIMPACT in Health, UniSA, Adelaide, Australia
3Persistent Pain Research Group, UniSA, Adelaide, Australia
4Department of Anaesthesia and Perioperative Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
5MGM School of Physiotherapy, Aurangabad, A constituent unit of MGMIHS, Maharashtra, India

Country: Australia

Introduction/Background

Pain science education (PSE) involves learning about the biology of pain. However, PSE is yet to be thoroughly investigated for persistent pelvic pain potentially due to the lack of targeted curricula. This study gained consensus on PSE learning concepts important for persistent pelvic pain according to expert clinicians.

Materials and Methods

A three-round e-Delphi survey was conducted to generate and gain consensus on important PSE learning concepts for female persistent pelvic pain among 20 international, multidisciplinary expert clinicians. Learning concepts generated by clinicians were rated by importance using a six-point Likert scale. Concepts were considered important if they had a median rating important >3.0. Consensus on importance rating was considered reached for items with an interquartile range <1.0.

Results

The panel included expert clinicians from seven countries and six healthcare professions. Most clinicians (40%) had 20+ years of experience in pelvic pain. Overall, the expert clinicians generated 125 PSE learning concepts that were considered important for persistent pelvic pain; 92 (73.6%) learning concepts reached consensus on their importance rating. Of the 125 learning concepts, 102 were generated for persistent pelvic pain in general, and were categorised into 13 overarching PSE concepts (e.g., persistent pelvic pain involves changes to the brain and nervous system; many factors influence persistent pelvic pain). Sixteen concepts were generated for specific pelvic pain conditions (e.g., endometriosis) and seven concepts for specific life stages (e.g., adolescence).

Conclusion

This study provides the first list of key PSE concepts for persistent pelvic pain developed by expert clinicians. These concepts share similarities to those valued by consumers.1 Taken together, they provide a framework for developing and implementing PSE curricula for persistent pelvic pain in research and clinical settings.

Key words

Pain science education, pelvic pain, patient education

References

  1. Mardon AK, Chalmers KJ, Heathcote LC, Curtis LA, Freedman L, Malani R, Parker R, Neumann PB, Moseley GL, Leake HB. “I wish I knew then what I know now”—pain science education concepts important for female persistent pelvic pain: a reflexive thematic analysis. Pain. 2024 Sep 1;165(9):1990-2001.

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Ambassador

LUCIANO Danielle

University Of Connecticut
Connecticut, USA

Danielle Luciano, MD graduated from the University of Connecticut (UConn) School of Medicine and completed her residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City.  She then completed a fellowship in Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery.  Dr. Luciano is a Clinical Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at UConn.  She is the Director of the Division of Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery, and is currently serving as the Interim Chair of the Department of OBGyn at UConn Health.  While at UConn Health she established a Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery (MIGS) Fellowship as well as a Center of Excellence in MIGS.  She has served on the AAGL (American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists) MIGS Fellowship Board and is currently serving on the AAGL Endometriosis and Reproductive Surgery Special Interest Group Board.

In addition to treating endometriosis Dr. Luciano is committed to raising awareness and increasing education and research about endometriosis.  She is an active member of the Connecticut Endometriosis Working Group and is Co-Director of the Connecticut State Funded Endometriosis Data Biorepository and Education Program: EndoRISE (Endometriosis Research, Innovation, Support and Education).

 

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Ambassador

WYNN_WILLIAMS Michael

Auckland District Health Board
Auckland, New Zealand

Gynaecologist, Advanced Laparoscopic Surgeon, Endometriosis and Pelvic Pain Specialist

Dr. Michael Wynn-Williams is a highly respected Gynaecologist and endometriosis specialist (AGES/RANZCOG Level 6). After an extensive career working as a Gynaecologist overseas, in 2020, he returned to his roots in New Zealand and established himself in Auckland.

For local patients in Auckland, Michael consults in his rooms at Advanced Gynaecology Auckland (AGA) at Ascot Central. Michael also provides consultations to private patients across New Zealand through telehealth video conferencing. Private surgical services are provided by Michael at Ascot Private Hospital in Remuera.

Michael holds a significant public role as the Lead of Minimal Access Gynaecology Service (MIGS) at Auckland Hospital. Michael is the Training Director of the Australasian Gynaecological Endoscopy & Surgery (AGES) Advanced Training Program (AATP). The Auckland AATP program is widely considered the top training position in New Zealand. Michael is also an active Auckland Hospital Women’s Health Pain Service member.

A wealth of experience marks Michael’s career. He spent over 14 years providing private surgical services at Mater Private and the Wesley Private Hospitals in Brisbane. As the lead advanced laparoscopic gynaecologist at Mater Mothers’ Hospital, he specialised in complex endometriosis cases, attracting patients from Queensland, Northern NSW, and the Northern Territory. Additionally, Michael served as a Senior Lecturer with the University of Queensland and played a pivotal role in fertility treatments through Queensland Fertility Group. He contributed significantly by establishing a Fellowship program in collaboration with Eve Health and Mater Health, which aimed to train aspiring gynaecologists in advanced laparoscopic surgery under the AGES AATP program.

