Dr Orly Lacham-Kaplan

 

Dr. Orly Lacham-Kaplan has completed her B.Sc and M.Sc in reproductive biology before specialising in applied research for male infertility for her Ph.D. studies while she was working as an IVF embryologist. She has been involved in the development of state of the art technologies to overcome male infertility. These includes microinjection of suboptimal sperm, testicular sperm and testicular germ cells into oocytes to overcome inability of men to fertilize their partners eggs and to help them father their own children. For those who have no sperm or testicular cells Lacham-Kaplan has developed the procedure of using somatic cells to fertilize eggs. This method is still under scientific investigation and if successful may assist many sperm less men to father children. Dr. Lacham-Kaplan is a specialist in nuclear transfer and cloning procedures. She has used her developed manipulation techniques in laboratory and farm animals such as mice, rats horses and cows. Her research in animals led to several national and international breakthroughs. 

Further details on her career and scientific developments are described below.






 

 

 

2005 Discovery

Stem Cells form Ovarian Structures

 

 

Orly Lacham-Kaplan

Specialises in sperm micromanipulation, stem cells and nuclear transfer techniques and is available for consultations on laboratory equipment, instrument making and techniques. 

To view a short video click below:

For more information please email Orly on:

Orly's email address

STRIP 1 West Ring Road
Monash University Clayton Campus
Melbourne, Australia

                        Orly's Favourite Links:
 

BBC interview

    

 

Creato l'embrione figlio di nessuno...

             

Orly in the media

The scientist creating embryos without sperm

 

Oocyte Activation after Intracytoplasmic Injection with Sperm Frozen Without Cryoprotectants Results in Live Offspring from Inbred and Hybrid Mouse Strains

 

Eggs And Sperm Made From Stem Cells

Female Orgasm  - Emerita Professor Beverly Whipple

 

 

 

CURRICULUM VITAE

EDUCATION
1980-1983:   Faculty of Life Science, Tel-Aviv University, B.Sc. (Biology).
1984-1987:   Faculty of Life Science, Department of Zoology, Tel-Aviv University, M.Sc. (Biology) "THE TWO CELL BLOCK OF RAT PRE-IMPLANTATION EMBRYOS IN VITRO"
Supervisors: Prof P.E. Kraicer, Zoology Department, Faculty of Life Science, Tel-Aviv University. Prof. R. Shalgi, Embryology Department, School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University.
1990-1996:   Centre for Early Human Development, Faculty of Medicine, Monash University.
Ph.D. (P/T) "FERTILIZATION USING SPERM MICROINJECTION IN THE MOUSE AND IN THE HUMAN"
Supervisor: Prof. A. Trounson, Centre for Early Human Development, Institute for Reproduction and Development, Monash University.
2001- Monash University, Department of Business and Economics:
Master in Management (P/T)

AWARDS: (as a principle investigator or co-investigator)
1986: Tel-Aviv University Travel Scholarship to attend the Gordon conference on Mammalian Genital Tract. Plymouth, N.H., USA. 
*1994: NH&MRC research grant " role of gamete maturation & sperm centrioles in fertilization, embryogenesis & infertility. 
1996: Monash-IVF research grant: "Sperm cytosolic factor-its identification and participation in oocyte activation and fertilization". 
1996: Monash-IVF research grant: "Effect of sperm maturity and methylation state on embryo viability".
1996: Monash University Travel grant to attend the ESHRE conference, Netherlands.
1997: Monash-IVF research grant: "Injection of human sperm into mouse oocytes for the purpose of chromosomal and centrosomal analysis".
1998: Monash-IVF research grant "Chromosome analyses of human sperm and spermatids using fluorescent in situ hybridisation (FISH) techniques". AU
1998/9: GA/DRDC grant "The production of Elite breeding Stock by Nuclear transfer and embryo multiplication.
1998/9:Monash University Travel grant to attend the IETS conference, Canada.
1999: Monash University Research Fund (MURF): Nuclear cloning of terminally differentiated fetal and adult somatic cells of mice.
1999: Significant Monash University Research Fund (SMURF): Nuclear cloning of fetal and adult somatic cells of rats. 
2000: Monash-IVF research grant "Fertilization using somatic cells as artificial gametes"
**2000: NIH research grant "Cryopreservation of ejaculated and epididymal sperm for mouse mutants and analyses of the safety of such methodology"
*As a senior research officer
** Joint at the second year of the grant as a post doc on a research fellow level B position.

CAREER:
1984-1987:   Instructor in student laboratories:
Comparative Anatomy, Histology and Endocrinology, Zoology Department, Tel-Aviv University.

1986-1987:   IVF Technician, Infertility Service, Beilinson Medical Centre, in charge of quality control.

1987-1988:   Visiting scientist at the Centre for Early Human Development, development of mouse and human sperm microinjection techniques and formation of transgenic mice by nuclear injection of DNA.

1989-1993:   Senior Technical Officer, Centre for Early Human Development, Institute for Reproduction and Development, in charge of micromanipulation laboratory.

1993-1994:   Chief Technical Officer, Centre for Early human Development, Institute for Reproduction and Development, in charge of micromanipulation laboratory.

