International training center for Medically Assisted Reproduction - Embryology at Naples Federico II University

IVF Preceptorship: Current Practice in the 21st Century

Reproductive Specialist and Embryologist 17-18 September 2026

Scientific Programme Agenda

This independent educational programme is made possible through an educational sponsorship provided by Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany and additional support from Origio Italia srl.

Sponsorship

With the support of

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Scientific Programme
Agenda

Overview

This two-day international preceptorship in reproductive medicine, held at the International Training Center for Medically Assisted Reproduction – Embryology at Naples Federico II University, offers clinicians, gynecologists, and embryologists an intensive, comprehensive learning experience to enhance expertise in fertility treatment. Guided by internationally recognized experts, participants engage with advanced concepts, refine diagnostic and clinical decision-making skills, and gain practical insights into patient management protocols and evidence-based strategies.

The programme covers key areas of reproductive medicine, including female fertility, uterine assessment, assisted reproductive technologies (ART), and emerging developments in reproductive embryology such as AI applications and advanced embryo assessment techniques. Through lectures, case discussions, and interactive sessions, attendees translate theoretical knowledge into practical strategies, optimizing patient outcomes.

Upon completion, participants receive the University of Naples Certificate, Poseidon Certificate, and EACCME CME accreditation, recognizing their specialized expertise, professional competence, and commitment to excellence in reproductive medicine.

Learning Objectives

Understand and manage age-related fertility decline in women, including the impact of luteinizing hormone (LH) deficiency and diminished ovarian reserve on assisted reproductive technology (ART) outcomes.

Apply evidence-based strategies to optimize ART protocols, including the management of hypo-response, pharmacoeconomic considerations, and patient-specific treatment planning.

Evaluate and interpret advanced uterine assessments, using hysteroscopy and ultrasound to improve clinical decision-making in fertility treatment.

Understand and apply the APHRODITE criteria in the assessment and management of male infertility, enabling individualized clinical decision-making and evidence-based reproductive care.

Analyze complex patient cases to develop individualized treatment plans, integrating theoretical knowledge with practical clinical insights.

Understand emerging technologies in reproductive embryology, including artificial intelligence applications, non-invasive embryo assessment, sperm selection techniques, and management of mosaic embryos.

Enhance ethical and clinical decision-making in fertility care, balancing patient outcomes, treatment risks, and resource considerations.

Integrate multidisciplinary knowledge into clinical practice, improving patient management strategies and outcomes in reproductive medicine.

Target Audience

• Physicians, gynecologists, and reproductive endocrinologists specializing in fertility care.
• Clinical embryologists and laboratory professionals working in ART centers.
• Healthcare professionals involved in patient management, uterine assessment, and advanced reproductive technologies.
• Professionals seeking internationally recognized certification and CME accreditation in reproductive medicine.

European Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education

The IVF Preceptorship: Current Practice in the 21st Century International Training Center for MAR-Embryology at Naples Federico II University, Naples, Italy, Italy 17/09/2026 – 18/09/2026, has been accredited by the European Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (EACCME®) with 10.0 European CME credits (ECMEC®s). Each medical specialist should claim only those hours of credit that he/she actually spent in the educational activity.

Through an agreement between the Union Européenne des Médecins Spécialistes and the American Medical Association, physicians may convert EACCME® credits to an equivalent number of AMA PRA Category 1 CreditsTM. Information on the process to convert EACCME® credit to AMA credit can be found at https://edhub.ama-assn.org/pages/applications.

uems-eaccme-logo

Certifications

1. IVF Unit, Department of Public Health, University of Naples Federico II

3. POSEIDON (Patient Oriented Strategies Encompassing IndividualizeD Oocyte Number) group CERTIFICATE

4. MedEA Certificate of Attendance

Venue

International Training Center for Medically Assisted Reproduction – Embryology at
Naples Federico II University
Address: Via Sergio Pansini 5, 80131, Naples, Italy
Bulding 9 C / 2nd floor

