Huntington Reproductive Center (HRC) in
vitro fertilization (IVF) laboratory has a long
and successful history. The original IVF lab was established
in 1988 with two reproductive endocrinologists and two
embryologists who performed approximately 100 cycles
per year. HRC is proud to have those 2 original embryologists
still working at HRC.
Today HRC has grown to include a
medical practice with 9 Reproductive Endocrinologists
/ fertility
specialists and 9 embryologists in 3 state-of-the-art
IVF labs. In fact, the original embryologists are still
working in the 2 newer labs. The HRC labs have grown
to be the largest in the West performing approximately
2,000 fresh IVF cycles annually. In 2002 Dr. Barry Behr,
a world-renowned embryologist, joined HRC as the Consulting
Laboratory Director adding international credibility
and leadership to the lab team. He has contributed significantly
to the introduction of state-of-the-art techniques and
new research opportunities.
The HRC laboratory is committed
to excellence in laboratory medicine by being in the
forefront of clinical
research. HRC has always been one of the leading
programs who applied many innovative reproductive techniques
such as: microfertilization techniques and established
the first ICSI pregnancy in the West coast, performed one of the
1st preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD)
in the USA in 1989 for a sex linked disorder and achieved
a pregnancy with in vitro culture of immature oocytes,
something that was rarely successful.
Currently HRC boasts some
of the best pregnancy and IVF
success rates in the Nation. Some of our current
research projects include: oocyte cryopreservation, culture media enhancement for optimal
embryo development, use of the laser in ART and applications
and outcomes of PGD.
Charlotte
Khoury, Scientific Director, Senior Embryologist
Charlotte Khoury is
the Orange County Scientific Director and Senior Embryologist.
She achieved her Masters of Science from California
State Polytechnic University and later established the
Orange County IVF laboratory.
Charlotte has over
11 years of experience in all aspects of assisted reproductive
technologies including IVF, GIFT,
ZIFT, ICSI,
egg freezing, embryo freezing, blastomere biopsy&
fixation. She has personally performed over 5,000 IVF
cycles. She is proficient in all micromanipulation procedures
including ICSI, assisted hatching and preimplantation
genetic diagnosis.
Dr. Victor Ivakhnenko
Dr. Victor Ivakhnenko is educated both as a clinician and an embryologist
and has unique familiarity with modern Artificial Reproductive
Technologies. He has been involved with ART and patient
care since 1988 and has significant skills in all aspects
of human IVF laboratory work. From the beginning of
his career Dr. Ivakhnenko's interests and work laid
ground for multiple scientific publications. Dr. Ivakhnenko
has been certified by the American Board of Bioanalysts
as a decision-making embryologist and presently is conducting
Preimplantation
Genetic Diagnosis procedures at HRC.
Anh
T. Le
Ms. Le received her
Bachelor degree in Medical Technology from the
University of Minnesota. She is board certified in
Moderate Complexity Laboratory Director as well as
a Technical Supervisor in the fields of Clinical Embryology
and Andrology. These certifications by the American
Board of Bioanalysts require demonstration of clinical
proficiency and testing. Her interests include reproductive
and genetic sciences. She has been involved in in
vitro fertilization
(IVF) for 10 years and has contributed to the success
of several IVF
centers.
Tih is one of two original
embryologists who began with HRC in 1988. He graduated
from Washington State University at Pullman with a Masters
degree in Zoology/Physiology and has been working in
the embryology field since 1985. He is highly skilled
in all aspects of embryology including micromanipulation
for procedures such as ICSI.
Cuong
Tran
Cuong is also
one of the original members of Huntington Reproductive
Center embryology staff serving as an embryologist since
the center's inception in 1988. He has extensive "hands
on" experience performing all assisted reproductive
technology procedures. He is especially proficient with
techniques such as gamete and embryo micromanipulation,
and working with immature oocytes. (Eggs)
Reena Shrestha
Reena earned
her Bachelor of Science degree at Tribhuvan University
in Kathmandu, Nepal. She has six years of clinical experience
in human embryology and is proficient in all assisted
reproductive technology procedures including micromanipulation.
She is highly skilled in conducting intracytoplasmic
sperm injection (ICSI), assisted hatching (AH), egg
and embryo freezing and blastomere biopsy.
Barry
R. Behr, PhD., HCLD
Consulting
Scientific & Laboratory Director
Be
sure and review Dr. Barry Behr's biography and qualifications.
