Karl Ernst von Baer’s seminar

Join us at the interdisciplinary Karl Ernst von Baer’s seminar on October 19-21, 2023. This prestigious event, in its sixth edition, will be hosted at the Institute of Genomics of the University of Tartu (Riia 23b-105, location in Google Maps), with additional side-events elsewhere in Tartu. 

Throughout the conference, we will delve into the latest scientific advancements within the realm of reproductive medicine, assisted reproduction, and foetal medicine. Our discussions will span from the genetic dimensions of human reproduction to the creation of artificial human embryos, the latest advancements in pregnancy screening and monitoring, as well as deliberations on ethical dilemmas within the field.

The seminar is free and requires registration. Registration is now closed. 

Please, note that the programme is subject to change, and will be updated continuously up to the conference. 

Thursday, October 19th

16:00 – 18:00 Guided tour at the Estonian National Museum. Bus transport will pick up participants at 16:00 in the parking lot next to Vanemuise theatre on Ülikooli street (location in Google Maps) and will bring back to the city centre by 18:00. 

19:00 – 21:00 Welcoming event at Ülikooli kohvik (Ülikooli 20, location in Google Maps)

Friday, October 20th

8:15 – 8:45 Registration and morning coffee
8:45 – 9:00 Prof. Andres Salumets: Welcome

9:00 – 9:15 Natàlia Pujol-Gualdo, University of Tartu & University of Oulu: Genetic risk factors and potential personalized strategies in women reproductive health and disease
9:15 – 9:30 Nidhi Madhusudan, University of Helsinki & University of Tartu: Novel neuroendocrine and ovarian genes in female fertility
9:30 – 9:45 Seungbaek Lee, University of Oulu & University of Tartu: Mining local and systemic inflammatory biomarkers for reproductive outcomes
9:45 – 10:00 Laura Danti, University of Helsinki & Karolinska Institutet: The role of NR5A1 in human gonadal development
10:00 – 10:15 Meruert Sarsenova, University of Tartu & Karolinska Institutet: Cellular and Metabolic Characteristics of Peritoneal Lesions in Endometriosis
10:15 – 10:30 Yiqun Tang, Karolinska Institutet & University of Oulu: Endometrial regeneration and uterine disorders – cellular and molecular studies
10:30 – 10:45 Lena Luyckx, University of Oulu & KU Leuven: Abnormal endometrial calcium signalling in PCOS-like obese mice might contribute to subfertility
10:45 – 11:00 Spyridon-Panagiotis Deligiannis, University of Tartu & University of Helsinki: Molecular and morphological characteristics of mammalian ovarian tissue

11:00 – 11:30 Coffee break and exhibition

11:30 – 12:00 Prof. Joris Vermeesch, KU Leuven, Belgium: Innovations of prenatal screening
12:00 – 12:30 Dr. Olga Tšuiko, KU Leuven, Belgium: Trends in preimplantation genetic testing
12:30 – 13:00 Prof. Kadri Simm, University of Tartu: Ethics of prenatal screening: first results from qualitative stakeholder study

13:00 – 14:00 Lunch and exhibition

14:00 – 14:30 Prof. Juha Tapanainen, University of Helsinki, Finland: Ageing and fertility
14:30 – 15:00 Prof. Terhi Piltonen, University of Oulu, Finland: PCOS mechanisms and consequences 
15:00 – 15:30 Prof. Piotr Laudański, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland: Endometriosis – search for biomarkers
15:30 – 16:00 Prof. Beata Banaszewska, Poznan University of Medical Science, Poland: Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome management: Remove risks in ART without compromising outcomes

16:00 – 16:15 Break and exhibition

16:15 – 16:45 Prof. Ganesh Acharya, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden: Estimating the pregnancy risks
16:45 – 17:00 Yan Zhao, KU Leuven & University of Tartu: Unravelling the mechanisms of chromosomal instability during early embryogenesis
17:00 – 17:15 Baris Yasar, University of Tartu & Karolinska Institutet: Experimental validation of PRD-like homeobox genes expressed in bovine oocytes and early IVF embryos
17:15 – 17:30 Kate Stanley, KU Leuven & Karolinska Institutet: Developmental Fate of Chromosomal Instability

