First students complete hands-on IVF training course

Five third-year students and one honours student studying a Bachelor of Health and Medical Science degree at the University of Adelaide have completed the first practical embryology training course for undergraduates.

The University partnered with world-leading fertility clinic Genea to offer the semester-long research integrated course for the first time in July.

Students received 100 hours of practical training in gamete handling, embryo culture, cryopreservation and quality control in a clinical-grade research embryology laboratory.

“This collaboration offers our students the opportunity to observe and assist our experienced embryologists in real-life clinical settings, allowing them insights into the daily operations of an IVF laboratory,” said the University of Adelaide’s Dr Nicole McPherson, Research Leader in the Discipline of Reproduction and Development at the Robinson Research Institute, and Director of Research and Science Education for Genea.

“We’re excited for our students to be trained with the latest clinical embryology protocols, ensuring that they are more job ready when entering the market.

“The course will significantly reduce the time taken between training a newly graduated scientist to a fully skilled embryologist, which currently takes anywhere between 18 to 24 months.”

The course, headed by Dr McPherson and Professor Rebecca Robker, was undertaken at the ART Innovations Laboratory within the School of Biomedicine and Robinson Research Institute, located in the Adelaide Health and Medical Science building, and exposed students to a range of research methodologies and practices to broaden their critical thinking skills.

“This was an incredible experience, and I am so grateful to have been a part of a well-structured and effectively run course,” said one student.

“I have not only built practical and research skills through this course but also grown a deep understanding and appreciation of the Assisted Reproductive Therapies (ART) industry, and how many opportunities are out there.

“As a culmination of all the complex skills learned over the course, the most satisfying part was attempting ICSI (sperm microinjection).

“The course requires dedication, commitment, and proficient time management, but is ultimately an incredible opportunity, and the only undergraduate course in Australia with this exposure to the ART industry.”

Genea Director of Clinical Embryology, Diana Bui, said the course provided a strong foundation for those looking to pursue embryology and reproductive medicine as a career.

“Practical training for an embryologist can be challenging, more so if you have not had prior insights into a working IVF laboratory,” she said.

“The global annual growth rate for demand in IVF treatment is 6.9 per cent, so this course will address an increasing need for well-trained clinical embryologists in the future.”

The course will continue next year.