Ambassador

BARBARA Giussy

Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico
Milan, Italy

MD, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico and Gynecological Surgery and Endometriosis Departmental Unit, Milan, Italy

Guissy Barbara’s graduate dissertation on medical treatment for symptomatic endometriosis was supervised by Professor Paolo Vercellini.

Dr Barbara’s main scientific interests are related to the study and treatment of endometriosis and associated pain, quality of life, and sexual functioning. Her research activity is documented by more than 75 papers published in peer-reviewed scientific journals. H-index: 30 (Scopus).(Pubmed link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=barbara+giussy&sort=date)

She is author and co-author of several abstract in national and international scientific congresses, and is an ad hoc reviewer for several international peer-reviewed journals.

She is currently involved in several founded projects on endometriosis, ranging from studies on pathophysiology to assessment of clinical outcomes.

She was selected as a World Endometriosis Society Early Career Ambassador in 2018.

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Ambassador

VIGANO Paola

Representative
Milano, Italy

Coordinator of the Assisted Reproductive Technology Laboratory at the San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milano, Italy. Group Leader of the Reproductive Sciences Laboratory, Division of Genetics and Cell Biology at the San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy

Paola Vigano’s background is in cell biology with emphasis to the reproductive system cell biology. She obtained her biological degree at the University of Milan in 1989 and a post-graduate residency in Experimental Endocrinology at the School of Pharmacy of the same University in 2000. She obtained her PhD in Prenatal Medicine at the University of Siena in 2003.

Dr Vigano has published over 200 peer-reviewed papers and review articles and has about 6000 citations. Her research activity has been particularly devoted to cellular mechanisms underlying endometrial pathophysiology with a scientific production in the field of endometriosis basic research that has been consistent for over 25 years, in strict collaboration with most of the leading experts in the field. She is presently recognised as the 4th world leader in endometriosis by Experscape ranking, Palo Alto.

For her scientific activity, she has received a journal prize from Fertility & Sterility and two awards from the Society for Gynecologic Investigation for co-authored contributions.

From 2006 to 2009 she was the deputy coordinator of the ESHRE Special Interest Group in Endometrium and Endometriosis, from 2011 to 2014  an associated editor of Human Reproduction Update, and is presently an associated editor of Human Reproduction. She is currently President of the Italian Society of Human Reproduction (SIRU). She is member of the Endometriosis Treatment Italian Club, of the Center for Research in Obstetrics and Gynecology, Milan, and has been one of the founding member of AENDO (Associazione Italiana Dolore Pelvico ed Endometriosi).

Dr Vigano was appointed to the WES board of directors in May 2017.

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Ambassador

TZENG Chii-Ruey

Representative
Taipei, Taiwan

Professor and Director, Center for Reproductive Medicine and Sciences, Taipei Medical University. President, 7^th Congress of the Asia Pacific Initiative on Reproduction (ASPIRE). President, Taiwan Endometriosis Society

Professor Chii-Ruey Tzeng is among the most sought after Thought Leaders in the field of reproductive medicine in Taiwan and in the region. Apart from his role as Director of the Center for Reproductive Medicine and Sciences at Taipei Medical University (TMU), one of the world’s best medical schools, he also holds post as President of the Asia Pacific Initiative on Reproduction (ASPIRE), President of Taiwan Endometriosis Society (TES), and is a member of the Board of Directors of the International Society for Fertility Preservation (ISFP) and the World Endometriosis Society (WES). He has held post in many prestigious groups and societies such as Pacific Rim Society for Fertility and Sterility (PRSFS) and the Taiwan Society of Reproductive Medicine (TSRM), among others.

Professor Tzeng graduated from the School of Medicine at TMU and later obtained a Master of Public Health degree from Harvard University. He then completed his fellowship training in Reproductive Endocrinology and Fertility at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Brigham and Women’s Hospital at Harvard Medical School. He served as Dean of the College of Medicine from 2004 to 2013 and Chairman of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology from 1994 to 2017 at TMU. Among his most recognized pioneering efforts are the first ever in vitro fertilized embryo and also the first mitochondrial transfer in Taiwan.

Due to his contributions towards the Annual Meetings of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), he garnered the STAR Awards in 2010, 2014 and 2015. In 2012, he received the “Lifetime Achievement Award” from The Global Chinese Association for Reproductive Medicine (GCARM). Formerly, he and his group have been awarded multiple times at the annual conventions of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE).

He is well published with over 191 peer reviewed papers in the field of reproductive medicine and has been tapped as a speaker for many international conventions covering topics in infertility and reproductive endocrinology.

