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The Rafael Bernabeu Foundation has launched the fifth edition of its €45,000 university student scholarship programme.

The 32^nd edition of the Spanish Fertility Society (SEF) National Congress held in Madrid has handed the Instituto Bernabeu Group an award for its work entitled ‘Engagement of nursing staff in assisted reproduction treatment: what is patient opinion?’ under the communication promoted to presentation category. The award was given by the Scientific and Organisation Committee of the 7^th edition of the National Nursing Congress that is held at the same time as SEF. The study in question was one of the 16 pieces of scientific research that Instituto Bernabeu presented at the leading national infertility congress. The clinic attends the congress every year and contributes work from its numerous fields of research.

The Medical Director at Instituto Bernabeu, Dr Rafael Bernabeu, recently participated in the Progress in Reproductive Medicine: Focus 2018 congress held in Italy. The event was held in Palermo, the Italian capital of science and life 2018, and it brought together leading international specialists in the field of reproductive medicine. His presentation was entitled ‘The potential of implanting mosaic embryos’ and it covered the next generation sequencing technique, the precision of which facilitates detection of embryos with mosaicism (they have cells with chromosomal abnormalities) and analysis of the chances that they have of implanting.

The medical codirector of Instituto Bernabeu, doctor Llácer, has participated in a masterclass in Greece attended by gynaecology professionals from across Europe. The expert on low ovarian reserve and director of the specific unit at Instituto Bernabeu spoke to his colleagues about the new personalized strategies for ovarian stimulation and subsequent handling in the obtaining of oocytes.

Rafael Bernabeu Charitable Foundation of Instituto Bernabeu, has celebrated the awards ceremony of the VIII Children's Drawing Contest on Motherhood. The reproductive medicine clinic Charitable Foundation, has presented the winners of the two categories, from 5 to 8 years and from 9 to 12 years with a diploma and a gift voucher of 300 euros, and with a diploma and a gift certificate of 100 euros to the two second places. The awards ceremony was held in the Sala Fnac Boulevard in Alicante and also another 16 children have received a diploma and a special gift.

As a part of our continuous training programme, an intensive theoretical and practical seminar entitled ‘Advanced Workshop in Embryo Biopsy: Techniques and tips for usage’ will take place next June. The workshop is aimed at reproduction biologists who are specialised in micro-handling techniques.

Instituto Bernabeu gynaecologist, Andrea Bernabeu, participated in the closing ceremony of the 3^rd edition of the Community Pharmacy Management and Optimisation of Pharmaceutical Care Master's Degree at the Miguel Hernández University (UMH) in Elche, a course on which she has participated as a lecturer. The closing ceremony of the third edition and official inauguration of the fourth edition was held in the ADDA auditorium in Alicante. It coincided with the 8^th edition of the National Congress of Community Pharmacists organised by SEFAC, the Spanish Society of Family and Community Pharmacies.

Instituto Bernabeu was present at the Italian Fertility, Sterility and Reproductive Medicine Society (SIFES) congress held in Riccione in Italy between 17^th and 19^th May. Paolo Cirillo, an Instituto Bernabeu gynaecologist, participated by giving two presentations at the gathering where experts in the field of infertility medicine meet. 

Instituto Bernabeu took a total of 16 pieces of research work to the 32^nd edition of the Spanish Fertility Society (SEF) National Congress. This is a significant quantity of work and, at the group of reproductive medicine clinics, research is an intrinsic part of its activity that is also put into practice during day-to-day provision of healthcare.

Eleven of the lines of research were presented as oral communications over the course of the event held between 16^th and 18^th May in Madrid’s convention centre where experts in reproductive medicine met.

The international congress entitled ‘A new approach to nursing in fertility’ held in the Instituto Bernabeu auditorium on 11^th and 12^th May brought together experts in infertility nursing from thirteen different countries. During the gathering, Dr Rafael Bernabeu, Medical Director at Instituto Bernabeu, highlighted the important role of nursing in reproductive medicine, a field in which Spain is a worldwide leader.

On 11^th and 12^th May, Instituto Bernabeu Alicante will organise a gathering of sixty experts in reproductive medicine nursing and auxiliary personnel with specialist skills in infertility. The most recent trends in this field will be covered in an international congress organised by Instituto Bernabeu and held in its headquarters in Alicante.

Juan Carlos Castillo, gynaecologist at the Instituto Bernabeu, has participated in a webinar (a talk given via internet in real time) offered by the English egg donation platform EggdonationFriends.com. The aim was to inform and respond to doubts sent by people around the world about infertility. 

Dr Joaquín Llácer, Medical Co-Director of Instituto Bernabeu, gave a speech at a conference held in Poland on treating patients with poor ovarian response and personalising courses of treatment.

‘IB International Workshop 2018: A new approach to nursing in fertility’ is the international congress due to be held on 11^th and 12^th May in the Instituto Bernabeu auditorium, Alicante. The event will bring together professionals from the field of nursing and experts in caring for reproductive medicine patients and, in doing so, share and explore knowledge that improves global care for these patients.

Instituto Bernabeu has been awarded the Whereivf.com international platform annual IVF PGD/PGS prize. Whereivf.com is the largest international directory of assisted reproduction clinics and the prize is awarded to clinics that stand out in complexity, innovation and efficiency to the benefit of its patients.

Under the headline ‘They are science’, the specialist healthcare magazine, Diario Sanitario, has selected Dr María Antonia López Rubio, a gynaecologist at Instituto Bernabeu in Albacete, Spain, to form part of an article on the role of women in the field of science. The publication highlights the work of female researchers in the Castilla La Mancha autonomous community. It presents the Instituto Bernabeu gynaecologist and cum laude Doctor of Medicine from the Autonomous University of Madrid as an example of hard work and perseverance. The aim of the publication is to shed light on the role of women in science. At Instituto Bernabeu, 80% of the team is female and over half over the management positions are the responsibility of female employees.

Children between 5 and 12 years of age can participate in one of two categories - one for children aged 5 to 8 years and another for children aged 9 to 12 years.

Instituto Bernabeu has embarked on a collaboration agreement with the Faculty of Medicine at the Complutense University of Madrid (UCM) so that students from one of the university’s courses can do work experience at the clinic located in Calle Ayala 48, Madrid.

The new Instituto Bernabeu Group newsletter is now available. Instituto Bernabeu has opened an elite reproductive medicine clinic in the heart of the Salamanca neighbourhood in Madrid's city centre.

The Instituto Bernabeu clinic will participate in a refresher course on reproductive medicine further to invitation by the Vall d’Hebrón Hospital which is organising an event for experts in the field in order to cover latest progress in obstetrics and reproduction.

Doctor Pino Navarro, an endocrinologist at the Instituto Bernabeu, has received institutional recognition from the Regional Government of Valencia for her research centred on women entitled “Diagnostic criteria of gestational diabetes. An update?”.

We have launched a new issue of Instituto Bernabeu corporate newsletter "IB Newsletter". Rafael Bernabeu Charitable Foundation opens the Fifth call for its scholarships for university students endowed with 45.000 euros. Students of Medicine, Nursing, Biology and Biotechnology of Universities from all over the country, that have brilliant trajectories and whose family income is an obstacle to continue their studies.

The Rafael Bernabeu Foundation has launched the fifth edition of its €45,000 university student scholarship programme.

