News and Updates

ASPIRE will welcome the world’s first IVF baby, Louise Brown, as a special guest at its 2027 Congress in Yokohama, Japan from 6 to 9 May.

Louise was born in England on 25 July 1978 and given the middle name Joy by Dr Patrick Steptoe, who delivered her by Caesarean section. Dr Steptoe said her birth would bring joy and hope to childless people around the world.

“Being the world’s first IVF baby has taken me to all corners of the world,” Louise said. “I am passionate about breaking the silence on all things fertility and ending the taboo about getting help for fertility issues or being born through scientific means. 

“I enjoy making media appearances and attending events to explain how IVF came about and lending help and support to all those trying to conceive and those who work in IVF and the science that brought me into the public eye. 

“My birth was the result of pioneering work by Patrick Steptoe, obstetrician and gynaecologist, and Robert Edwards, biologist and physiologist, helped by research assistant and nurse Jean Purdy. 

“It was the most remarkable medical breakthrough of the 20th century and also meant the end of 10-year journey by my parents, Lesley and John Brown, who had been trying to conceive.” 

Louise is an ambassador of the International Federation of Fertility Societies More Joy Campaign to develop and support policies that reduce infertility risk factors and make fertility care more accessible, affordable and fairer.

In welcoming Louise to the 2027 Congress, ASPIRE will celebrate almost five decades of IVF and the birth of around 17 million babies through the technology. The Congress will focus on how far assisted reproductive technology has advanced, and the possibilities ahead.

Zen and Innovation: Harmony in Reproductive Medicine is the theme of the 2027 ASPIRE Congress in Yokohama.

Professor Yutaka Osuga, Chair of the Congress Local Organising Committee, says the theme “beautifully captures the essence of how a calm and enlightened approach paves the way for best practices amidst the rapid advancement of technology.”

Japan is a leader in reproductive medicine reporting the highest number of IVF/ICSI cycles worldwide.

Professor Osuga said the Congress would deliver a diverse array of topics at the leading edge of assisted reproduction with inspiring regional and international lecturers.

May is an enchanting time to visit Japan and Yokohama, a 30-minute train ride from the heart of Tokyo, is a waterfront city perfectly blending heritage, culture and innovation.

Registration for the Congress will open on 31 August 2026 and early bird registration closes on 18 December. The abstract submission deadline is 6 November.

For more information, go to https://aspire2027.com

ASPIRE has refreshed its website – https://www.aspire-reproduction.org – to a more modern, user-friendly and engaging platform.

The site features streamlined membership access allowing members to:

• log in to view all available registered and unregistered programs at a glance; 
• download certificates for completed programs;
• view membership numbers and expiry dates;
• download invoices; and
• renew membership fully online.
• Access the Educational Portal 

Registration for all EduConnect programs can now be done directly on the website and viewed on the member portal. Masterclass registration is also available on the site.

The Educational Portal has recently undergone a revamp and has now been relaunched. All past programmes are also available on the portal for easy access and reference.

The website will evolve with continuing updates and members can look forward to a dedicated ASPIRE mobile app combining vital information into an easily accessible experience.

Australia’s assisted reproductive technology sector is entering an important period of transition to strengthen safety, quality, oversight and transparency.

The Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing has outlined a national reform program designed to improve the experience of patients, donors, donor-conceived people and families engaging with fertility care. 

A consultative program informed the program including engagement with donor-conceived people, donors, people who have used ART services, including egg freezing, and those who have supported someone through ART treatment.

A key component of the reform agenda is the development of an independent national accreditation scheme for ART services based on updated national safety and quality standards.

The standards will cover:

• performance monitoring metrics; 
• workforce and staffing guidance; and
• safety requirements for new and emerging technologies.

Until the new accreditation scheme is fully operational, the current regulatory framework will remain in place with the Reproductive Technology Accreditation Committee continuing to manage accreditation, certifications and annual surveillance audits. 

The Fertility Society of Australia and New Zealand has welcomed continued collaboration between governments, regulators, professional bodies, clinics and the wider community as the reform program progresses.

For further information go to https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/assisted-reproductive-technology-sector-reforms

ASPIRE was proud to take part in two major reproductive medicine meetings in Asia in the month of July: PITPOGI 2026 (Indonesia) and JSFI 2026 (Japan), reaffirming our commitment to education, collaboration, and the growth of the reproductive medicine community across the region.

At PITPOGI 2026, ASPIRE contributed to the scientific programme through a keynote lecture by Professor Jung Ryeol Lee, who presented "Translational Research in Ovarian Function Restoration: From Unmet Needs to Scientific Advances." His talk explored the latest developments in ovarian function restoration and sparked lively discussion among delegates.