Professor Tzeng was appointed to the WES board of directors in May 2017.

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Ambassador

ROMAN Horace

Representative
Bordeaux, France

Professor, Surgeon, Endometriosis Center, Clinique Tivoli-Ducos, Bordeaux, France

Professor Roman focuses on minimally invasive surgical management of endometriosis.

He received his PhD in epidemiology from Pierre and Marie Curie University of Paris, and he accomplished a fellowship in the Department of Paediatric Epidemiology of Charleston, SC, USA.

Horace Roman is affiliated with several professional organisations, including the American Association of Gynecological Laparoscopy. He is involved on the boards of the European Endometriosis League, the French Society of Pelvic and Gynecological Surgery, as well of the J Minim Invasive Gynecol.

Horace Roman has authored more than 200 scientific abstracts and original articles in peer-reviewed journals such as Fertil Steril, Am J Obstet Gynecol, Hum Reprod and J Minim Invasive Gynecol, and has given numerous lectures or has performed live surgeries during numerous international meetings. He performed the ENDORE randomised trial comparing conservative and radical surgery in deep endometriosis infiltrating the rectum.

Endometriosis represents 100% of his daily practice and clinical research. Horace Roman manages every year over 180 women presenting with deep endometriosis involving the digestive and urinary tract or sacral roots. He employs conservative procedures (disc excision or shaving) in a majority of patients with deep endometriosis of the rectum. His approach to ovarian endometriomas in women wishing to conceive is based on the ablation of the inner surface of the cyst using the plasma energy, with the aim of preserving ovarian parenchyma and ovarian reserve.

Professor Roman was a WES ambassador between 2011 and 2018, and joined the WES board in April 2018.

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Ambassador

BUSH Deborah

Representative
Christchurch, New Zealand

Co-founder (1985) and Chief Executive Officer Endometriosis New Zealand (ENZ). Director EPP (Endometriosis and Pelvic Pain) Coaching and Consulting. Professional speaker

Deborah Bush MNZM QSM (Dip Tchg LSB) began her career as a secondary school teacher and has a background in speech and drama and dance, qualifying as a teacher in both.

Deborah developed the now published Menstrual Health and Endometriosis (‘me’) school education programme in 1997 which is having a profound influence on early recognition of symptoms and timely intervention in that demographic. She has developed innovative programmes for workplaces, hospitals and CME working across the sectors with all stakeholders. She developed a dance initiative, endorsed by the New Zealand Royal Ballet, based on exercise being the best non-drug treatment for pain. She established a Task Force with the NZ Government in 2015, which is making progress to address endometriosis as a major public health issue and establish improved treatment pathways.

In 2001, she developed EPP Coaching and Consulting™, which integrates into multi-disciplinary treatment centres offering well-health coaching to patients.

Deborah has contributed to research, publications, co-authored the book ‘Endometriosis and Pelvic Pain’ and is a peer reviewer for ANZJOG.

Deborah has been the recipient of many awards and Honours including the Commonwealth Award for Excellence in Women’s Health, Queen’s Service Medal 2003, Paul Newman Award 2007, Zonta International Woman of the Biennium 2011-2013, NZ Woman of the Year Health and Science 2012, and The New Zealand Order of Merit in 2017.

Deborah Bush was invited to be an Ambassador of the World Endometriosis Society in 2011 and, was appointed to the WES Board in 2017.

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Ambassador

HARADA Tasuku

Representative
Tottori, Japan

Vice President of Tottori University, Japan. Director of Tottori University Hospital, Japan. Professor and Chair of Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Tottori University Faculty of Medicine, Japan

Professor Harada graduated from Tottori University in 1983 and he learned IVF-ET at Leeds University in England in 1985. He has been a professor since 2008.

Professor Harada has (co)authored over 150 articles in peer-review international journals. Among his publications, the most cited paper is “Role of cytokines in endometriosis” published in Fertility Sterility in 2001. He was one of the chief investigators of the drug development on low dose OC and dienogest for endometriosis in Japan. Results of clinical trials of both drugs were published in Fertility Sterility in 2008, 2009, 2011, 2016, and 2017. His main research interest includes endometriosis (both basic and clinical research), as well as laparoscopic and robotic surgery.

Societies
Past President = Asian Society of Endometriosis and Adenomyosis (2015-2016)
Vice President = Japan Society of Gynaecologic and Obstetric Endoscopy
Managing director = Japan Society of Reproductive Medicine
Director = Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Japan Society of Endometriosis

Professor Harada was appointed to the WES board of directors in May 2017.