Michael embarked on his journey in obstetrics and gynaecology in Christchurch, New Zealand, where the late Dr John Doig first ignited his passion for endometriosis management. Subsequently, he pursued advanced training worldwide, including a two-year Fellowship in advanced laparoscopic surgery with A/Prof Alan Lam in Sydney. He further honed his skills during a post-fellowship year in Glasgow and a consultant post at Cambridge University NHS Trust, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, UK.

Michael is a dedicated educator, sharing his advanced laparoscopic gynaecology surgery expertise with fellow doctors in Australia, the United Kingdom, Ireland and Mongolia. He remains committed to mentoring and educating gynaecologists across Australia and New Zealand. Since 2015, Michael has been the Director of AGES Laparoscopic Anatomy Pelvic Dissection (LapD) Workshops held four times a year at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT).

In addition to his clinical practice, Michael holds local and international leadership roles in several organisations. He is currently the first New Zealander to hold the role of President of the Australasian Gynaecological Endoscopy & Surgery (AGES). He is an Associate Editor of the American Association of Gynecological Laparoscopy (AAGL) medical journal, Journal of Minimally Invasive Gynaecology (JMIG). Michael also sits on the Clinical Advisory Committee of Endometriosis Australia. In New Zealand, Michael is an Endometriosis New Zealand board member and chairs the clinical advisory committee.

Michael is a keen road cyclist and mountain biker in his free time. He enjoys completing multi-day adventures, such as cycling over the French Alps from Geneva to Nice and competing in the arduous seven-day BC Bikes Race in Vancouver, Canada. He also enjoys participating in multi-day charity bike rides.

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Additional Board Member

Angela Aguilar

Website and Digital Communication Lead
Marikina, Philippines

Professor 3 and University Scientist 1, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of the Philippines, Philippine General Hospital

Board Member, Asian Society of Endometriosis and Adenomyosis (ASEA)
Chair, Special Interest Group for Endometriosis, Asia Pacific Initiative in Reproduction (ASPIRE)

Board Member and Treasurer, Asia Oceania Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology (AOSPAG)

Advocacy Committee Member, International Federation Of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology (FIGIJ)
Past President, Philippine Society for Reproductive Medicine (2021) , Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology Society of the Philippines (2020), and Philippine Society for Gynecologic Endoscopy (2015-2016)
Education, Training and Certifications:
Doctor of Medicine,  University of the Philippines Manila College of Medicine

Obstetric and Gynecology Residency and Fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility,  Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Philippine General Hospital

Master of Science (MSc) in Reproduction and Development, University of Bristol, United Kingdom with clinical attachment at the Bristol Center for Reproductive Medicine

Master’s Degree in Business Administration (Health), Ateneo Professional Schools

 

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Ambassador

KRENTEL Harald

Bethesda Hospital Duisburg
Duisburg, Germany

Harald Krentel is specialist for Gynecology and Obstetrics, certified Gynecological Oncologist and certified specialist in Minimally Invasive and in Robotic Gynecological Surgery (MIC III AGE). He is specialized in surgery of deep endometriosis and gynecological cancer.

Dr. Krentel is director of the Department of Gynecology, Obstetrics and Gynecological Oncology at Bethesda Hospital Duisburg, Germany. He is head of the Center for Gynecological Oncology, head of the Endometriosis Center and head of the AGE-certified Training Center for Robotic-Assisted Surgery.

His scientific fields of interest are endometriosis and adenomyosis, transvaginal ultrasound in gynecological diseases and minimally invasive gynecological surgery including the robotic assisted approach. Harald Krentel is Associate Professor at Department for Gynecology at Carl-von-Ossietzky University in Oldenburg / Germany, Visiting Professor for Gynaecology and Obstetrics at Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia in Lima / Peru and Visiting Professor for Gynecological Surgery at UNAM and InPer in Mexico City. He is author and co-author of > 100 publications and book chapters and lecturer at national and international conferences. He is member of different Editorial boards and Associate Editor at FVVOG. Krentel performed live surgeries in > 15 countries.

Harald Krentel is a board member of the German Endometriosis Society (AGEM), Vice-Chair of the Special Interest Group Endometriosis of the ESGE, Past President of EEL and founding member of PASE. He is co-founder of the German and EEL MasterClass programs and is dedicated to teaching and training.

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Additional Board Member

Ertan Saridogan

WCE2027 Co-Presidents
Istanbul, Turkey

Ertan Saridogan is a Professor of Gynaecological Surgery at University College London and a Consultant in Reproductive Medicine and Minimal Access Surgery at University College London Hospitals.  He is a former President of the British Society for Gynaecological Endoscopy and is the current President of the European Society for Gynaecological Endoscopy. He is the former Editor-in-Chief of Facts, Views and Vision: Journal of the European Society for Gynaecological Endoscopy. He has been a member of the ESHRE Endometriosis Guideline Development Group, and is one of the authors of the 2005, 2013 and 2022 guidelines. He has co-authored more than 170 peer-reviewed publications, edited 3 books and written more than 30 book chapters.

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