Scientific Secretariat

MedEA Medical Education Academy
chloe.xilinas@medeaacademy.com
Via Monte Napoleone, 8 – 20121 Milan, Italy
medeaacademy.com

Registration Fees include

• CME certificates 
• Certificate of attendance 
• Access to all scientific sessions 
• Welcome letter, Conference kit, name badge, scientific program (QR Code) 
• Coffee breaks
• Lunch breaks

Registration Fees

 STANDARD FEE – € 2500 (22% VAT included)

REDUCED FEE – Members of Medical Societies* – €1000 (22% VAT included)

Registration

Event Planet Group
Project Manager: Giorgia Paudice
giorgia.paudice@eventplanetgroup.com 

With the support of

University of Naples “Federico II, Naples, Italy

The programme has been developed in partnership with

Addressing male Patients with Hypogonadism and/or infeRtility Owing to altereD Idiopathic TEsticular function (APHRODITE)

Patient Oriented Strategies Encompassing IndividualizeD Oocyte Number (POSEIDON)

Italian Society of Fertility and Sterility (SIFES)

IVF Preceptorship:
Current Practice in the 21st Century

International Training Center for MAR-Embriology at Naples Federico II University

Reproductive Specialist and Embryologist
17-18 September 2026

Agenda

Chair

Carlo Alviggi

Carlo Alviggi

Federico II University
Naples, Italy
Biography

Faculty

Carlo Alviggi

Carlo Alviggi

Federico II University
Naples, Italy
Biography
Luigi Carbone

Luigi Carbone

Federico II University
Naples, Italy
Biography
Federica Cariati

Federica Cariati

Federico II University
Naples, Italy
Biography
Alessandro Conforti

Alessandro Conforti

Federico II University
Naples, Italy
Biography
Raffaella Di Girolamo

Raffaella Di Girolamo

Federico II University
Naples, Italy
Biography
Attilio Di Spiezio Sardo

Attilio Di Spiezio Sardo

Federico II University
Naples, Italy
Biography
Sandro C. Esteves

Sandro C. Esteves

Androfert – Andrology and Human Reproduction Clinic
Campinas, Brazil
Biography
Giuseppe G. Iorio

Giuseppe G. Iorio

Federico II University
Naples, Italy
Biography
Yacoub Khalaf

Yacoub Khalaf

Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital and
King's College London
London, UK
Biography
Enrico Papaleo

Enrico Papaleo

IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele
Milan, Italy
Biography
Brunella Zizolfi

Brunella Zizolfi

Federico II University
Naples, Italy
Biography

Scientific Programme

Download

Agenda

Sponsorship

· Martin O. Savage ·

Martin Savage is Emeritus Professor of Paediatric Endocrinology at William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine & Dentistry, Queen Mary, University of London. He was head of the Paediatric Endocrine Unit at Barts and the London School of Medicine from 1982 to 2007. He has interests in growth disorders, specifically those with abnormalities in the GH-IGF-1 axis and in phenotype-genotype relationships of GH-IGF-1 axis defects, notably GH resistance. He published the first human case of an IGF-1 gene defect in the New England Journal of Medicine in 1996.  His other interests are Cushing’s syndrome and growth in chronic inflammatory diseases. He was General Secretary of the European Society for Paediatric Endocrinology (ESPE) from 1997 to 2004. He has lectured in 60 countries and has published 482 original articles, reviews, textbook chapters and books. In 2007, he was awarded the ESPE Andrea Prader Prize for contributions to paediatric endocrinology and in 2018 he received a Visionary Award from the American Human Growth Foundation. In 2022, he received a Research Excellence Award from the Dr Sulaiman Al Habib Medical Journal in Riyadh, and the British Society of Paediatric Endocrinology & Diabetes James M. Tanner Lifetime Achievement Award. He continues to lecture nationally and internationally.