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Ambassador

GUO Sun-Wei

WCE2020 President
Shanghai, China

Professor at Shanghai OB/GYN Hospital, China. Professor at the Department of Biochemistry, Fudan University Shanghai College of Medicine, China. Adjunct professor at the Department of OB/GYN and Reproductive Sciences of Michigan State University College of Human Medicine in Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA.

Professor Sun-Wei Guo received his Master of Medicine degree from Fudan University Shanghai Medical College, and his and MSc and PhD from the University of Washington. He was Assistant and then Associate Research Scientist at University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Associate Professor at University of Minnesota, and tenured full professor at Medical College of Wisconsin. He also served a three-year term directorship at the Institute of Obstetric and Gynecologic Research, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine.

Professor Guo is a member of Faculty 1000 in Medicine, and has published over 130 research papers in international journals. He has given lectures at numerous research institutions and at professional meetings. He served as Associate Editor for Human Reproduction for two terms, and now is an Associate Editor for Reproductive Sciences, Gynecologic and Obstetric Investigation, and Gynecology and Minimally Invasive Therapy.

He is a member of the WHO Expert Working Groups (EWG3A) on Female Infertility work-up and general management, Reproductive Health and Research. He is recently ranked as one of 10 top specialists in endometriosis by ExpertScape.

Professor Guo has served as a trustee to the World Endometriosis Society since 2011, and will be co-chairing the 14th World Congress on Endometriosis in Shanghai, China, in May 2020.

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Ambassador

RAHMIOGLU Nilufer

University of Oxford
Oxford, United Kingdom

Senior Research Fellow, Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, United Kingdom. Visiting Fellow, Nuffield Department of Women’s & Reproductive Health, University of Oxford, United Kingdom

Nilufer Rahmioglu is a genetic epidemiologist with already a great track record in publications/presentations in the area of genetic epidemiology of endometriosis. She is the lead analyst of the currently ongoing International Endometriosis Genomics Consortium GWAS of endometriosis involving 60K cases. She is the PI of the Cyprus Women’s Health Research (COHERE) Initiative project aiming to understand the distribution and causal genetic and environmental factors of gynaecological conditions and related co-morbidity profiles in an Eastern Mediterranean population.

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Ambassador

YOONG Ray

University of Adelaide
Adelaide, Australia

Honorary lecturer, University of Adelaide Medical School, Adelaide, Australia. Consultant, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Adelaide, Australia

Dr Yoong MBChB FRANZCOG MRepMed is an honorary lecturer for the University of Adelaide Medical School. He is also a Consultant at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, where he treats public patients with endometriosis as part of an advanced laparoscopic gynaecology unit. In addition to that he has a thriving private practice where he does infertility treatment, advanced laparoscopic surgery including robotic laparoscopic surgery, and obstetrics. He specialises in complex surgery of deep endometriosis.

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Ambassador

CHOU Ya-Ching

National Tsing Hua University
Hsinchu, Taiwan

Assistant Professor, School of Medicine, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Department of Medical Science, National Tsing Hua University

Dr. Ya-Ching Chou, a native of Taipei, Taiwan, earned her Ph.D. from National Taiwan University in 2011. She has extensive experience in molecular biology and experimental research, having served as a post-doctoral fellow at National Taiwan University and Taipei Medical University. Since 2017, she has been a research fellow at the Centre for Reproductive Medicine at Taipei Medical University Hospital. In 2019, she worked as an Assistant Research Fellow, the Department of Biological Science and Technology, Center for Intelligent Drug Systems and Smart Bio-devices (IDS2B) of National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University. Currently, she holds the position of Assistant Professor at the School of Medicine of National Tsing Hua University. Dr. Chou’s accomplishments in endometriosis include the 2016 Young Investigator Travel Grants Award from the Taiwan Endometriosis Society (TES), the Outstanding Poster Presentation Award of 2018 and 2019 Asia Pacific Initiative on Reproduction (ASPIRE), the Prize Paper award (Basic Science) of the 2020 Taiwanese Society of Reproductive Medicine (TSRM), the Award for Paper Presentation of 2020 TES, and the Outstanding Paper Award of 2021 TES. Her groundbreaking work includes the first genome-wide association study in Taiwan, which revealed a connection between phthalate exposure and endometriosis, and the identification of Killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR) and human leukocyte antigen-C (HLA-C) allorecognition. Dr. Chou’s research interests are centered around the pathogenesis, genetic factors, and environmental exposure of endometriosis.

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