Genetics tests carried out prior to conception mean that children can now be born free of certain illnesses. Molecular biology experts in the Instituto Bernabeu Genetics Department at IB Biotech will enable couples to have children who are free of health conditions thanks to the most groundbreaking techniques using the very latest technology. 

Instituto Bernabeu research presented at the 9^th edition of the Congress of the Society for the Study of Reproduction Biology (ASEBIR) held in Madrid found that the natural antioxidant cinnamtannin B1 present mainly in bay leaves and cinnamon protects spermatozoa from DNA damage. This natural protector increases the ability to fertilise the ovum and improves the quality of the embryos that are generated.

At the Association for the Study of Reproduction Biology (ASEBIR)'s 9th Congress held in Madrid, Instituto Bernabeu introduced a research paper focusing on checking the MLPA (Multiplex Ligation-dependent Probe Amplification) technique's sensitivity levels in order to find out how specific alterations can affect sperm production. Our investigation entitled: "New technique to detect Y chromosome microdeletion (YCM): Clinical implications” was based on the fact that Y chromosomes comprise different genetic regions involved with spermatogenesis or sperm production. In the event that one of these regions, also known as AZF, was deleted or duplicated, this could result in either a low amount or the complete absence of sperm.

The aim of the study led by Instituto Bernabeu gynaecologist, Francisco Sellers, and endorsed by the Association for the Study of Reproduction Biology (ASEBIR), was to determine if there are differences between the quantity of trophoblastic vascularisation during early stages of spontaneous pregnancies and pregnancies after assisted reproduction techniques (ART).

Instituto Bernabeu presented research work in poster format at the 9^th edition of the Congress of the Association for the Study of Reproduction Biology (Asebir) held in Madrid in November. The research is based on data obtained from observing if there is a relationship between the morphological characteristics of an embryo, in accordance with Asebir criteria, and the presence of mosaicism in blastocyst biopsies.

Instituto Bernabeu has presented research work entitled 'Is there a relationship between oocyte retrieval and maturation, and embryo aneuploidy and mosaicism rates?' at the 9^th edition of the Congress of the Association for the Study of Reproduction Biology (ASEBIR). The research focuses on the relationship between the number of oocytes retrieved and matured following ovarian puncture and rates of embryo aneuploidy and mosaicism (chromosomal and cellular abnormalities).

The new Instituto Bernabeu Group newsletter is now available. Andrea Bernabeu, PhD, MD, Gynaecologist at Instituto Bernabeu, has received in New York the Young Investigator Award for her work on advanced genetics techniques on chromosome alteration on embryos.  

Dr Belén Lledó, a molecular biologist at Instituto Bernabeu, has participated in an international gathering of experts in reproductive medicine genetic technologies held in Paris. The gathering included events covering the very latest in the field from both a technical and ethical point of view.

Instituto Bernabeu Group's commitment to the most demanding of quality levels has once again been reflected in a further annual renewal of the Quality Healthcare (QH) official certification for excellence in healthcare that is awarded by the Institute for Development and Integration of Healthcare (IDIS from the Spanish acronym).

Instituto Bernabeu has delivered research work on the detection of chromosomal mosaicism in embryos using next generation sequencing (NGS) and its influence on birth rates to the Association for the Study of Reproduction Biology (ASEBIR) congress to be held in Madrid. Thanks to this complex technique, the researchers have proven that low-grade mosaicism in the embryo does not affect the birth of healthy children to a significant degree.

Instituto Bernabeu is responsible for organising the 'IB International Workshop 2018: A new approach to nursing in fertility' international congress due to be held on 11^th and 12^th May 2018 in the auditorium at the clinic's headquarters in Alicante. The aim is to bring together professionals from the field of nursing and experts in caring for reproductive medicine patients and, in doing so, share and delve deep into knowledge that improves global care specifically for these patients.

On Friday 24^th November, Dr María Antonio López Rubio, a gynaecologist at Instituto Bernabeu in Albacete, will participate in the 22^st edition of the event organised by the Spanish Society of General Practitioners of Castilla La Mancha that is due to be held in Cuenca between 23^rd and 25^th November. 

Andrea Bernabeu, PhD, MD, Gynaecologist at Instituto Bernabeu, has received in New York the Young Investigator Award for her work on advanced genetics techniques on chromosome alteration on embryos. 

We have launched a new issue of Instituto Bernabeu corporate newsletter "IB Newsletter". Instituto Bernabeu deals with the most complex of cases because it has over 30 years' experience that are a guarantee of expert hands at a leading clinic where each case is given personalised treatment. Wasting time is not an option when we are racing against the clock. When the aim of that race is a pregnancy, it is impossible to recover missed opportunities. If a woman's age and the fact that she is not getting pregnant combine, there is only one possible piece of advice: Put yourself in the very best hands and do not leave what quality reproductive medicine can do for you to chance.

On 24^th November, the University of Alicante will hold the V Edition of Patent Rights and Biotechnology Event organised by Magister Lvcentinvs - the centre for Master's Degree education in Industrial and Intellectual Property at the University of Alicante.  At the event, university lecturers, lawyers and other experts in the field of biotechnology will cover specific aspects of the legal impact of scientific progress.

A team of researchers at Instituto Bernabeu has completed a prospective randomised clinical trial aimed at understanding if selection of an embryo generated during a cycle of in vitro fertilisation (IVF) is possible when morphological development is observed just once over the days leading up to transfer. The results of the research work will be presented at the national congress organised by the Association for the Study of Reproduction Biology due to be held in Madrid between 15^th and 17^th November.

Instituto Bernabeu will once again participate in the Association for the Study of Reproduction Biology (ASEBIR) Congress that is due to be held in Madrid between 15^th and 17^th November. The reproductive medicine clinic will present ten pieces of research work at the congress. Four of these were produced by the Embryology Unit at Instituto Bernabeu; another by the Egg Donation Unit; and the remaining pieces of work were carried out by the clinic's Molecular Biology and Genetics departments. 

The Medical Director of Instituto Bernabeu, Dr Rafael Bernabeu, will participate in the 5^th edition of the Contraception Congress organised by the Castilla La Mancha Contraception Society due to be held in Albacete on the 10^th and 11^th November. The Director of the Instituto Bernabeu Group, Dr Rafael Bernabeu, will cover the revolutionary discovery of the uses of anti-mullerian hormone in his speech entitled 'A new paradigm in contraception: AMH and derivatives.'

We have launched a new issue of Instituto Bernabeu corporate newsletter "IB Newsletter". Within the framework of annual support given to university studies, the Rafael Bernabeu Social Welfare Foundation at Instituto Bernabeu has awarded scholarships to six Medicine and Nursing university students. The scholarships have a value of 2,500 euros each.

Instituto Bernabeu will present a study entitled 'Embryo mosaicism and its impact on the results of cycles of in vitro fertilisation (IVF) and associated factors' at the 19^th edition of the Congress of the Association for the Study of Reproduction Biology (ASEBIR) due to be held in Madrid between 15^th and 17^th November.

The clinic has promoted a scientific exchange in which prominent specialists from the Region of Murcia participate in a conference that takes place at the Universidad Politécnica of Cartagena on Friday 1^st December.

Instituto Bernabeu will present one of its lines of research work in North America. It will do so at the American Society of Reproductive Medicine Congress (ASRM) due to be held between 28^th October and 1^st November in San Antonio and the research consists of a clinical trial for improving patient comfort during assisted reproduction treatment. 