· Carlo Alviggi ·

Carlo Alviggi earned his MD degree in 1994, from the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Naples “Federico II” in Naples, Italy; he specialized in obstetrics and gynaecology in 1998, and gained a PhD in 2001, from the same university. During his career, he collaborated with: The Imperial College of London, in London, UK; the Laboratory of Immunology of the Italian National Research Council in Naples; and the Autoimmunity and Tolerance Laboratory of the University of California in Los Angeles, CA, USA. This network resulted in various publications, some of which concern new hypotheses on the pathogenesis of pelvic endometriosis. He is now an associate professor in reproductive medicine at the Fertility Unit of the University of Naples “Federico II”. Professor Alviggi’s current research interests are the role of luteinizing hormone (LH) in folliculogenesis; the use of LH-containing drugs in patients undergoing ovarian controlled stimulation for IVF; the pathogenesis of pelvic endometriosis; oncofertility; reproductive endicrinology and the genetics of human reproduction. He has participated in several national and international (phase 2 and 3) multicentric, prospective randomized trials. Professor Alviggi has published extensively and has been invited to lecture at over 200 international meetings dealing with reproductive medicine and gynaecological endocrinology; he is also starter and co-founder of the Poseidon group, an international collaborative network dedicated to low prognosis patients in Assisted Reproductive Technology and vice-President of the “Società Italiana di Fertilità e Sterilità – Medicina della Riproduzione”.

· Luigi Carbone ·

Luigi Carbone graduated cum laude in Medicine and Surgery in 2012. He got his specialization in Obstetrics and Gynecology at School of Medicine of “Federico II” University of Naples on July 24, 2018 with 50/50 discussing a thesis titled “Increased nuchal translucency and normal karyotype: what fetal outcome? Implication for diagnostic follow-up and counselling.” Then, he performed a PhD in Neuroscience at Federico II University of Naples from November 1, 2018 to January 31, 2022. During this time, he studied the impact of neurological and autoimmune diseases (as multiple sclerosis) on ovarian reserve, especially when evaluated with the most modern software for 3D reconstruction of antral follicle count. He discussed a thesis titled: “RESEarch on ovarian reseRVE among Neurologic patients: the RESERVEN study”. Since then, his main research interests regard chronic and autoimmune diseases with impact on reproductive health, PCOS and reproductive endocrinology. Dr Carbone published more than 60 papers on high quality journals indexed in Scopus. Currently, he is a consultant in the Oncofertility Unit of Federico II University hospital of Naples, Italy.

· Federica Cariati ·

Federica Cariati studied at “Federico II” University of Naples (Italy), obtaining a bachelor’s degrees in Medical Biotechnology. She gained her Master’s degree at the University of Padua (Italy) and doctoral degree at the University of Rome (Italy) in Biotechnology of Human Reproduction. She gained a specialization in pathology and clinical biochemistry at “Federico II” University of Naples (Italy). Since bachelor’s degree, she has been actively involved in the study of embryology. She spent the last year of PhD supervising molecular diagnostics at Reprogenetics UK. Dr. Cariati’s current position is researcher in Researcher in Obstetrics and Gynaecology (MED/40) at Department of Public Health, University of Naples Federico II. 49 published papers, h-Index 15.

· Alessandro Conforti ·

Alessandro Conforti obtained his MD degree in 2009 and in 2010 he was a Clinical Visitor at IVF at Hammersmith Hospital, London UK directed by Mr Stuart Lavery.
During his specialization training, he worked in the Minimally Invasive Therapy Unit & Endoscopy Training Center at the Royal Free Hospital as Clinical Research Fellow under the guidance of Mr Adam Magos, Consultant Gynaecologist, from 2012 to 2013.
 
During this period, he worked as Clinical Research Fellow in the Fetal Medicine Unit under the guidance of Mr Demetrios Economides, Head of the Fetal Medicine Unit, at the Royal Free Hospital, London.
 
He acquired his specialty in Obstetrics and Gynaecology in 2015. In 2017, he obtained his PhD from the University of Naples “Federico II” with a thesis in Neuroscience and Reproductive Medicine devoted to the role of genetic variants of gonadotropins and their receptors in controlled ovarian stimulation.
 