1995-1997:   NH&MRC Research Officer (RO2), Centre for Early Human Development, Institute of Reproduction and development, in charge of gamete manipulation laboratory.

1998-1999:   DRDC Research Fellow Level A, Centre for Early Human Development, Institute of Reproduction and development, in charge of nuclear transfer  (cloning) laboratory. 

2000-2002:   NIH Research Fellow Level B, Centre for Early Human Development, Institute of Reproduction and development, in charge of gamete manipulation laboratory. 

2003-Monash IVF Research Fellow Level B, Centre for Early Human Development, Institute of Reproduction and development, in charge of gamete manipulation laboratory. 

1999-2002: Lecturer: Master of Clinical Embryology. Monash University. 
Coordinator and Lecturer: Practical Techniques & Statistics in Embryology 1 & 2. Monash University.
Lecturer: Graduate Diploma and Master of Reproductive Sciences. Monash University.

Student Supervision and Teaching:
1992:   Co-supervisor: One Diploma Reproductive Sciences student.
1993-1994:  Main supervisor: One Master Reproductive Sciences student.
1997-1998: Main supervisor: One Honours student One Master Reproductive Sciences student.
1999-2000:  Main supervisor: One Ph.D. student, IRD, Monash University.
Two Master Reproductive Sciences student.
Co-supervisor: One Ph.D. student, IRD, Monash University
Non-official supervisor: One Ph.D. student, IRD, Monash University.
2000-2002 Main supervisor: One Ph.D. student, IRD, Monash University.
One Master Reproductive Sciences student.
Co-supervisor: One Ph.D. student, IRD, Monash University

Membership in societies
The European society of Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE)
The Australian Society for Reproductive Biology (ASRB)

Patents
*April, 1999: Method of nuclear transfer (International filing) - PCT/AU99/00275
December 1999:  Novel nuclear transfer techniques and methods for producing cloned cells or genetically modified animals- PQ
**April 2000:   Fertilization by somatic cells (provisional filing) - PQ8001
*Fell at international level
** resubmitted as provisional

PUBLICATIONS
Papers
1. O. Lacham, A. Trounson C. Holden, J. Mann, H. Sathananthan (1989), Fertilization and development of mouse eggs injected under the zona-pellucida with single spermatozoa treated to induce the acrosome reaction. Gamete. Res. 23: 233-243.
2. A. Trounson, A. Peura and O. Lacham (1989), Fertilization of mouse and human eggs by microinjection of single spermatozoa under the zona pellucida. J. Reprod. Fertil. (Suppl.) 38:145-152.
3. I. Kola, O. Lacham, R.P.S. Jansen, M. Turner and A. Trounson (1990), Chromosomal analysis of human oocytes fertilized by microinjection of spermatozoa into the perivitelline space. Hum. Reprod. 5:575-577.
4. O. Lacham, and O. Trounson (1991), Fertilizing capacity of epididymal and testicular spermatozoa microinjected under the zona pellucida of mouse oocytes. Mol. Reprod. Devel. 29:85-93.
5. D. Sakkas, O. Lacham, L. Gianaroli, A. Trounson (1992), Subzonal sperm microinjection in cases of severe male factor infertility and repeated in vitro fertilization failure. Fert. Steril. 57:1279-1288.
6. A.H. Sathananthan, A. Trounson, A Peura, J. Mann, O. Lacham (1992), Fertilization in the mouse by single or multiple sperm injection: Ultrastructure. Asst. Reprod. Technol. Suppl III: 1-14.
7. O. Lacham-Kaplan and A. Trounson (1993) The effect of the sperm motility activator 2- deoxyadenosine and pentoxifylline used for sperm microinjection on mouse and human embryo development. Hum. Reprod. 8:945-952.
8. R.I. McLachlan, G. Fuscaldo, I. Calderon, O. Lacham-Kaplan, C. Poulos, H. Rho, A.
Trounson and C. Wood (1994), Microinjection: choice of embryo transfer techniques. Reprod. Fertil. Dev., 6:57-61.
9. O. Lacham Kaplan and A. Trounson (1994), Embryo development capacity of oocytes fertilized by immature sperm and sperm treated with motility stimulants. Reprod. Fert.  Dev., 6:113-116
10. O. Lacham-Kaplan and A. Trounson (1995), Mouse sperm fertilizing capacity following Subzonal microinjection is dependent on sperm washing and response to solubilized zonae pellucidae. Zygote. 3: 1-16.
11.  FL Barnse, A Crombie, DK Gardner, A Kausche, O. Lacham-Kaplan, AM Suikkare, J. Tiglias. C. Wood, A. Trounson (1995): Blastocyst development and Birth after in-vitro maturation of human primary oocytes, intracytoplasmic sperm injection and assisted hatching. Hum. Reprod. 10: 3243-3247.
12. O. Lacham-Kaplan and A. Trounson (1995), Intracytoplasmic sperm injection in mice:  Increased fertilization and development to term after induction of the acrosome  reaction. Hum. Reprod. 10: 2642-2649.
13. O. Lacham-Kaplan and A. Trounson (1997): Fertilization and embryonic developmental capacity of epididymal and testicular sperm and immature spermatids and spermatocytes. Rep. Med. Rev., 6: 55-68.
14. AH. Sathananthan, A. Szell, SC NG, A. Kausche, O. Lacham-Kaplan, AO Trounson (1997). Is the acrosome reaction a prerequisite for sperm incorporation after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)? Reprod. devel. fertil. 9:703-709.

