Jacques Cohen

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Jacques Cohen
Born (1951-12-26) 26 December 1951 (age 71)
The Hague, Netherlands
Nationality Flag of the Netherlands.svg Dutch
Alma mater Erasmus University
State University of Leiden
Known for reproductive medicine
in-vitro fertilization
cryopreservation
Scientific career
Institutions University of Cambridge
Cornell University
Reprogenetics
Althea

Jacques Cohen (born December 26, 1951) is a Dutch embryologist based in New York, U.S. He is currently Director at Reprogenetics LLC, [1] [2] Laboratory Director at ART Institute of Washington at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center [3] (a joint fertility program with NIH), and Scientific Director of R & D at IVF-online.

Contents

While working with Robert G. Edwards, he reported the freezing and successfully thawing of a human blastocyst for in vitro fertilization [4] as the Senior Embryologist at Bourn Hall Clinic, Cambridge. At the same clinic, he developed methods to treat male factor infertility using in vitro fertilization (IVF). He also co-cultured human embryos with helper cells to promote growth. [5]

Cohen is known for the application of micromanipulation techniques to operate on eggs, sperm and embryos. Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) [6] and Assisted Hatching [7] are now routinely used worldwide to aid in helping couples achieve pregnancy. [8]

He is the Senior Editor at Reproductive Biomedicine Online. [9] He has also held faculty positions at Emory University, Cornell University Medical College, and the University of Connecticut.

Early Career and education

Cohen was born in The Hague, Netherlands. In 1970, he went to the State University of Leiden, where he received a BSc degree in Biochemistry and subsequently an MSc degree in Reproductive physiology in 1978. [10] Next, he attended the Erasmus University Rotterdam, where he obtained a PhD degree in Medicine in 1982, for his thesis named "Interaction between human spermatozoa and hamster oocytes". [11]

Embryology

In 1982, Cohen joined Bourn Hall Clinic as an embryologist, working with Patrick Steptoe and Robert G. Edwards on techniques geared towards improving human conception through in vitro fertilization (IVF). Robert G. Edwards was the recipient of the Nobel prize for Medicine and Physiology in 2010. It was in Cambridge that Cohen first successfully froze and thawed a human blastocyst for use in IVF. [12]

Cohen also pioneered the use of micromanipulation techniques that are now widespread among embryologists. He developed a precursor technique of Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI), which is now used for treatment of nearly all male factor infertility diagnoses. Assisted Hatching (AH) is another commonly applied technique aimed at increasing implantation rates among infertile couples. Some of his work, such as cytoplasmic transfer, an attempt to boost development using the cytoplasm of donor eggs to supplement eggs from certain infertility patients, and single sperm freezing, has caused considerable ethical debate. [13]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">In vitro fertilisation</span> Assisted reproductive technology procedure

In vitro fertilisation (IVF) is a process of fertilisation where an egg is combined with sperm in vitro. The process involves monitoring and stimulating an individual's ovulatory process, removing an ovum or ova from their ovaries and letting sperm fertilise them in a culture medium in a laboratory. After the fertilised egg (zygote) undergoes embryo culture for 2–6 days, it is transferred by catheter into the uterus, with the intention of establishing a successful pregnancy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Intracytoplasmic sperm injection</span> In vitro fertilization procedure

Intracytoplasmic sperm injection is an in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedure in which a single sperm cell is injected directly into the cytoplasm of an egg. This technique is used in order to prepare the gametes for the obtention of embryos that may be transferred to a maternal uterus. With this method, the acrosome reaction is skipped.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Assisted reproductive technology</span> Methods to achieve pregnancy by artificial or partially artificial means

Assisted reproductive technology (ART) includes medical procedures used primarily to address infertility. This subject involves procedures such as in vitro fertilization (IVF), intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), cryopreservation of gametes or embryos, and/or the use of fertility medication. When used to address infertility, ART may also be referred to as fertility treatment. ART mainly belongs to the field of reproductive endocrinology and infertility. Some forms of ART may be used with regard to fertile couples for genetic purpose. ART may also be used in surrogacy arrangements, although not all surrogacy arrangements involve ART. The existence of sterility will not always require ART to be the first option to consider, as there are occasions when its cause is a mild disorder that can be solved with more conventional treatments or with behaviors based on promoting health and reproductive habits.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Embryo transfer</span> Method of assisted reproduction

Embryo transfer refers to a step in the process of assisted reproduction in which embryos are placed into the uterus of a female with the intent to establish a pregnancy. This technique (which is often used in connection with in vitro fertilization, may be used in humans or in animals, in which situations the goals may vary.