A multidisciplinary team of professionals from Instituto Bernabeu, including Gynaecologists, Biologists, Geneticists, Pharmacists and Embryologists, participates as speakers at the opening of the IV Course on Stem Cells and Clinical Human Embryology, taking place on the 27^th October. This is a theoretical-practical course organized by the Biotechnology Department of the University of Alicante.

Within the framework of annual support given to university studies, the Rafael Bernabeu Social Welfare Foundation at Instituto Bernabeu has awarded scholarships to six Medicine and Nursing university students.

Pharmacy Faculty students are today, Thursday 27^th October, participating in an embryology workshop being held at Instituto Bernabeu in Alicante as part of the XIII edition of the Congress of Pharmacy Students organised by the Miguel Hernández University at its San Juan campus.

The Bar Association of Madrid requested the intervention of expert geneticists from Instituto Bernabeu in its event on paternity tests, a gathering of scientists and lawyers held on 23^rd October at the bar association's headquarters.

The Instituto Bernabeu is helping out once again this year in the University Master’s on Community Pharmacy Direction and Management & Optimization of Pharmaceutical Care organised by the Universidad Miguel Hernández (UMH). Doctor Andrea Bernabeu has taken part in this fourth edition that deals with aspects related to pregnancy and maternal-child health with theoretical and practical classes.

The Instituto Bernabeu and the Chair of Reproductive Medicine of Alicante University (UA) have presented a research project related to smoking and fertility at the 19^th Congress of the Spanish Society of Histology and Tissue Engineering, the 4^th Ibero-American Congress of Histology and the 7^th International Congress of Histology and Tissue Engineering held in Santiago de Compostela.

Advanced maternal age is the main factor associated with chromosome abnormalities or aneuploidies in the embryo, which cause problems during the pregnancy and increase the risk of miscarriage. 

Together with the Association of Pharmacists of Albacete, Instituto Bernabeu is organising the Pharmacotherapy in Reproductive Medicine course due to be held in the association's conference hall in Albacete. The four-day course will be held on 17^th October, 24^th October, 7^th November and 14^th November. 

At the 9^th edition of the Association for the Study of Reproduction Biology (ASEBIR) Congress to be held in Madrid between 15^th and 17^th November, Instituto Bernabeu will present the results obtained when evaluating a new means of administering drugs during ovarian stimulation that reduces the number of injections required. 

Sensitive to social causes for years, Instituto Bernabeu has been involved one more year in the awareness month of Breast Cancer. Under the title, "Feel that you love me" Instituto Bernabeu Foundation organizes a day, Tuesday 24th October, to address gynaecological cancer with patient’s testimonies and experts opinions.

Specialists from the Embryology Unit at Instituto Bernabeu will present research work entitled 'Conventional IVF improves the results of an egg donation programme compared with the use of ICSI' at the 9^th edition of the Association for the Study of Reproduction Biology (ASEBIR) Congress to be held in Madrid between 15^th and 17^th November. 

We have launched a new issue of Instituto Bernabeu corporate newsletter "IB Newsletter". In this occasion, to inform you about the Genetic Compatibility Test carried out at Instituto Bernabeu, that allows to detect more than 600 hereditary diseases that we can pass on to our future children.

The new Instituto Bernabeu Group newsletter is now available, dedicated to our last reserach work accepted at congress ESHRE 2017.

For the sixth year in a row, Instituto Bernabeu (IB) and the University of Alicante (UA), through the Reproductive Medicine Professorship, are organising a Master's Course in Reproductive Medicine. 

As a part of our continuous training programme, an intensive theoretical and practical seminar entitled ‘Advanced Workshop in Embryo Biopsy: Techniques and tips for usage’ will take place next September. The workshop is aimed at reproduction biologists who are specialised in micro-handling techniques.

The researchers look at the selection that can be made of chromosomally normal embryos with preimplantation genetic screening (PGS) by using the next-generation sequencing (NGS) technique. This leads to an improvement in the results of in-vitro fertilization (IVF) since it detects chromosomally normal embryos, those which are abnormal and also those known as mosaic, which have both normal and abnormal cells. In the case of mosaic embryos, studies show that the abnormal cells are replaced with normal cells and that they may be implanted and are able to develop into a healthy child, although the success rate is somewhat lower.

The Instituto Bernabeu presents a study on the prevention of DNA fragmentation of sperm, thanks to natural antioxidants, at the international meeting of specialists in reproductive medicine organized by the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE).

Researchers of the Instituto Bernabeu present a study at the meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE), held in Switzerland from 2 to 5 July, in which new techniques are applied to enable more precise detection of sperm production.

The research by the Instituto Bernabeu studies the influence of cytokines, molecules that mediate in immune response with consequences such as inflammation, and which would enable early detection of endometriosis.

Instituto Bernabeu in Albacete and Alicante (IB), in collaboration with the University of Castilla-La Mancha (UCLM) are organising the second edition of the Master's Course in Male Infertility. 

New issue of Instituto Bernabeu corporate newsletter (IB NEWSLETTER). Our fertility and gynaecology clinic in Benidorm is under renovation, with new facilities and cutting edge technology in order to maintain our high quality, personalised service.

A study by the Instituto Bernabeu has found a correlation between embryo quality and a greater probability of the appearance of mosaicism, the presence of normal cells together with other abnormal cells. For some time, the Instituto Bernabeu has followed different lines of research related to embryo mosaicism and its detection, since these embryos may have lower implantation rates and a greater risk of aneuploidy, a chromosomal abnormality that may lead to genetic disorders.

At Instituto Bernabeu, we are an innovative medical centre which applies the latest, cutting edge technologies and techniques to improve our patient's living standards.

Dr. Joaquin Llacer, associate director at Instituto Bernabeu, has been elected to represent all Spanish specialist doctors at the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology.

Everything is changing in order to ensure that all remains the same. That is, offering a personalised treatment to every patient attending Instituto Bernabeu.

A study by the Instituto Bernabeu selected by the committee of experts of the international meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology, held from 2 to 5 July in Geneva, finds a correlation between the manner in which embryo division takes place and the future chromosome count of the embryo. 

New issue of Instituto Bernabeu corporate newsletter (IB NEWSLETTER). Instituto Bernabeu leads the new research for the treatment of implantation failure of the embryo and its link with recurrent miscarriage. One of these lines of work is focused on the personalization of the treatment to the specific response of each patient.

Instituto Bernabeu has revolutionised the way in which drugs for ovarian stimulation are used. Three days' worth of medicine can be taken in a single injection thanks to a device known as the i-Port which is already being used by diabetics. During courses of fertility treatment and when ovarian stimulation lasting an average of ten days is carried out, drugs need to be administered using injections. Many of the women who come to our clinic admit to being afraid of needles.

The Instituto Bernabeu Group will travel to Switzerland where the reproductive medicine clinic will present eleven pieces of research work carried out by experts at the reproductive medicine clinic. The international scientific committee at the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology has selected the research that will be made public during the 33^rd edition of the annual congress to be held between 2^nd and 5^th July in Geneva.

Patients undergoing treatment in the egg donation programme and patients undergoing frozen embryo transfer need to be administered progesterone. It is necessary for implantation and for the posterior progress of the pregnancy. Drugs can be administered either by means of a daily subcutaneous injection or vaginally over a period of at least three months. Given that this is a significant period of time, Instituto Bernabeu believes that it is key that the female patient feels at ease if she is to have a good quality of life.

