Our Keynote Speakers

Dr Cesare Galli is a veterinarian and former professor of animal reproduction and biotechnology at the University of Bologna, Italy. He is the founder and Director of Avantea, Cremona (Italy), the founder and President of Fondazione Avantea Onlus, the founder of Xenothera (France) and Equigea (USA). Dr Galli is a Past president of the European Embryo Technology Association and the Past President of the International Embryo Technology Society. 

He received in 2008 the Simmet Award for assisted reproduction from ICAR and in 2017 the Pioneer Award from the European Embryo Transfer Association. He is an editorial board member of Cellular Reprogramming and Journal of Reproduction and Development. His current professional and research interests include assisted reproduction in farm animals, particularly horses (first to clone a horse in 2003), and endangered species (first  to produce embryos from Northern White Rhinoceros), basic and applied research in molecular embryology with particular emphasis on in vitro oocyte maturation, microfertilisation, embryo culture, micromanipulation, embryonic and somatic nuclear transfer, genome editing in pigs and cattle, embryonic stem cells and xenotransplantation. He is the author of over 250 publication (150 peer reviewed, 5 book chapters).

Dr Galli will give a talk entitled: "40 years of AETE: The contribution of scientists and practitioners to the progress of reproductive biotechnologies in Europe".

Dr Jose Nélio de Sousa Sales has a degree in Veterinary Medicine and a master’s degree in Animal Science from the Federal University of Lavras (Brazil) and PhD in Animal Reproduction from the University of Sao Paulo (Brazil). He was professor at the Federal University of Paraiba and the Federal University of Lavras. He is currently associate professor at the Federal University of Juiz de Fora and President of the Brazilian Society of Embryo Technology (SBTE).

Dr Nélio de Sousa Sales will give a talk entitled: “Evolution over the last 40 years of the Assisted Reproduction Technologies in cattle: The Brazilian perspective”.

Dr Guilherme Pugliesi has a degree in Veterinary Medicine from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (Brazil) and a PhD degree in the area of Physiology and Animal Reproduction from the Federal University of Viçosa (Brazil) . He did a training session at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (USA) and worked as a Researcher at the Eutheria Foundation, Cross Plains (USA). His research interests covers the areas of physiopathology of animal reproduction and biotechnology applied to animal reproduction. He is currently an Associate Professor at the Animal Reproduction Department of the School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science of the University of São Paulo (Brazil).

Dr Pugliesi will give a talk entitled: “Evolution over the last 40 years of the Assisted Reproduction Technologies in cattle: The Brazilian perspective”.

Dr Gabriela Mastromonaco has spent more than 25 years working with assisted reproductive technologies in livestock and wildlife species with a focus on in vitro embryo production using IVF and SCNT approaches. She graduated from the University of Guelph (Canada) with a PhD in Biomedical Sciences, and subsequently joined the Toronto Zoo in 2007 as Manager of Reproductive Sciences where she has been responsible for implementing research projects to investigate fundamental questions on the reproductive biology of wildlife species and integrating results into conservation management programs.

Dr Mastromonaco is a long-time member of the International Embryo Technology Society for which she chaired the Committee on Companion Animals, Non-Domestic and Endangered Species (CANDES) from 2014-2020. During that time, she organized pre-conference symposia and special journal editions on topics ranging from ovarian manipulation to biobanking in CANDES to promote knowledge sharing between established and new researchers and practitioners. To that effect, Gabriela currently maintains adjunct professor positions at four Canadian universities as part of her commitment to the training of young professionals in reproductive sciences.

Dr Mastromonaco will give a talk entitled: “40 "wild" years: The current reality and future potential of Assisted Reproductive Technologies in wildlife species”.

Dr Rebecca Krisher is a Reproductive Biologist focusing on oocyte and embryo physiology. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Hanover College, followed by a M.S. in Animal Sciences from North Carolina State University (USA). She then worked at Granada BioSciences research division in College Station, Texas, before completing her Ph.D. at Virginia Tech. She worked for several years as an embryologist in human clinical reproduction before conducting post-doctoral research at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She was Assistant and then Associate Professor at Purdue University and the University of Illinois before moving to accept a role as Research Director at Colorado Center for Reproductive Medicine in 2010. There, Dr. Krisher’s research program focused on defining physiological processes within mammalian oocytes and embryos that are critical for subsequent embryonic and fetal development. At CCRM, Dr. Krisher translated these basic research findings into clinical application via improved culture media and new clinical treatments and assays to advance human assisted reproduction. In late 2020, Dr. Krisher moved back to Madison, WI to assume her current role as Global Director of Reproductive Biology at Genus plc. In this role, her goal is to develop innovative reproductive technologies to pioneer accelerated animal genetic gain.

Dr Krisher will give a talk entitled: “Embryo production in vitro: Basic principles and commercial perspectives”.