Artlab IVF Training Center

06/24/2026

Meet me at Booth D10! See you there!

06/19/2026

Such a pleasure to see all these up and coming embryologists in the MS program at EVMS!

06/18/2026

Love this lol

06/15/2026

On 4 June, The New York Times posted an online story with a dramatic headline: “In a First, Scientists Precisely Edit Human Embryo Genes.” Others quickly echoed the claim, reigniting a simmering debate over whether it’s safe, ethical, and worthwhile to create gene-edited babies. But the reality of the reported advance, an effort to improve the use in embryos of an approach called base editing, is more subtle than many stories suggested. (The New York Times changed its online headline by the next day to eliminate the “first” claim.)

Even the stem cell scientist who led the new work acknowledges the tool still has major limitations and says it shouldn’t yet be used to make a baby. “I think it [our findings] will shift the conversation but it won’t change the landscape of use anytime soon,” he says.

Science delves behind the headlines to look closer at his group’s research, posted as a preprint on 1 June: https://scim.ag/4uZlHT1

06/12/2026

Want to be more productive with AI, but not sure where to start? Join us for an introductory class for personal or professional use. Sign up here: https://forms.gle/2whwpsEbcQcAVQMv9

06/10/2026

Embryo organoids made from stem cells are enabling scientists to recreate early pregnancy in the lab, unlocking treatments for infertility, miscarriage and pre-eclampsia.

06/10/2026

Thoughts on this?

As doulas, we're not navigating embryonic or genetic research. However, part of being a community resource is being aware of information, trends, and current events related to all areas and stages of reproduction from preconception through parenting.

Dieter Egli, a geneticist at Columbia University who led the research said, “As a scientist, you can provide the data for discussion, but then essentially there you stop and let others take over."

"With a newer technology called base editing, Dr. Egli and his colleagues were able to meticulously replace individual genetic letters in sequences of DNA without causing the damage often observed with an earlier form of gene editing, CRISPR.

"Dr. Egli cautioned that the research left unanswered many questions about harmful side effects. “We’re not saying this is going to be used tomorrow in the clinics,” he said." - shared the New York Times

We saw incredible and life saving benefits from personalized CRISPR technology curing a rare and fatal metabolic disease in Baby KJ last year.

However, as research expands, and ability to alter genetics becomes a reality, the conversation around ethics continues to grow.

At what point is it incredible life improving and life saving technology versus falling into eugenics territory for "desirable characteristics" and ableist beliefs?

"Ana Iltis, a bioethicist at Wake Forest University, worried that assessing the safety of base-edited embryos will require far more scrutiny than simply looking for damaged chromosomes.
“It is possible that some of the potentially harmful effects would not be evident until after birth,” she warned." - New York Times

As doulas, we don't have to have an answer. But we can be aware of discussions and trends in reproduction.

Like we see with many advancements, they can be incredible, but they can also be overused and cause more harm than good.

What do you think about this scientific advancement?

06/10/2026

06/03/2026

05/31/2026

The May edition of Bishop Beat is live! Check out these campus updates and more below. ⬇

🔗https://conta.cc/4dzn4k5