At the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) congress, Instituto Bernabeu will present work on how genetics affects responses to drugs and how they can be used in order to improve ovarian stimulation in women with poor response. The reproductive medicine clinic has pioneered the use of drugs linked to genetics through IBgen and, on this occasion, has developed research work entitled 'A pharmacogenetic approach to improving low ovarian response with androgen pre-treatment'. It will be presented at the event to be held between 2^nd and 5^th July in Switzerland.

The Director of the Endocrinology and Nutrition Department at Instituto Bernabeu, Dr Pino Navarro, will participate as a speaker in the XXII edition of the Continuous Training Course on Endocrinology and Nutrition for internal resident doctors organised by the Spanish Endocrinology and Nutrition Society. Dr Navarro will give a practical workshop on endocrinology and fertility.

Instituto Bernabeu will present research work entitled 'Factors associated with chromosomal mosaicism in trophoectoderm cells' at the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) congress to be held between 2^nd and 5^th July in Geneva, Switzerland.

For the seventh year in a row, the Instituto Bernabeu Social Welfare Foundation has awarded prizes to the winners of the VII edition of the Children's Drawing Competition in which children represent how they see and understand maternity. Out of over 300 entries, the jury selected 7-year-old Rubén Cano Mateo's 'For my super-Mum' picture in the 5 to 8 years of age category. Ester Tomás, aged 12, was the winner of the 9 to 12 years of age category with her picture entitled 'Soon there'll be one more in the family'.

The aim of the study, which has been published in the Iberoamerican Fertility Journal, is based on understanding the possible relationship between the quality of embryos transferred during in vitro fertilisation (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles with the presence of abnormalities in the foetus.

The Rafael Bernabeu Charitable Foundation, has received 300 children's drawings related to maternity in the contest organized by the organization for the seventh consecutive year.

Instituto Bernabeu has published research work in the Iberoamerican Fertility Journal on the effects of assisted reproduction techniques on placental vascularisation. 

Systems Biology in Reproductive Medicine, the scientific journal that primarily addresses matters associated with reproductive biology, recently published research work carried out by Instituto Bernabeu on the implantation of mosaic embryos.  The research work, entitled Implantation potential of mosaic embryos, deals with the chances of achieving full term pregnancies when transferring certain mosaic embryos. 

Dr Rafael Bernabeu will participate in a seminar which is part of the Master's Course in Healthcare Management at Miguel Hernández University (Sant Joan d'Alacant campus). The lecture is entitled 'Innovation in private management. Challenges and Solutions.'

The Instituto Bernabeu Group social enterprise - the Rafael Bernabeu Social Welfare Foundation - has donated 2,000 euros to the Rafiki Africa Foundation in support of a number of humanitarian projects. 

Instituto Bernabeu is today celebrating World DNA Day with a visit of its facilities by 15 and 16-year-old students from Jaime II secondary school in Alicante. The clinic is opening its doors to the students so that they can get a close look at the work that takes place in a human genetics laboratory. 

Instituto Bernabeu research on 'Next-generation sequencing in order to detect low-level mosaicism and its effect on live birth rates' was one of the pieces of research work presented at the 16^th edition of the Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis Conference organised by the Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis International Society (PGDIS) held between 26^th and 29^th March in Valencia. The research was led by Dr Rafael Bernabeu and the Medical Co-Director, Joaquín Llácer, along with doctors Ruth Morales, Belén Lledó, José Antonio Ortiz, Jorge Ten and Eva García-Hernández.

The new Instituto Bernabeu Group newsletter is now available, dedicated to the international platform, Whereivf.com, has chosen to name us IVF Agency of the Year, 2016. 

The Medical Director of Instituto Bernabeu, Dr Rafael Bernabeu, has been named a referee of the scientific magazine, Human Reproduction, among other scientists. Dr Bernabeu will take the role of evaluator and reviewer of the scientific quality of research work reaching the publication which focuses on the field of human reproduction.

Instituto Bernabeu will present its research work entitled 'Factors associated with chromosomal mosaicism in trophoectoderm cells' at the 16^th edition of the International Conference on Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis organised by the Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis International Society. 

Instituto Bernabeu will present two pieces of research work at the 16^th edition of the International Conference on Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis organised by the Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis International Society (PGDIS) to be held between the 26^th and 29^th March in Valencia.

New issue of Instituto Bernabeu corporate newsletter (IB NEWSLETTER). The Rafael Bernabeu Foundation launches the VII edition of the children's maternity-related art competition.

Dr Rafael Bernabeu's professional and entrepreneurial background will serve as an example and as inspiration at the 2^nd edition of the 2017 Inspirational Business Awards organised by Jovempa and due to be held on 24^th March. 

Children between 5 and 12 years of age can participate in one of two categories - one for children aged 5 to 8 years and another for children aged 9 to 12 years.

The new Instituto Bernabeu Group newsletter is now available, dedicated to full house at the concert in honour of women.

The gathering of national experts is to be held at the Royal Academy of Medicine in Madrid on 9^th and 10^th March.

At the symposium, Instituto Bernabeu will present the new strategies it is developing in order to treat patients with poor ovarian response. The event, entitled Current Issues in Assisted Reproduction, is organised by the University of Alcalá, the Autonomous University of Madrid and Ginefiv.

For the fifth year in a row, the Rafael Bernabeu Foundation, Instituto Bernabeu's social welfare organisation, chose music as the means to honour women on International Women's Day on 8^th March. 

Instituto Bernabeu has received the 'IVF Agency of the Year 2016' IVF Clinics Awards given by the international on-line platform, Whereivf.com. The award recognises quality of care, results obtained and corporate communication. Its aim is to highlight institutions and organisms that stand out in terms of their exceptional outlook for patients.

On 2^nd March, Instituto Bernabeu will participate in the 3^rd edition of the Update Seminar in Reproductive Medicine organised by La Paz University Hospital, Madrid. Dr Juan Martínez de María, Medical Director of the Instituto Bernabeu facilities in Madrid which opened to the public in January, will attend the event.

At ESHRE 2016, the world's most significant fertility event, the gynaecologist from Instituto Bernabeu highlighted research on the handling of oocytes and ovule cryopreservation, amongst others.

The new Instituto Bernabeu Group newsletter is now available, dedicated to our last reserach work accepted at Fertility Congresse 2017.

Instituto Bernabeu is participating in the VIII edition of the Ferring Fertility Symposium being held on 17th and 18th February in Valencia.

Instituto Bernabeu gave a presentation at the British Fertility Society congress held at the beginning of January on its Freeze All research by Dr Jorge Ten, head of the Human Reproduction Biology Operational Unit.

Women are Instituto Bernabeu's raison d'être. On 8^th March each year, the Rafael Bernabeu Foundation invites the residents of Alicante to celebrate and get involved in this day through its Concert in Honour of Women. 

Towards the end of January, Instituto Bernabeu participated in the Life III Summit, A Gathering of Experts on Life, held in Sitges, Catalonia. 

Instituto Bernabeu in Alicante was present at the VII edition of the Corion meeting of assisted reproduction experts held in Zafra, Badajoz.

The Medical Co-Director of Instituto Bernabeu, Dr Joaquín Llácer, recently gave a speech as part of the Human Reproduction Master's course organised by the Complutense University in Madrid and SEF, the Spanish Fertility Society. 

At the annual meeting of the British Fertility Society (BFS) held at the beginning of January, Instituto Bernabeu presented a comparative study on the efficiency of two components used in ovarian stimulation.

