Embryologist of the month of May 2016
Dr. Karl Illmensee received his PhD at the University of Munich, Germany in 1970. From 1971-1978 he was appointed Research Associate at various University and Medical Institutes in the USA. In 1978 he was appointed Professor of Embryology and Developmental Genetics at the University of Geneva, Switzerland. In 1988 he was nominated Professor of Molecular Embryology at the University of Salzburg, Austria.
Dr. Illmensee together with his american colleagues reported the first successful cloning in mammals in 1981.
In 1996 Dr. Illmensee was appointed Professor of Reproductive Medicine at the University Hospital of Innsbruck, Austria until his Emeritus retirement in 2005. From 2002-2006 he served as a Director of Research and Development of Reprogen Ltd., Limassol, Cyprus and the American Andrology Institute at Lexington,USA.
In 2007 Dr. Illmensee was appointed Laboratory Director at the Genesis Fertility Center, Patras, Greece. Since then, his research activities have been focused on embryo twinning and growth factors associated with embryo culture in human IVF. During his scientific and clinical career spanning over five decades, Dr. Illmensee has published many scientific articles and served as member of the advisory board for several international institutions and scientific journals. He has been invited as speaker and chairman of numerous international conferences.
Dr. Illmensee was elected a member of the European Molecular Biology Organisation (EMBO) and was voted as Austrian representative for the advisory committee of the European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE). He holds an honorary membership at the Medical Society of the World Health Organisation (WHO). During his long-standing and renowned career Prof.Illmensee has been honoured with several international awards.
