A successful ESHRE 2023 for CRH researchers

The European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) was founded in 1985 by Robert Edwards and J. Cohen who felt that the study and research in the field of reproduction needed to be encouraged and recognized. It is currently headquartered in Belgium.

The 2023 meeting structure had ‘a return to normal with a virtual twist’, meaning it was predominantly face to face with the option to attend virtually if desired.

As always, ESHRE offered an irresistible scientific programme, including a wide range of pre-congress courses, inspiring presentations on current key topics, selected presentations of new research, industry sponsored symposia and lively networking opportunities.

Read a summary of how CRH researchers were involved:

 

Professor Rod Mitchell (Fertility Preservation lead in the Mitchell lab at the CRH) presented an invited talk at the SIG Andrology pre-congress course, entitled: “Development and regulation of the testis: from fetal life to adulthood”.

Rod’s second invited talk in the Fertility Preservation session was called: “Fertility Preservation in males with hereditary cancer syndromes: balancing the risks and benefits”. In summary, this talk concluded that:

1. There are no specific counselling procedures in most research centres
2. Genetic test results are often unavailable at the time of Fertility Preservation
3. There are improvements being made in the speed of genetic testing and the availability of results, which is positive progress
4. The risk of transmission of hereditary cancers should be shared with patient as soon as genetic results are known.

Both of these presentations were very well received. 

Professor Rod Mitchell also chaired sessions at the SIG Fertility Preservation pre-congress course which was called “Surviving cancer: what does the future hold?”

 

Both Dr Jackie Maybin and Dr Rocio Martinez-Aguilar from the Maybin lab (researching Heavy Menstrual Bleeding and Problem Periods) were in attendance and Rocio presented her fantastic poster entitled "HIF-2a involved in pre-menstrual conditioning of the endometrium to ensure optimal repair and prevent heavy menstrual bleeding?”

 

The Horne lab / EXPPECT team (whose research focus includes endometriosis and ectopic pregnancies) attended ESHRE with a common focus on the research and treatment surrounding ectopic pregnancies.

Dr Lucy Whitaker and Dr Scott Mackenzie presented posters on prediction modelling and pregnancy outcomes based on the Gem3 study data set, which is a clinical trial researching ways to improve treatment of ectopic pregnancy.

Scott presented his poster called: “Early (day 1–4) post-treatment serum hCG level changes predict single-dose methotrexate treatment success in tubal ectopic pregnancy.”

Lucy presented her poster ‘Fertility and subsequent pregnancy outcomes among women with tubal ectopic pregnancy treated with methotrexate’.

 

The CRH PI (and Co-Director of EXPPECT) Professor Andrew Horne’s oral presentation was entitled “Combination of gefitinib and methotrexate to treat tubal ectopic pregnancy (GEM3): a multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.”

This was considered a brilliant example of a UK trial in ectopic pregnancy management (also placing an important focus on how important counselling is to guide management).

 

Professor Horne was presented with the ESHRE Clinical Science Award for this presentation. We wish Andrew our congratulations on this well-deserved accolade.

 

Finally, Professor Richard Anderson (Co-Director of the CRH and lead of the Anderson lab, focusing on female fertility and contraception) attended the conference and contributed quotes to press articles and Science Media Centre’s expert reactions to unpublished abstracts.

Well done to all CRH members for their involvement and a special congratulations to Professor Andrew Horne on his prize win reflecting his important work on the clinical management of ectopic pregnancies.  Your colleagues are immensely proud of you.

For more information, follow @ESHRE on Twitter or click on this web link.