With the aim of supporting and boosting the university studies of students with limited financial resources and a good academic record, the Instituto Bernabeu Rafael Bernabeu Foundation has launched the 2017 edition of its university student scholarships. 

The Instituto Bernabeu Group is growing and a new clinic has opened in the centre of Madrid. This is the sixth clinic belonging to this leading entity in reproductive medicine with headquarters in Alicante.

The Instituto Bernabeu group presented 5 pieces of research work at the Belgian Fertility Society Congress held in Mons in November.

New issue of Instituto Bernabeu corporate newsletter (IB NEWSLETTER) about Instituto Bernabeu's Personalised Counselling Unit (PCU). Provides its patients with a trained team of staff and who are in direct contact with the medical healthcare team working at the reproductive medicine clinic so that each case is dealt with absolute professionalism.

The last Thursday, a workshop focused on updating health professionals on the recent advances in the field of andrological fertility, took place in the auditorium of Instituto Bernabeu Alicante.

Instituto Bernabeu will participate from the 5^th to the 7^th of January to Fertility 2017: the British Fertility Society Congress’ , that will take place in Edinburgh and will be attended by our clinic researchers like every year. 

On 12^th January 2017, from half past four in the afternoon, Instituto Bernabeu will hold an Updates in Andrology and Male Fertility event in the clinic's auditorium. 

New issue of Instituto Bernabeu corporate newsletter (IB NEWSLETTER). Throughout 2016, the Rafael Bernabeu Social Welfare Foundation has continued with its commitment to society by providing financial support for entities, NGOs and people who are facing financial difficulties.

The Belgian Society of Assisted Reproduction Congress was held in Moons in November. The Instituto Bernabeu group took part in 5 research projects which were accepted for presentation by the scientific committee.

Like every year, we want to share with our patients and friends the summary of activities that have been carried out from Rafael Bernabeu Charitable Foundation. Thank you all very much!

At the Belgian Society of Reproductive Medicine (BRSM) Congress held in Mons (Belgium) last month, the results of research work entitled 'Prediction of poor ovarian response using a genetic profile IBGENFIV' was presented in communication poster format.

The Department of Biotechnology at the University of Alicante organised an intensive course on stem cells and human clinical embryology which included theory and practical sessions.

The number of patients turning to assisted reproduction treatments has grown over the last few years and one of the main reasons for this has been the increase in the age at which women become mothers for the first time.

At the Belgian Society of Reproductive Medicine (BSRM) Congress held in Mons (Belgium) last week, the Instituto Bernabeu group presented research work entitled 'Androgen receptor genotyping: the key to clarifying the effectiveness of transdermal testosterone pretreatment in poor ovarian responders.'

We have launched a new issue of Instituto Bernabeu corporate newsletter "IB Newsletter". Key points to choosing Instituto Bernabeu.

As vice-president of the Spanish Society of Gynaecology, Dr Rafael Bernabeu opened the first edition of the Refresher Course for Gynaecologists with a speech on 'The role of primary assessment gynaecologists in preserving reproductive health.

Instituto Bernabeu work has been recognized with the Innovation Award, granted for its application of innovative methods in the provision of its services. The award was presented during the In4Bankia Awards Gala, held at the Information Club, in which Instituto Bernabeu

On 25^th November, the University of Alicante will hold the IV Edition of Patent Rights and Biotechnology Event organised by Magister Lvcentinvs - the centre for Master's Degree education in Industrial and Intellectual Property at the University of Alicante. 

Trophectoderm biopsy is currently replacing conventional biopsies because it is less invasive for the embryo and reduces damage to development.

Instituto Bernabeu Alicante participates in the XXXVI Congress of the Belgian Society of Reproductive Medicine (BSRM), held in the Belgian city of Mons, on the 18^th and 19^th of November. 

We have launched a new issue of Instituto Bernabeu corporate newsletter "IB Newsletter". In this occasion, to inform you about the Genetic Compatibility Test carried out at Instituto Bernabeu Biotech, that allows to detect more than 600 hereditary diseases that we can pass on to our future children.

Instituto Bernabeu organised a free nursing and reproductive medicine training event which was aimed at student nurses, practising nurses, midwives and experts in the field as a whole. It was held on 10^th November at the Santa Maria del Rossell University General Hospital and there were around one hundred attendees.

The Spanish Society of Gynaecology and Obstetrics (SEGO) has turned to Instituto Bernabeu to write about 'Genetic Studies in Reproduction Disorders. Pre-implantation genetic diagnosis. Pre-conception counselling' for the society's clinical guide. The guide is a framework document including protocols edited as a means of support for Spanish gynaecologists in their professional fields and which include methods and techniques for medical practice.

One might think that, after having had a vasectomy, a man may then only father children using donor sperm because sperm retrieved directly from the testicles of a patient who has had a vasectomy might be associated with doubts regarding the outcome.

Pharmacy Faculty students are today, Thursday 27^th October, participating in an embryology workshop being held at Instituto Bernabeu in Alicante as part of the XII edition of the Congress of Pharmacy Students organised by the Miguel Hernández University at its San Juan campus.

The Charitable Foundation Rafael Bernabeu, social entity delivers today 22.500 euros to bright students with financial constraints to help them continue their degree.

The recent international congress Meeting The Experts provided relevant reviews and information on the latest scientific advances in the treatment of reproductive problems. We were able to interview all the speakers that clarified these aspects. Here are all the videos of the interviews to broaden and complete their contribution.

New issue of Instituto Bernabeu corporate newsletter (IB NEWSLETTER) on the Progress and the challenges of fertility at the II Edition of the Meeting the Experts Congress. The II edition of Meeting the Experts left participants feeling positive. Whilst there is clearly still a long road ahead, it is also true that a lot has already been achieved. 

Instituto Bernabeu in Alicante has presented 'Genetic Studies in Reproduction Disorders. Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis. Preconception Counselling' for the guide published by the Spanish Fertility Society (SEF). 

Instituto Bernabeu and the University of Cartagena will hold a free seminar on nursing and reproductive medicine. Reproductive health issues have increased over the last few years and the role of nursing specialists is increasingly important in terms of prevention, healthcare and dealing with couples who have issues of this kind.

Instituto Bernabeu in Alicante's Social Wellbeing Foundation gives women who have to undergo cancer treatment the option of freezing their eggs free of charge.

We would like to thank members of the media who visited our facilities in order to report on the event held on 30^th September and 1^st October.

Dr Joaquín Llácer, Director of our specific Unit for the treatment of Poor Ovarian Reserve participated in the Second Congress of Reproductive Health Group (RHG) held on the 7^th and 8^th October at Daresbury Park, UK.

• In less than two decades, the average age at which couples have their first child has been pushed back from 26 to 31 years, coinciding with the onset of ovarian ageing and increased difficulties in getting pregnant.
• On the first day of the congress, experts from all over the world analysed the issues from a genetics point of view in order to understand why ovaries age, biomarkers for personalising treatment, progress in selecting the best embryo and also the associated emotional concerns.
• The second day covered recent progress in the embryo implantation process and various studies aimed at prolonging a woman's fertility.

New issue of Instituto Bernabeu corporate newsletter (IB NEWSLETTER) about the IBgen IVF. It is a ground breaking study of the ovarian genetics that provides important information to solve those medical cases of women seeking to become mothers but they have a reduced number of oocytes (eggs).