At JSFI 2026, ASPIRE organised a dedicated scientific session with distinguished faculty members Dr David Chan, Dr Hong Yuan Huang, Dr Keshav Malhotra, and Dr Haroon Latif. Their presentations spanned a wide range of topics — time-lapse incubator efficacy, microfluidics-based sperm selection for male factor infertility, digital traceability and quality management in IVF laboratories, and practical applications of artificial intelligence in IVF clinics.

Beyond the scientific sessions, ASPIRE also maintained an on-the-ground presence at both congresses, engaging delegates on membership benefits, educational programmes, and professional development opportunities while connecting with the local fertility communities.

We are grateful to everyone who stopped by our booths, joined our sessions, and engaged with us. ASPIRE looks forward to building on these partnerships as we continue to support education, collaboration, and excellence in reproductive medicine throughout the Asia-Pacific region.

ASPIRE’s outstanding 2026 Congress in Beijing accelerated its growing status on the world stage of fertility health and assisted reproductive technology.

Around 3,300 delegates attended the Beijing Congress with many of the 60 countries represented attending ASPIRE’s premier annual event for the first time. 

Renowned for its academic and research institutions, Beijing is a hub for science, technology and international collaboration. China is the biggest provider of assisted reproductive technology services in the world and for Beijing, a city of 22 million people, it was the 20th anniversary of the first ASPIRE Congress in 2006.

President, Dr Haroon Latif, said ASPIRE was building a new era of cross border collaboration and networking to widen membership and influence.

“Our region accounts for over two-thirds of the world's IVF cycles and ASPIRE continues to play a critical role in advancing clinical standards, education, and research in reproductive medicine across the Asia Pacific.”

Dr Latif said the success of the Beijing meeting augurs well for ASPIRE’s 2027 Congress in Yokohama, Japan next May. 

“Thousands of specialists in assisted reproduction from across the world came to the Congress in Beijing to address fertility health challenges that impact on the Asia Pacific region and beyond,” he added.

“Throughout its relatively short history, assisted reproductive technology has faced many challenges, but it has overcome each of them to support those striving for parenthood.”

Dr Latif said ASPIRE had grown to become one of the world’s biggest and most influential societies in assisted reproduction and it has created dynamic education and awareness programs with communication technologies reaching participants across the globe.

“ASPIRE has established close links with other international bodies including the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, the International Federation of Fertility Societies and the Global Andrology Forum,” he explained.

“We are working collaboratively to achieve our objectives including raising awareness and understanding of infertility and to address vital issues of equitable and affordable access to care.

“I look forward to working closely with our dynamic ASPIRE community and the exceptional Board that guides it. With our shared commitment, collective wisdom, and deep expertise, I am confident that we can shape a future for ASPIRE that is impactful, inclusive and truly transformative for reproductive health across the region.”

ASPIRE was in the global spotlight at the 42nd annual meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) in London in early July.

The meeting featured a dedicated ASPIRE exchange session on enhancing fertility outcomes. It was co-chaired by ASPIRE President, Dr Haroon Latif and President-elect Professor Virgilio

Professor Chii-Ruey Tzeng, a pioneer and leader in reproductive medicine in Taiwan, spoke in the session on up-to-date treatment of

He was joined by Professor Richard Choy Kwong Wai, a Hong Kong-based expert in genomic medicine and molecular diagnosis, who addressed the meeting on under-recognized genome-wide uniparental disomy and triploidy in human blastocysts revealed by a concurrent preimplantation genetic testing method.

It was a showcase event for ASPIRE at one of the world’s biggest annual meetings on assisted reproductive technology. ESHRE collaborates globally in its mission to:
• advocate for universal improvements in scientific research;
• encourage and evaluate new developments in the field; and 
• foster harmonisation in clinical practice. 

Senior members of ASPIRE and representatives of the ASPIRE Secretariat also attended the ESHRE meeting in London to engage with colleagues from other major societies and to promote membership.

ASPIRE will feature at the 2026 Scientific Congress of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) in Baltimore in October. Dr William J. Huang from the National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University in Taiwan will address a roundtable subject entitled Decoding Spermatogenesis: Real Time Assessment of Meiotic during TESE.

Upcoming Events Where ASPIRE Will Be Officially Represented:

The 44th Annual Meeting of the Japan Society of Fertilization and Implantation (JSFI 2026)
Date: 30 - 31 July 2026
Location: Tokyo, Japan

MSART Annual Conference 2026 
Date: 16 to 18 October 2026
Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

ASRM 2026 Meeting
Date: 24 to 28 October 2026
Location: Baltimore, Maryland, USA

KSRM 2026 International Congress
Date: 5 – 6 December 2026
Location: Seoul, Korea

IFS FERTIVISION 2026
Date: 18 – 20 December 2026
Location: Kolkata, India

For more information, go to https://aspire-reproduction.org/events-calender.php