17:30 – 18:00 Bus transfer from the Institute of Genomics to the assembly hall of the University of Tartu (Ülikooli 18, location in Google Maps)

18:00 – 19:00 KEYNOTE SPEECH at assembly hall of the University of Tartu – Prof. Scott F Gilbert, Swarthmore College, USA: Developmental biology and obstetrics: the myths and the science

19:00 – 19:30 Bus transfer from the assembly hall of the University of Tartu to Convent of Corporation Rotalia

19:30 Dinner at the Convent of Corporation Rotalia, Tähe 3, Tartu (location in Google Maps)

Saturday, October 21st

8:30 – 9:00 Morning coffee

9:00 – 9:30 Prof. Shahar Kol, Elisha Hospital, Israel: LH supplementation in IVF: It is all about endocrinology. Supported by Merck
9:30 – 10:00 Prof. Pauliina Damdimopoulou, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden: Reproduction in a chemically altered environment 
10:00 – 10:30 Ass. Prof. Agne Velthut-Meikas, Tallinn University of Technology, Estonia: Ovarian stimulation and its molecular pathways
10:30 – 11:00 Prof. Fredrik Lanner, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden: Studies of human embryo development using stem cells and embryo cultures 

11:00 – 11:30 Coffee and exhibition

11:30 – 12:00 Prof. Kenny Rodriguez Wallberg, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden: Assisted reproduction and its safety
12:00 – 12:30 Prof. Masoud Zamani Esteki, University of Maastricht, The Netherlands: (Non-invasive) technologies to enhance assisted reproduction and reproductive genetic care 
12:30 – 13:00 Ass. Prof. Arturo Lázaro Reyes Palomares, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden: IVF risks stemming from in vitro embryogenesis

13:00 – 14:00 Lunch and exhibition

14:00 – 14:15 Maria Siermann, KU Leuven & University of Helsinki: Socio-ethical aspects of preimplantation genetic testing using polygenic risk scores
14:15 – 14:30 Nina Boskovic, Karolinska Institutet & University of Helsinki: Environmental factors influencing embryonic genome integrity
14:30 – 15:00 Prof. Lalit Kumar Parameswaran Grace, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden: Endometrial regeneration
15:00 – 15:30 Prof. Arto Mannermaa, University of Eastern Finland, Finland: Artificial intelligence-assisted analysis of the genetic and environmental components of estrogen positive breast cancer
15:30 – 15:45 Dr. Ilmatar Rooda, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden: Single follicle studies
15:45 – 16:00 Dr. Agne Kozlovskaja Gumbriene, Hospital of Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Lithuania: How quickly do performance indicators reach competence levels in a newly opened ART laboratory? One center data analysis

16:00 – 16:15 Break and exhibition

16:15 – 16:45 Dr. Kai Haldre, East Tallinn Central Hospital: Progesterone in ART and beyond
16:45 – 17:15 Ass. Prof. Signe Altmäe, University of Granada, Spain: Endometrial microbiota studies 
17:15 – 17:45 Prof. Reet Mändar, University of Tartu, Estonia: Couples’ microbiota as the determinant of fertility
17:45 – 18:00 Ass. Prof. Kaarel Krjutškov, Competence Centre on Health Technologies, Estonia: NIPT challenges in prenatal genetic screening

18:00 Closing words

This conference is made possible through the collaborative efforts of the University of Tartu with prestigious academic institutions such as the Karolinska Institutet (Sweden), Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (Belgium), University of Helsinki (Finland), University of Maastricht (The Netherlands), and the University of Oulu (Finland).

The seminar is organized by the University of Tartu, Competence Centre on Health Technologies and Baltic Fertility Society within the framework of H2020 projects MATER (Grant Agreement No 813707) and ERIN (Grant Agreement No 952516). 

Additional information: Andres Salumets, Professor of Reproductive Medicine at the University of Tartu, Institute of Clinical Medicine and Karolinska Institutet, email: Andres.Salumets@ut.ee.