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Okayama University Hosts ART Educational Symposium

On November 7, 2025, Okayama University will hold a hybrid symposium titled "The Current State of Assisted Reproductive Technology Education and Future University Collaborations." This event, organized by the Center for Education and Research on Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) at Okayama University, aims to foster discussions on the essential role of ART education and the collaboration among universities to enhance training for ART specialists.

Program Overview

The symposium is set to take place from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM JST, and will feature both in-person and online participation options. Attendees can join in person at the Tsushima Campus at Okayama University or online via Zoom. The event acknowledges the increasing significance of ART in Japan, particularly following the introduction of health insurance coverage for infertility treatments, which has led to over 85,000 annual births from ART procedures.

Key Presentations

The speakers at the symposium will be distinguished experts in the field:

• - Dr. Osamu Tsutsumi (Honorary Director, Sanno Hospital) will discuss the current challenges and issues in reproductive medicine in Japan.
• - Prof. Masaru Mitani (Kinki University) will share insights on developing new educational platforms for embryo culture professionals.
• - Dr. Tatsuji Inohana (International University of Health and Welfare) will elaborate on expectations regarding assisted reproductive technology education and the educational consortium.
• - Associate Prof. Kenji Momozawa (Kitasato University) will talk about the development of educational programs for embryo cultivation in the context of agricultural and medical collaboration.
• - Prof. Tetsushi Kishigami (Yamanashi University) will provide insights into training embryo culture professionals at Yamanashi University.
• - Prof. Hiroaki Funabashi (Okayama University) will discuss ART career development education and the future of inter-university collaboration.

Participation Details

Joining the symposium is free of charge. Interested participants are encouraged to register via a Google Form, where they can indicate their preference for in-person or online attendance. Once registration is completed, online participants will receive a unique ID and password to access the event.

For further information about the event, such as the complete agenda and speaker bios, participants can refer to the official symposium poster and the Okayama University event page.

Organized by the Center for Education and Research on Assisted Reproductive Technology at Okayama University, the symposium is expected to foster a richer dialogue regarding the future of ART education and strengthen collaborative efforts among higher education institutions. This is particularly significant given the growing demand for trained professionals in reproductive medicine in Japan.

We look forward to welcoming participants to this enriching event focusing on the crucial area of assisted reproductive technology education. Let’s explore how combined efforts across universities can create a better future for ART specialists and the individuals they serve.