We are pleased to announce the finalized list of invited speakers for the IETS 2026 Annual Conference, to be held in Panama City, Panama. This year's program features four compelling sessions and a keynote presentation covering a wide spectrum of applied, basic, and developmental topics. We’ve carefully curated these sessions to ensure everyone, regardless of specialization, will discover something new, thought-provoking, and valuable to explore and discuss.
In addition to our invited presentations, we are proud to continue our commitment to supporting emerging scientists. Our Morulas Trainee Group members will be highlighted throughout the conference, with opportunities to present their research during the main sessions and two concurrent sessions exclusively dedicated to short oral presentations by Morulas.
We look forward to gathering with colleagues, sharing ideas, and celebrating advances in our field while enjoying Panama’s vibrant culture and natural beauty.
Session 1: Managing Reproductive Health in Complex Environments
- Synchronized breeding and reproductive resilience in dairy cattle: Mitigating metritis, heat stress, and transgenerational fertility impairment
By Fabio Lima, PhD, DVM (University of California, Davis, USA)
- External factors influencing reproductive tract microbiota
By Rebecca Poole, PhD (Texas A&M University, USA)
Session 2: Decoding Early Development: Emerging Technologies in Embryo Research
- Deciphering bovine embryogenesis through cutting-edge molecular tools
By Kun Zhang, PhD (Zhejiang University, China)
- Extended embryo culture in ruminants: Illuminating a black box of early development
By Priscila Ramos-Ibeas, DVM (National Institute of Agricultural and Food Research and Technology, Spain)
Session 3: Translating Reproductive Innovations Across Species
- When less really is more: Reducing embryo manipulation to lower metabolic stress and improving long-term outcomes
By Paolo Rinaudo, PhD, MD (University of California, San Francisco, USA)
- Exploring the potential of prepubertal oocytes: A small ruminant model
By Maria Teresa “Maite” Paramio Nieto, DVM (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain)
Session 4: Pathways to Fertility: The Intricate Journey of Sperm Through the Reproductive Tract
- Sperm interaction with the female reproductive tract: Implications for bull fertility and heterospermic semen use
By Sean Fair, PhD (University of Limerick, Ireland)
- From reservoir to rendezvous: The journey of sperm through the oviduct
By David Miller, PhD (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, USA)
Each session brings together world-renowned experts to share their latest findings, fostering the collaborative spirit that makes IETS the premier international forum for embryo technology advancement.
Our keynote speaker, Eckhard Wolf, PhD, director of the Center for Innovative Medical Models at Ludwig Maximilian University (Munich, Germany), will give a thrilling presentation on using genetically tailored pigs for medical research.
Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of conversations that will shape the future of reproductive science.