We thank TVE that shared Dr Rafael Bernabeu view, on the recent news of the child born with "DNA from three parents" in their newscasts.

New issue of Instituto Bernabeu corporate newsletter (IB NEWSLETTER) on the 2^nd International Meeting of Experts on Reproductive Medicine "MEETING THE EXPERTS" which will be held on the 30^th September the 1^st October  at Instituto Bernabeu of Alicante Auditorium.

The scientific committee of therecent European Human Genetics Conference which took place in Barcelona last May accepted the research work entitled “Relevance of SNP on p53, IL-11, IL-10, VEGF and APOE in patients with repeated implantation failure (RIF) and pregnancy loss (RPL)”.

In the Spanish Fertility Society Congress in Malaga between the 19th and 21st May, Dr Belén Lledó will give an oral presentation on research work entitled 'Recombinant or urinary FSH? Is receptor genotype key when choosing the FSH?'

Dr Rafeal Bernabeu has been named director of the professorship by the university chancellor. The aim is to promote training and research as well as the development and dissemination of the subject matter.

There is increasing evidence to suggest an impact on endometrial receptivity during ovarian stimulation due, in part, to accelerated endometrial maturity leading to endometrium-embryo asynchrony. 

The new Instituto Bernabeu newsletter is now available, dedicated to creation of the first thermal gel "Incubator" that keeps the embryo temperature for the transfer.

Rafael Bernabeu Charitable Work Foundation has delivered this morning's scholarship of training and paid work to highlight student of the fifth edition of the Master of Reproductive Medicine organized by the University of Alicante and Instituto Bernabeu. 

Implantation failure is one of reproductive medicine's biggest challenges and it is for this reason that our unit which specialises in its treatment is working on and researching new approaches. One of the new lines of research include approaches in order to reduce uterine contractuality so that embryo acceptance is facilitated during transfer.

Our unit for the treatment of implantation failure and recurrent pregnancy loss is constantly working on new means of improving both diagnosis and treatment. One of the lines of work centres around the impact of a particular endometriosis variant known as adenomyosis.

The rate of embryonic aneuploidy is mainly associated with either maternal or paternal-related factors. Various studies have shown that maternal age is a key factor in the incidence of embryonic aneuploidy

For the Spanish Fertility Society (SEF) congress held this year  in Malaga,the scientific committee had selected a clinical study carried out by Instituto Bernabeu to be given as an oral presentation. The study is entitled: Should embryos showing chromosomal mosaicism in the trophectoderm be ruled out?

For the fifth year in a row, Instituto Bernabeu (IB) and the University of Alicante (UA), through the Reproductive Medicine Professorship, are organising a Master's Course in Reproductive Medicine.

Correct endometrium preparation is key when the embryo is due to implant in the uterus. In cryo-transfer (the transfer of frozen embryos), we ensure that the endometrium is as receptive as possible. 

The medical director of Instituto Bernabeu in Alicante, Rafael Bernabeu, an expert human reproduction specialist, will participate in the magazine edited by the Spanish Society of Gynaecology and Obstetrics (SEGO).

Parents' main aim in life is to ensure that their children are born healthy and that they, as parents, have the chance to ensure this happens. With this in mind, the Rafael Bernabeu Foundation makes its resources and research available so that people faced with health issues and also financial difficulties can try for children who are free of the illness they are carrying. 

Instituto Bernabeu in Albacete and Alicante (IB), in collaboration with the Pharmacy Faculty of the University of Castilla-La Mancha (UCLM) and the Castilla-La Mancha Health Service (SESCAM) are organising the first edition of the Master's Course in Male Infertility. The postgraduate course is aimed at university degree graduates, particularly those from the fields of pharmacy, biology, biotechnology, biochemistry, veterinary medicine and environmental science, amongst others.

Adenomyosis is a condition that is difficult to diagnose and it is far more common than it is often thought to be. Diagnosis needs to be based on clinical data and confirmed using imaging techniques. 

The challenge faced by our unit which specialises in treating implantation failure and recurrent pregnancy loss is to search for therapeutic alternatives and to progress in our understanding of correct embryo implantation. The point at which the embryo is transferred is the climax and there is still much to learn about it from a scientific point of view.

We have always known that embryos, as living things, are very sensitive to changes in temperature. Therefore, throughout the entire process in the in vitro fertilisation laboratory, we have systems that keep the temperature stable, except when actual embryo transfer takes place and, at which point, the embryo is taken from the incubator for transfer to the uterus.

Instituto Bernabeu's commitment to giving patients the best chance of achieving pregnancy means we necessarily need to personalise each treatment and involve each department from each phase of assisted reproduction treatment in exploring new options, however insignificant they may seem. This can, sometimes, mean the difference between success and a negative beta result.

The 32^nd ESHRE Annual Meeting, the most significant congress for assisted reproduction specialists, will be held in Helsinki, Finland, between 3^rd and 6^th July, 2016. As on previous occasions, the Instituto Bernabeu group will very actively participate in this event and will make 5 oral presentations and present 4 posters based on clinical studies. The work has been previously selected by the scientific committee.

An embryo biopsy can potentially damage the embryo and it is for this reason that, at Instituto Bernabeu, we study different ways of optimising the options of achieving pregnancy amongst our patients. In this particular case, we studied how the position of inner cellular mass (ICM) during an embryo blastocyst biopsy affects clinical results.

Extensive analysis has been carried out on the influence a mother's age can have on how well the reproduction process goes. However, very little has been done on the impact of an older father. The team leading the genetics laboratory at Instituto Bernabeu has carried out a study in order to understand in what way a father's age affects aneuploidies or chromosomal abnormalities that occur in spermatozoa and in the embryo

The new Instituto Bernabeu Group newsletter is now available, dedicated to our last reserach work accepted at congresses.

Multiple pregnancies are considered one of the most significant issues in assisted reproduction. Therefore, elective single embryo transfer (eSET) should be the first choice in most, if not all, cases. 

Instituto Bernabeu, along with Doctor Dori Rodríguez, has submitted research work on vitrification of embryos on D5 with delayed development for the ESHRE European Congress which will be held in Helsinki.

The medical journal “Medicina Reproductiva y Embriología Clínica” has just published a study by the Instituto Bernabeu led by Dr Francisco Sellers.

This article highlights several coincidences between pre-eclampsia and some of the events present in what is known as reproductive medicine.

Friday 10^th and Saturday 11^th June, the IV Mediterranean Forum Meeting which brings together experts in reproductive medicine, has held in Javea, Spain. Dr Rafael Bernabeu, Director of the Instituto Bernabeu group, will open the event with a conference on the role of the microbiome in human reproduction.

Dr Joaquín Llácer participates as a speaker this afternoon at the presentation, which will take place in Valencia at 20: 35h, of a new drug for ovarian stimulation, with a conference titled "Meriofert kit: differentiation, efficiency and safety."

The aim of this piece of research work was to investigate embryo retention rates (embryos retained in the catheter following the procedure) in two embryo transfer techniques at Instituto Bernabeu. To this end, almost 1,000 procedures carried out between 2013 and 2015 were analysed. 

Embryonic aneuploidy is one of the main causes of failure in IVF techniques and for that reason Comprehensive Chromosome Screening (CCS) of the embryo is a useful tool for improving success rates in IVF cycles.