From 2019, he is assistant professor in Obstetric and Gynecology at University of Naples Federico II. Dr Conforti research interests focus on Minimally Invasive and Reproductive Gynecological Surgery, Reproductive Medicine, Reproductive genetics, ART and Oncofertility. He has served as ad hoc reviewer for many international journals and was author or co-author of several articles published in international peer-reviewed journals.

· Raffaella Di Girolamo ·

Raffaella Di Girolamo was born in Naples, Italy, and graduated with honors from the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery at the University of Naples Federico II. She is currently a Resident in Gynecology and Obstetrics at the same institution.

She also completed a year of intensive ultrasound training at the High-Risk Pregnancy Unit of the University of Chieti “Gabriele D’Annunzio” under the supervision of Professor Francesco D’Antonio.

Dr. Di Girolamo has a robust publication record, with several contributions in the fields of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) and pregnancy. She further expanded her expertise through a six-month fellowship in London, UK, at King’s Fertility Centre for Reproductive Medicine, under the esteemed direction of Professor Sesh K. Sunkara.

Currently, Dr. Di Girolamo is actively involved in international research projects, fostering collaborations with multiple IVF centers abroad in partnership and under the supervision of Professor Carlo Alviggi. Her commitment to advancing reproductive medicine and maternal health is evident through her dedicated clinical practice, extensive research, and international partnerships.

· Attilio Di Spiezio Sardo ·

Prof. Attilio Di Spiezio Sardo earned his medical degree in 2000 and completed his residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology in 2005 at the University of Naples Federico II, where he later obtained a PhD in Human Development and Reproduction. Currently, he holds the position of Full Professor at the University of Naples Federico II and serves as the Director of the Hysteroscopy Unit and Residency Program in Gynecology and Obstetrics. An international leader in minimally invasive gynecologic surgery, Prof. Di Spiezio Sardo has authored over 300 peer-reviewed publications and contributed to major clinical guidelines in hysteroscopy and fertility-sparing procedures. He has received prestigious awards, including the “Golden Hysteroscope Award,” in 2008, 2015 e 2021 for his advancements in endoscopic surgery and collaborative development of specialized hysteroscopic instruments. Prof. Di Spiezio Sardo is renowned for combining clinical expertise with research innovation, particularly in robotic-assisted surgery, PCOS, endometrial pathology management, and reproductive medicine. He regularly participates in international congresses, contributing to the advancement of women’s health through education, training, and patient-centered clinical care.

· Sandro C. Esteves ·

Sandro C. Esteves, MD., PhD. is a reproductive urologist who specializes in treating male infertility, particularly its connection with assisted reproductive technology (ART). He is the founder and medical director of ANDROFERT, a fertility center based in Campinas, Brazil, dedicated to male reproductive health. He is also a Collaborating Professor of Urology at the University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Brazil, and an Honorary Professor of Reproductive Medicine at Aarhus University, Denmark.

Dr. Esteves earned his medical degree in 1990 from the Faculty of Medical Sciences at UNICAMP, where he also completed his urology residency. He pursued a research fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation in the United States, focusing on male infertility. He later obtained a master’s degree in Surgery from UNICAMP and a PhD in Urology from the Federal University of São Paulo (EPM–UNIFESP). With more than 25 years of experience, Dr. Esteves has significantly advanced our understanding of male infertility in both clinical and academic settings. His work has focused on sperm DNA fragmentation, the importance of accurate semen analysis, and the limitations of basic diagnostics. He has underscored the role of varicocele repair and hormonal therapy in improving male fertility, particularly in non-obstructive azoospermia. He is the lead author of the APHRODITE criteria, a novel classification system designed to guide the treatment of men with testicular dysfunction and improve fertility outcomes through personalized hormonal therapy.

