Embryo Transfer Course

The embryo transfer course is a two-day pre-symposium course that consists of one day of online lectures that you can follow at your own pace and one day of practical exercises and demonstrations that will take place on Wednesday 19 Oct 2022 at the KEROS ET Center in Beselare, Belgium.

This combined online/on-site two-day course will provide online lectures and hands-on, in-person laboratory session and will provide veterinarians with hands-on, practical, clinical insights provided by world leaders in equine embryo transfer.

Online Lectures

This virtual course provides an overview of techniques and challenges in equine embryo transfer, with a detailed how-to approach to clinical procedures. Lectures will include donor mare management, embryo collection procedures, embryo evaluation, recipient mare management, the art of transferring embryos, cooled transport of embryos, problems encountered in equine embryo transfer, and embryo vitrification (cryopreservation). The lectures will be available for viewing 24 hours per day, starting 2 weeks before the on-site course. A brief quiz will follow each lecture and completion is mandatory in order to attend the practical course. A link to download additional course reference material (PDF files) will be made available.

The topics will include:

• Management of Embryo Donors – Peter Daels (UGent, Belgium)
• Embryo Collection Procedures – Peter Daels (UGent, Belgium)
• Evaluation of Equine Embryos – Pat McCue (CSU, USA)
• Recipient Mare Management – Peter Daels (UGent, Belgium)
• Transfer of Equine Embryos – Peter Daels (UGent, Belgium)
• Cooled-Transported Embryos – Peter Daels (UGent, Belgium)
• Problems Encountered in Equine Embryo Transfer – Pat McCue (CSU, USA)
• Embryo Vitrification – Pat McCue (CSU, USA)

Practical Sessions

The practical sessions are limited to 16 veterinarians. The laboratory session will provide hands-on opportunities for embryo collection, embryo washing, handling and manipulation (using bovine IVF generated embryos and microspheres) as well as non-surgical, embryo transfer techniques (manual vaginal technique and Wilsher technique). Additional time will be dedicated to cryopreservation (vitrification) of embryos and warming of vitrified fresh embryos and slow frozen ICSI embryos. This course is designed to provide veterinarians with knowledge and clinical skills to incorporate embryo transfer into their clinical practice. Teachers in the practical sessions: Pat McCue (CSU, USA) and Hilde Vandaele, Denis Necchi and Micaela Vita (Keros, Belgium)

Practical exercises will include:

• Embryo collection
• Embryo searching, manipulation and preparation
• Preparation for cooled storage/transport
• Embryo transfer (vaginal and Wilsher technique) – demonstration only
• Embryo vitrification – demonstration only
• Embryo warming of vitrified fresh embryo – demonstration only
• Embryo thawing of frozen ICSI embryo
• Discussion sessions and Q&A

The ET course is organized in collaboration with KEROS ET Center, one of the leading ET centers in Europe and renowned for being practical and thorough with an innovative hands-on approach. The KEROS ET CENTER is located in Beselare (between Kortrijk and Ieper). Transport from the city-center of Ghent to Keros is included in the registration fee.

COVID-19

The organizers reserve the right to cancel the course at any time. KEROS ET Center and UGent follow all university, government and European guidelines in regards to the prevention of COVD-19. NOTE: participation in the on-site course requires a valid COVID pass, proof of vaccination or immunity, or a recent negative virus test. No exceptions will be accepted.

Registration

The registration fee is €1.125 excl. VAT and includes access to the online lectures, additional reference material, transport between Ghent and KEROS ET Center, coffee/drinks/snacks during break, lunch and dinner with all participants and teachers in Ghent on Wednesday night. Registration is limited to maximum 16 participants. Strict full-is-full policy.