We tend to think that only older mothers pose issues in terms of embryo genetics. However, we have discovered that it is an issue that can also come to the fore in women under 22 years of age and that it later stabilises from 23 years of age.

The new Instituto Bernabeu Group newsletter is now available, dedicated to our last achievements on research & development. 

The team at IB BIOTECH has carried out a comparative study on chromosomal abnormalities in embryos from a given couple over different cycles. The conclusions obtained in terms of genetics will be presented in ESHRE, the most important of all congresses for reproductive medicine specialists, and which is due to be held in Helsinki.

At the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) that will be held this year in Helsinkihan, Dr. Ruth Morales will present her work entitled “Mosaic embryos can achieve good IVF success rates”.

The European Human Genetics Congress (ESHG), the world's largest gathering of specialists in genetics, is due to take place in Barcelona between 21^st and 24^th May.  The Instituto Bernabeu group which, as a result of its commitment to scientific progress, is a European leader in R+D, will play an active role in the event with the presentation of 3 lines of research developed by the genetics and biotechnology team at Instituto Bernabeu Biotech.

The 31st Spanish Fertility Society (SEF) National Congress will be held in Malaga between the 19th and 21st May. It is one of reproductive medicine's most important events since it brings leading national experts together and the latest developments in the field are presented.

The use of transdermal testosterone has been postulated as an adjuvant treatment to improve the prognosis of IVF (in vitro fertilisation) in patients with poor ovarian response. 

Dr Rafael Bernabeu, Medical Director of the Instituto Bernabeu Group, has been appointed Vice-President of the Executive Board of the Sterility and Infertility Section of the Spanish Society of Gynaecology and Obstetrics (S.E.I.S.E.G.O.) for this year. 

Vitrification almost entirely eliminates the most significant issue in freezing which is the formation of ice crystals. Carrying it out implies high concentrations of cryoprotectants and extremely fast cooling. 

Embryo biopsy in blastocyst stage for aneuploidy screening (CCS) has been proven to be safe for the embryo and provide improved diagnostic reliability. Embryo biopsy can be carried out on day 5 of development or on day 6 in the case of embryos with a slower development pattern. Earlier research indicated that embryos present different morphokinetic parameters depending on if they are XX or XY. 

It is well known that in assisted reproduction treatment the presence of chromosomal abnormalities (aneuploidy) in embryos is relatively high, and that these disorders are mainly related to maternal age. However, as far as paternal age is concerned, there tends to be controversy between authors of the scarce work that has been published to date in this regard. 

At the European Human Genetics Conference (ESHG) that will be held this year in Barcelona on Saturday, May 21^st, Dr. Ruth Morales will present her work entitled “Mosaic embryos can achieve good IVF success rates”.

The techniques for chromosomal analysis of embryos that we currently apply at the Instituto Bernabeu offer a diagnosis in less than 24 hours. This allows us to perform biopsies on blastocysts on day 5 of culture and conclude the fresh transfer of the chromosomally normal embryos on day 6 of culture. Sometimes it is necessary to delay transfer to a later cycle, which makes it necessary to cryopreserve the biopsied embryos, which may, in theory, be more sensitive to cryopreservation. Therefore, we considered whether the biopsy process may affect the embryo’s capacity to survive cryopreservation.

As a result of social changes in recent years, women are being obliged to delay motherhood. After the age of 35, not only is ovarian response much lower but, moreover, a considerable and progressive reduction is observed in the quality of the oocytes and pregnancy is more complicated. This is why poor responder patients seeking a professional centre for their treatment entrust their care to the Instituto Bernabeu, enabling us to investigate the most appropriate treatment protocols comparing the responses. 

The next 30^th September and 1^st October will take place the 2^nd Edition of "Meeting the Experts", the international reproductive medicine conference organized by Instituto Bernabeu.

Dr Rafael Bernabeu, Medical Director of Instituto Bernabeu, has been invited to participate as an expert on fertility in the upcoming informative meeting on Zika virus to be held at the Spanish Society of Gynaecology and Obstetrics (SEGO). 

Jaime Guerrero, Director of the Operational Egg Donation Unit at Instituto Bernabeu, participates today as a speaker at the Vitrification Conference 2016: "Review and new options in vitrification", organized by Ginemed Foundation in Seville.

Instituto Bernabeu and the University of Turin (Universitá degli Studi di Torino) have signed an international collaboration agreement. The agreement, which will benefit the university's students, is the basis for a professional work placement programme on a European scale. 

The Rafael Bernabeu Foundation, Instituto Bernabeu's welfare organisation, will hold a conference on 'Responsibilities taken on when providing counselling on genetics' next Friday, 22nd April at 19:00h. The event will be run by professor Pedro J. Femenía López, Dean at the Faculty of Law in the University of Alicante.

Progress in embryo cryopreservation techniques have helped to obtain excellent survival rates in the different embryo stages. The embryo selection strategy using embryo genetic diagnosis means that, on occasions, we have to cryopreserve embryos. Additionally, and on the whole, working with chromosomally normal embryos means being able to opt for transfer of a single, fresh embryo whilst using cryopreservation for the remaining embryos with no chromosomal abnormalities. For the patients, the financial and emotional input which treatment with embryo biopsy involves is huge and this is why we recommend an exhaustive follow-up of how those embryos which have undergone cryopreservation respond to vitrification.

DNA is the molecule which stores the instructions which enable living beings to develop and function. These instructions are embedded in DNA using a four-letter code (A, T, G and C). The integrity and reliability of the information stored in DNA is essential in ensuring that our cells work correctly. 

For over three decades, morphological analysis has been the most efficient and most used manner of studying embryo quality. Nowadays, Comprehensive Chromosomal Screening (CCS) is also possible and this enables all embryo chromosomes to be studied. Some research appears to demonstrate that embryo classification based on morphological criteria may change by selecting embryos which are apt for transfer amongst those which have undergone CCS analysis. In our research, we aimed to provide more concrete data on which parameters of embryo morphology might have prognosis qualities following CCS.

The use of comprehensive chromosome screening (CCS) during the blastocyst stage has led to big changes in in vitro fertilisation (IVF) clinics. The transfer of fresh embryos is generally put on hold for one day until the results of chromosomal diagnosis are available. This means that many of the blastocysts have already hatched and have to be transferred or undergo vitrification on day 6 of development.

Implantation rate after embryo transfer is a limiting factor in the success of IVF treatments. A high percentage of chromosomally normal embryos with good morphology fail to implant in apparently normal uterus thus efforts must be devoted to improving uterine receptivity in clinical practice. The uterine peristaltic wave frequency before embryo transfer has been inversely related to the clinical pregnancy and treatment with oxytocin antagonists has been suggested to improve the outcomes of In Vitro Fertilisation treatments. In the near future, the assessment of uterine contractions frequency could be a useful tool in the clinical practice. 

Dr Joaquín Llácer, Director of the Poor Ovarian Response Unit at Instituto Bernabeu participated in an event on 'Current Issues in Assisted Reproduction' held on 10^th and 11^th March, 2016 at the Royal National Academy of Medicine in Madrid.

Once again this year, the Rafael Bernabeu Foundation, Instituto Bernabeu's social wellbeing programme, organised a concert in Honour of Women as part of International Women's Day celebrations. 

Dr Jorge Ten, Director of the Biology and Reproduction Department at Instituto Bernabeu, has been invited to lecture in the Human Reproduction Master's Course given at the Complutense University in Madrid. 