The hamster zona-free ovum test, or hamster egg-penetration test, or sometimes just hamster test, is an in-vitro test used to study physiological profile of spermatozoa. The primary application of the test is to diagnose male infertility caused by sperm unable to penetrate the ova. The test has limited value, due to expense and a high false negative rate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fertility clinic</span>

Fertility clinics are medical clinics that assist couples, and sometimes individuals, who want to become parents but for medical reasons have been unable to achieve this goal via the natural course. Clinics apply a number of diagnosis tests and sometimes very advanced medical treatments to achieve conceptions and pregnancies.

Sammy Lee was an expert on fertility and in vitro fertilisation

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bourn Hall Clinic</span> Hospital in Cambridgeshire, England

Bourn Hall Clinic in Bourn, Cambridgeshire, England, is a centre for the treatment of infertility. The original building, Bourn Hall, is about 400 years old. Since becoming a medical centre, it has been greatly extended.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oocyte cryopreservation</span> Procedure to preserve a womans eggs (oocytes)

Human oocyte cryopreservation is a procedure to preserve a woman's eggs (oocytes). This technique has been used to enable women to postpone pregnancy to a later date – whether for medical reasons, or for social reasons. Several studies have shown that most infertility problems are due to germ cell deterioration related to aging. The intention of the procedure is that the woman may choose to have the eggs thawed, fertilized, and transferred to the uterus as embryos to facilitate a pregnancy in the future. The procedure's success rate varies depending on the age of the woman, with odds being higher in younger, adult women.

Joseph Daniel Schulman is a physician, medical researcher, and biomedical entrepreneur in the fields of genetic diseases and human reproduction.

Sperm sorting is a means of choosing what type of sperm cell is to fertilize the egg cell. Several conventional techniques of centrifugation or swim-up. Newly applied methods such as flow cytometry expand the possibilities of sperm sorting and new techniques of sperm sorting are being developed.

Pregnancy rate is the success rate for getting pregnant. It is the percentage of all attempts that leads to pregnancy, with attempts generally referring to menstrual cycles where insemination or any artificial equivalent is used, which may be simple artificial insemination (AI) or AI with additional in vitro fertilization (IVF).

The Genetics & IVF Institute (GIVF) is an international provider of infertility and genetics services and products, and also engages in biomedical research in these fields. The Institute was founded in 1984 by Dr. Joseph D. Schulman and associates. GIVF headquarters are in Fairfax, VA, US, and its facilities include locations in Pennsylvania, Minnesota, California, and Texas in the United States, as well as in China, Mexico, and several other countries.

Embryo culture is a component of in vitro fertilisation where in resultant embryos are allowed to grow for some time in an artificial medium.

Partner-assisted reproduction, reception of oocytes from partner (ROPA), reciprocal IVF,shared motherhood, partner IVF or co-IVF is a method of family building that is used by couples who both possess female reproductive organs. The method uses in vitro fertilization (IVF), a method that means eggs are removed from the ovaries, fertilized in a laboratory, and then one or more of the resulting embryos are placed in the uterus to hopefully create a pregnancy. Reciprocal IVF differs from standard IVF in that two partners are involved: the eggs are taken from one partner, and the other partner carries the pregnancy. In this way, the process is mechanically identical to IVF with egg donation. Reciprocal IVF offers the highest chance for pregnancy and a lower risk of a multiple birth. Using this process ensures that each partner is a biological parent of the child. This fertility process is one way that allows lesbian and trans male couples to reproduce and both be involved in the physical process of becoming pregnant.

The history of in vitro fertilisation (IVF) goes back more than half a century. In 1959 the first birth in a nonhuman mammal resulting from IVF occurred, and in 1978 the world's first baby conceived by IVF was born. As medicine advanced, IVF was transformed from natural research to a stimulated clinical treatment. There have been many refinements in the IVF process, and today millions of births have occurred with the help of IVF all over the world.

Simon Fishel is an English physiologist, biochemist and pioneering in vitro fertilisation (IVF) specialist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Globozoospermia</span> Medical condition

Globozoospermia is a rare and severe form of monomorphic teratozoospermia. This means that the spermatozoa show the same abnormality, and over 85% of spermatozoa in sperm have this abnormality. Globozoospermia is responsible for less than 0.1% of male infertility. It is characterised by round-headed spermatozoa without acrosomes, an abnormal nuclear membrane and midpiece defects. Affected males therefore suffer from either reduced fertility or infertility. Studies suggest that globozoospermia can be either total or partial, however it is unclear whether these two forms are variations on the same syndrome, or actually different syndromes.

