Fertility 24

In January, our co-founder Dr. Alejandro Chávez-Badiola and our Chief Medical Officer Charles Kingsland, MD traveled to Edinburgh, Scotland, to participate in Fertility 24. In a recent conversation, we asked Dr. Kingsland to share some highlights from his experience. Here’s what he had to say: 

It was a privilege to return to Fertility 24 and witness the remarkable growth our industry has seen over the years.  

This conference started as the annual meeting of the British Fertility Society in the mid 70s. At the time, the world of fertility treatment was just waking up to technologies such as IVF. The field was small, and the race was on to achieve the first birth. Today, Fertility 24 sees over 800 delegates in attendance, and the scientific development and medical innovation is growing exponentially. While there still remains a glaring gap when it comes to the scalability and affordability of IVF services–I couldn’t help but feel it is increasingly a source of motivation for change from the brightest minds in our field. 

So what did I learn? It is clear that fertility therapy is changing like never before.

Artificial Intelligence is the dominant driver of change and it is poised to radically and quickly change fertility therapy in every aspect of the IVF process. Robotics has also entered the field and will dramatically impact our ability to scale and deliver IVF to many more people in need. Professor Nick Macklon gave an excellent review of a much misunderstood process where implantation patients can be subjected to many investigations and treatments of dubious worth. And I particularly loved the sessions where young and aspiring scientists, doctors, and nurses present research to an eclectic audience of colleagues, which I must admit, reminded me of when I won the BFS junior prize for my research on blood flow to the ovaries many years ago!

I was particularly proud to see so many fertility nurses taking leading roles in our specialty. As a Professor who has trained many nurses and have long championed their role in our specialty, it is particularly gratifying. 

While I admit to being a little biased, the meeting’s landmark presentation from our co-founder Alejandro Chávez-Badiola about Conceivable’s fully automated IVF lab was extraordinary. He demonstrated how Conceivable’s system delivers the scalability millions of patients demand every year and also gave a view into how IVF will be delivered in the near future. I’m certain the delegates who attended—and the colleagues they told about the presentation—will remember both Conceivable and Dr. Chávez-Badiola’s plenary talk. 

But the most exciting thing? There is a surging undercurrent around democratizing access and lowering costs of IVF that is not only necessary, but long overdue. The fact that we live in a world where, according to the WHO, 98% of infertile people will never receive access to IVF care is daunting. Yet to have so many leading minds pushing for change is extremely encouraging. 

Finally, and some might argue, most enjoyably, Fertility 24 gave us the chance to meet up, socialize, learn, and have fun with our colleagues– not only at the Conference but also in the bars and restaurants, culminating in the magnificent conference gala dinner against the backdrop of the beautiful city of Edinburgh.

It is in that environment where big ideas flow, and one evening, I was reminded of the great British scientist William Harvey, who in 1651 established the doctrine ‘ex ovo omnia’….. it’s all about the egg. Funny how true that is and also how now is the time where we bring our best thinking together to help the egg create more life.

Change is coming. Hold on tight, it’s going to be great.

#fertility #IVF #automation #biotechnology

The Association of Reproductive and Clinical Scientists THE BRITISH FERTILITY SOCIETY Society For Reproduction and Fertility

Professor Tim Child from Oxford University and Stuart Lavery, Clinical Director of Womens Services at University College and Owner of Aria Fertility, TMRW had their offices just above his clinic in London