Zhihong Yang,D.V.M.Ph.D.

Chief Embryologist of the RDCEF Reproductive Center Embryo Laboratory

International leader in embryonic genetics

Co-founder and Secretary General of the International Society for Reproductive Genetics (ISRG)

Chairman of the Qualification Committee of the International Society for Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGDIS)

Renowned geneticist | International PGT-A and Timelapse clinical research pioneer

30 years of reproductive medicine research and clinical experience

Professor Yang has studied and trained with the University of Colorado State University of Montreal and the University of Pittsburgh. After completing his postgraduate and postdoctoral studies, he conducted comprehensive research on assisted reproductive technology at several reproductive centers in the United States and Canada. He was a full professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and director of the Clinical Laboratory of Andrology, Embryology, and Immunology at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC).

Internationally renowned geneticist

Professor Yang is an internationally renowned leading expert in clinical embryo and preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) and preimplantation genetic screening (PGS). His research results have been published in conferences such as ESHER, ASRM, PGDIS and professional journals around the world.

A landmark paper published in the Molecular Cytogenetics column of BiomedCentral(BMC) in 2012. He has been featured by the New York Times and BBC News as "a leader in fertility and cytogenetics".

Important research results

Professor Yang introduced the use of second-generation sequencing and time-delay imaging to optimize the transfer of blastocysts to reduce the occurrence of multiple pregnancies. Multiple pregnancy is the most important complication associated with assisted reproductive technology (ART). Single embryo transfer (SET) is considered to be an effective means of reducing multiple pregnancies after IVF.

The conventional treatment is to select individual embryos for transfer on the basis of morphological evaluation. However, since morphology alone cannot rule out the possibility of chromosomal errors in the selected embryo, transferring an embryo with normal morphology carries considerable risk.

The aim of the study by Professor Yang Zhihong's team was to investigate the effects of selecting a single blastocyst transfer as well as transplantation following the combined application of NGS on clinical and sustained pregnancy outcomes in IVF patients. The study concluded that due to the high clinical and sustained pregnancy rates after single embryo transfer, the combination of NGS and TL provides an effective means to select single blastocyst for transfer to reduce multiple pregnancies in IVF patients with a good prognosis. While the combination of NGS and TL has provided clear clinical benefits to many IVF patients, the approach is not suitable for all patients.