Last Thursday, 18th February, Dr Rafael Bernabeu, Medical Director of the Instituto Bernabeu group, was invited to take part in a new scientific session at the Royal Academy of Medicine in Zaragoza. The session was held in the Academy's Assembly Hall, a unique setting in the Old Faculty of Medicine and Science.

Comprehensive chromosome screening of embryos reveals that normal karyotype variants or chromosomal polymorphisms increase the embryo aneuploidy rate.

The Rafael Bernabeu Foundation (the Instituto Bernabeu social welfare programme) is once again organising a concert to celebrate International Women's Day. The event will take place at 20:00h next Tuesday, 8^th March in the Symphonic Room at the Provincial Auditorium in Alicante (ADDA). 

In selection criteria based on morphokinetic analysis, it has been proposed that an embryo ought to show a certain kinetic division in order to be considered normal (types A and B, in line with ASEBIR criteria). But what happens when an embryo does not fulfil this criteria due to accelerated embryonic development with over 10 cells on day 3? 

IB Biotech, the biotechnology and genetics company which is part of the Instituto Bernabeu group, has launched a renewed version of its website, www.ibbiotech.com. The webpage is an alternative means of bringing investigation on genetics closer to society as a whole through intuitive browsing which is accessible from any device. 

The Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness has awarded Instituto Bernabeu the title of Innovative Company which is given to companies with a proven track record in innovation and in their ability to be innovative in R&D work.

The age at which patients undergo fertility treatment has increased considerably over the last few years. Prognosis is poorer in older patients when it comes to IVF treatment. This is due, in part, to the high percentage of embryos with chromosomal abnormalities. 

It is widely accepted amongst experts in the field of assisted reproduction and gynaecology that the most common cause of pregnancy loss is connected to genetic abnormalities in the embryo which render normal development impossible.

Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory disease which causes dysmenorrhea or menstrual pain and, depending on where the lesion is located, it can also cause constipation or hematuria (blood in urine), pain during sexual intercourse and even sterility. The average time taken to detect it is 8 years, a period of time during which the patient has suffered from pain and has, quite possibly, been sterile. Its cause is, to date, unknown and its effect on fertility is variable. However, is it understood to affect 50% of women with reproduction issues.

The results of research work entitled “Comprehensive Chromosomal Screening (CCS) on D+5 to improve IVF cycle success rates in recipients with repeated implatation failure (RIF) and recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL)” were presented in an oral presentation during the VIII edition of the Congress organised by the Spanish Association for the Study of Biology and Human Reproduction held in San Sebastian in November.

The results of research work entitled “Association of the e4 genetic variant in the apolipoprotein gene in patients with recurrent pregnancy loss and implantation failure” are presented in the form of an oral communication to the British Fertility Society Congress which is taking place in Newscastle.

The British Fertility Society's Annual Meeting will take place in Sage Gateshead, Newcastle (UK) today and tomorrow (7^th and 8^th January). This edition's theme is 'Gamete Formation, Preservation and Donation.'  

Continuing the social commitment of Instituto Bernabeu, the Rafael Bernabeu Foundation awards a total of 18 scholarships for students of Medicine, Biotechnology, Biology and Nursing, each one of 2,500€; which are payable by check to the student to help pay tuition fees and school supplies, paving the way for those students who have a good performance and yet their family financial situation make it difficult to access and / or continue their studies at the University.

Adenomyosis is an entity with an unknown influence in implantation. Several studies achieve until 68% less pregnancy rate when adenomyosis is diagnosed, although another groups didn’t see differences. Severity of adenomyosis could be influencing in this controversy. A new classification is needed to know the prognosis of these patients. 

Vitrification virtually eliminates the major problem associated with cryopreservation, which is the formation of ice crystals. Recent papers have shown that warming is more important than cooling rates. Survival rates of vitrified oocytes and embryos using moderate cooling temperatures were optimal when the warming rate was high enough. Taking into account this principle recently new closed devices have been designed to avoid the safety concerns associated with open systems. 

In last years corifollitropin alfa (Elonva^TM) has been added to the treatments available to induce ovulation. It is especially designed to work much longer than conventional FSH, so that one single injection of Elonva can replace daily FSH injections. Furthermore it has been argued that recruitment of antral follicles can be improved because of its pharmacokinetics. Both features are of special interest in the egg donor group. 

In the last years, on the way to single embryo transfer (SET),  preimplantation genetic screening (PGS) using array technology to test embryo aneuploidy of all chromosomes in the blastocyst stage, is becoming the technique of choice to select the best embryo, increasing implantation rate and decreasing miscarriage.  

Blastocyst biopsy for Comprehensive Chromosomal Screening (CCS) treatments can be addressed through different strategies. When biopsy on D+5 is performed, fresh transfer on day 6 is possible. There is also the option of freezing the embryos after the biopsy to delay the embryo transfer if circumstances such as inadequate endometrial preparation or high progesterone levels require it. The aim of this study is to determine which of these two strategies show better outcomes. Two groups were created depending whether a biopsy on day 5 and transfer on day 6 was performed.

Vitrification techniques are commonly used in In vitro fertilization (IVF) laboratories. The vitrification process includes a first step of embryo equilibration. This step never exceeds 15 minutes because cryoprotectans can produce embryo damage. The aim of this study is to establish a timing model to minimize the embryo exposure time to cryoprotectans solutions.

Developments in Comprehensive Chromosome Screening (CCS) which provides information on the chromosomal make-up of embryos, have meant that we are able to determine which embryos have chromosome abnormalities and study possible factors affecting those abnormalities.

Assuring the best quality and health guarantees of donated gametes for our egg receptor patients has led us to take into account other aspects. As well as the usual tests for egg donor candidates (karyotyping, screening for cystic fibrosis, fragile X chromosome syndrome, genetic study for Thalassaemia, muscular spinal muscular atrophy, amongst others), tests to determine if they are carries of sexually transmitted diseases which are often asymptomatic but which could have a negative effect on the treatment are carried out. 

Dr Belén Lledó participated as a speaker in the 'European Fertility Meeting: Strategies to improve IVF success rate' which took place on the 10th December in Rome. The Director of Instituto Bernabeu Biotech gave a conference entitled 'Pharmacogenetics and ovarian stimulation: clinical application and cost effectiveness.'

Female gametes (also known as eggs) are covered by two layers. The first of these is the zona pellucida (ZP) and the second is a layer of granulosa cells.  Numerous pieces of research carried out on various mammals affirm that these layers play an essential role during fertilisation. Some research work even suggests that they affect the sperm's ability to fertilise the egg.

A presentation on continued research on work previously awarded a prize was given in the VIII edition of the congress organised by the Spanish Association for the Study of Biology and Human Reproduction held in San Sebastian, Spain, in November. R72P SNP GENOTYPING OF THE p53 GENE IN PATIENTS WITH REPEATED IMPLANTATION FAILURE OR RECURRENT PREGNANCY LOSS AND THEIR EFFECT ON IVF CYCLE RESULTS.

Social and economic changes have led to motherhood being postponed and, as a result, fertility issues in couples have increased. Prognosis is poorer in older patients when it comes to IVF treatment. Amongst other things, this is due to the high percentage of embryos with chromosomal abnormalities.

IB is one of the first clinics in Spain to achieve the Spanish Association of Standardisation and Certification (Aenor) standard. The certification analyses and acknowledges quality management  systems in all areas of assisted reproduction laboratories