The intracytoplasmic morphologically selected sperm injection (IMSI) is a laboratory technique used for In vitro fertilisation treatments. High-quality sperms are injected into the egg for fertilization, it is an advanced version of ICSI. A high powered microscope is used to pick out and the best sperm cells which are then used in a traditional ICSI protocol. In ICSI a magnification of x400 is used, while in IMSI an amplification of x6000 to x10,000 is used, increasing the magnification by a factor of 15. This allows the sperm to be examined in greater detail, including the nucleus which contains the sperm's genetic material. The use of this method has resulted in higher pregnancy and delivery rates and lower abortion rates. IMSI is a method that can be chosen by for anyone who has failed IVF cycles in the past, and for couples who have a component of male infertility.

Dmitri Dozortsev is a Russian-American physician scientist, inventor and researcher. Dozortsev's contributions in research and publications are mostly in the areas of human reproductive medicine and biology. In particular, he is best known for his studies of in vitro fertilisation and embryo transfer. Dozortsev currently serves as President of the American College of Embryology and as Director of Omni-Med laboratories.

References

  1. ↑ Reprogenetics Meet Our Team.
  2. ↑ IVF.NET "Jacques Cohen - Embryo Selection" IVF.NET , 31 May 2009.
  3. ↑ ART Institute of Washington - About Us Archived 2012-04-25 at the Wayback Machine Jacques Cohen.
  4. ↑ Cohen, Jacques; Simons, Roger F.; Edwards, Robert G.; Fehilly, Carole B.; Fishel, Simon B. (1985). "Pregnancies following the frozen storage of expanding human blastocysts". Journal of in Vitro Fertilization and Embryo Transfer. 2 (2): 59–64. doi:10.1007/BF01139337. PMID   4020239. S2CID   8187851.[ non-primary source needed ]
  5. ↑ Lai, YM; Stein, DE; Soong, YK; Tang, YX; Grifo, J; Malter, HE; Talansky, BE; Cohen, J; et al. (1992). "Evaluation of Vero cell co-culture system for mouse embryos in various media". Human Reproduction. 7 (2): 276–80. doi:10.1093/oxfordjournals.humrep.a137632. PMID   1577944.[ non-primary source needed ]
  6. ↑ Palermo, GD; Cohen, J; Alikani, M; Adler, A; Rosenwaks, Z (1995). "Intracytoplasmic sperm injection: A novel treatment for all forms of male factor infertility". Fertility and Sterility. 63 (6): 1231–40. doi: 10.1016/S0015-0282(16)57603-1 . PMID   7750593.[ non-primary source needed ]
  7. ↑ Cohen, Jacques (1991). "Assisted hatching of human embryos". Journal of in Vitro Fertilization and Embryo Transfer. 8 (4): 179–90. doi:10.1007/BF01130802. PMID   1753162. S2CID   22604458.[ non-primary source needed ]
  8. ↑ Moreno, C; Ruiz, A (1998). "Intracytoplasmic sperm injection as a routine indication in low responder patients". Human Reproduction. 13 (8): 2126–2129. doi: 10.1093/humrep/13.8.2126 . PMID   9756282.[ non-primary source needed ]
  9. ↑ Reproductive Biomedicine Online Journal Info - Editorial Board
  10. ↑ Jacques Cohen, Ph.D - website bestivf.org
  11. ↑ Doctoral dissertation J. Cohen (Jacques): Interactie tussen menselijke zaadcellen en hamstereicellen - website of Erasmus University Rotterdam's institutional repository, RePub
  12. ↑ Cohen, Jacques; Simons, Roger F.; Edwards, Robert G.; Fehilly, Carole B.; Fishel, Simon B. (1985-06-01). "Pregnancies following the frozen storage of expanding human blastocysts". Journal of in Vitro Fertilization and Embryo Transfer. 2 (2): 59–64. doi:10.1007/BF01139337. ISSN   1573-7330. PMID   4020239. S2CID   8187851.
  13. ↑ Barritt, J. A.; Willadsen, S.; Brenner, C.; Cohen, J. (2001). "Cytoplasmic transfer in assisted reproduction". Human Reproduction Update. 7 (4): 428–35. doi: 10.1093/humupd/7.4.428 . PMID   11476356.
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