Dr. Esteves is a prolific author with over 350 published scientific papers, as well as numerous book chapters, and textbooks. He holds a Hirsch index of 78 and has been cited over 20,ooo times. According to the Science-Wide Author Databases of Standard Citation Indicators (Elsevier/Stanford), he is ranked among the top 1% of global researchers. He is a founding member of the POSEIDON group, which developed new stratification criteria for couples with a low prognosis undergoing ART. In addition to his clinical work and research, Dr. Esteves serves as Associate Editor/Section Editor for several journals, including Human Reproduction, Andrology, Reproductive Biomedicine Online, Frontiers in Endocrinology, and the International Brazilian Journal of Urology. He is also an editorial board member of many journals, including Nature Reviews Urology and International Urology and Nephrology. At ANDROFERT, Dr. Esteves has led initiatives to implement cleanroom technologies and quality management systems (ISO 9001), achieving national recognition for excellence in male fertility care. His team has consistently delivered outstanding results in treating complex cases of male infertility. A frequent speaker at national and international conferences, Dr. Esteves has received numerous research grants and awards. He serves as the head of the Andrology Committee at the Brazilian Society of Human Reproduction and is the Topic Leader of the Male Infertility Group for the WHO Infertility Guidelines.

· Giuseppe Iorio ·

Giuseppe Gabriele Iorio, MD. Research Fellow of Obstetrics and Gynecology at University of Naples “Federico II”, Italy. His fields of interest are Reproductive Medicine, Fertility Preservation and Gynecological Ultrasound, in particular for the study of endometriosis and adenomyosis.

· Yacoub Khalaf ·

Yacoub Khalaf is a professor of reproductive medicine and surgery at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital and King’s College London. He is the clinical lead for pre-implantantion genetic diagnosis (PGD) at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital. He was a member of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) board and was chair of the Scientific and Clinical Advances Advisory Committee at HFEA. He is a member of the board of directors of the International Society for IVF and is also the deputy director of a subspecialty training programme in reproductive medicine and surgery. He is an expert advisor to the National Institute for Health Care and Clinical Excellence (NICE), and the principal investigator of several NIHR-funded research grants, as well as several randomised controlled trials. He has been an invited speaker on fertility and assisted reproduction at numerous national and international conferences. Yacoub is past chair of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gyaenacologists (RCOG) national clinical studies group in reproductive medicine and surgery, and ex-member of the RCOG research committee. He is also an ex-associate editor of RBM online journal.

· Enrico Papaleo ·

Since April 2012, is head of the Natality Sciences Center of the Unit of Gynecology and Obstetrics of IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital in Milan directed by Professor Massimo Candiani.After graduating in Medicine and Surgery in 1999 from the University of Milan, he specialized in Gynecology and Obstetrics in 2005 with honors at the University Vita-Salute San Raffaele. In 2005, he began clinical and scientific collaboration at IVI Valencia in the International Department of Reproductive Medicine.Dr. Papaleo works both at the Natal Science Center where he carries out and coordinates clinical and research activities in the field of reproductive medicine, and in the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics where he carries out clinical and surgical activities.The areas of greatest interest of Dr Papaleo in the clinical and scientific fields are female infertility, from causes to treatments, and the methods of medically assisted procreation (PMA). Research activities are mainly focused on the personalization of care in women undergoing treatment for medically assisted reproduction; the study of the correlation between ovarian reserve and ovulation induction (Anti Mullerian Hormone); the relationship between the immune system and implantation failure; endometriosis as a cause of infertility. In the field of gynecologic endocrinology, his interest is focused on the topics of polycystic ovary, insulin resistance and menstrual disorders.Since 2005, he is a member of ESHRE (European Society of Human Reproduction).He is the author of more than 50 publications on international scientific journals.He is a speaker and/or Chairman in over 100 national or international congresses.

· Brunella Zizolfi ·

Brunella Zizolfi is a specialist in Obstetrics and Gynecology and is currently a research assistant at the Public Health Department of the University of Naples “Federico II”. Fields of interest are minimally invasive surgery and gynecological ultrasound, in particular for the study of uterine malformations and endometriosis.

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