15. A. Trounson, O. Lacham-Kaplan, M. Diamente, T. Gougoulidis (1999). Reprogramming cattle somatic cells by isolated nuclear injection. Reprod. Fertil. Devel.

16. A. McKinon, O. Lacham-Kaplan, A. Trounson (2000): Pregnancies produced from fertile stallions by intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) of single frozen/thawed spermatozoa into in-vivo matured mare oocytes. J. Reprod. Fert. Supp. 56: 513-517.

17. O. Lacham-Kaplan, M. Diamente, D. Pushett, V. Hall, I. Lewis and A. Trounson (2000): Developmental competence of nuclear transfer cow oocytes following direct injection of foetal fibroblast nuclei. Cloning: 2:2

18. E. Hayes, S. Galea, A. Verkuylen , M. Pera, J. Morrison, O. Lacham-Kaplan, A. Trounson (2001): Nuclear transfer of normal and genetically modified somatic cells in the rat. Physiological Genomics 5: 193-203.

19. K.M. Robertson, E. Simpson, O. Lacham-Kaplan, M. E. E. Jones (2001): Characterization of the fertility and sexual behavior of the male aromatase knockout (ArKO) mouse. J. of Andrology J. of Androl., 4:

20. N. Korfiatis, A. Trounson and O. Lacham-Kaplan (2001) Effects of donor cell cycle on in-vitro development of bovine nuclear transfer embryos produced by Piezo injection. Cloning, 3: 125-138.

21. O. Lacham-Kaplan, R. Daniels, A. Trounson (2001) Fertilization of mouse oocytes using somatic cells as male germ cells. Reproductive Biomed. Online, 3:205-211.


Chapters in Books
1. A. Trounson, C. Yates, P. Temple-Smith and O. Lacham (1989), The value of IVF for male infertility management, In; Perspectives in Andrology, Eds; M. Serio, Serono Symposia, Italy Raven Press, 53:421-429.
2. O. Lacham-Kaplan and A. Trounson (1994) The need of micro assisted fertilization in human reproduction. In; Gamete and Embryo Micromanipulation in Human Reproduction. Eds. S. Fisher and M Symonds, Edward Arnold press, London p: 55-59
3. A. Trounson, O. Lacham-Kaplan, L. Gianoroli (1994), Subzonal and intracytoplasmic sperm microinjection for treatment of severe male infertility In: Treating Male Infertility. Eds. G.M. Colpi, M. Balema, Prog. Reprod. Biol. Basel Karger 16:269-277.
4. O. Lacham-Kaplan and A. Trounson (1995), Micromanipulation assisted fertilization "Comparison of different techniques". In: Male Factor in Human Infertility. Ed. J. Tesarik, Serono Symposia, Rome, pp. 287-304.
5. A. Z. Szell, A. Kausche, K. May, O. Lacham-Kaplan, N. Lolatgis, J. F. Leeton and A. Trounson (1996): In vitro oocyte cultures: clinical aspects. Eds, M. Filicon and C. Flamigni, Elsevier Science B. V., pp 159-167.
6. A. Trounson, I. Gunn, O. Lacham-Kaplan, I. Lewis, A. McKinnon, T. Peura, J. Shaw  (1998). Manipulation of development: Opportunities for animal breeding. In:  Gametes: Development and Function. Eds. A. Lauria et al., Serono Symposia,  Rome. pp 485-499.

Abstracts
1. I. Kola, S. Edmonson, J. Proudfoot and O. Lacham (1989), The role of heat shock protein (HSP-70) in mouse oocytes and preimplantation embryos. Proc. Gene/Regulation/Oncogene 1:1.
2.  I Kola, S. Edmonson, A. Davy and O. Lacham (1989), Heat shock protein (HSP-70) expression is necessary for the activation of the embryonic genome in the mouse. Proc. Organization and expression of the Genome. 11:1.
3. A. Trounson, O. Lacham, L. Wilton, E. Barnaby. and I. Kola (1989), Micromanipulation in IVF: Basic and clinical advances. Cell Diff. and Devel. 27:34.
4. O. Lacham and A. Trounson (1989), Epididymal sperm function in the mouse assessed by microinjection under the zona pellucida of the oocytes. Proc. Aus. Soc. Rep. Biol. 21:86.
5. O. Lacham, D. Sakkas and A. O. Trounson (1990), Improved fertilization rates after microinjection of human male factor sperm under the zona pellucida. Proc. Fert. Soc. Aus. 25.
6. P.W. Sobieszczuck, S. Edmonson, O. Lacham and I. Kola (1990), Murine ets-2 Oncogene in early embryo development. EMBO meeting, Mol. Biol. of Vertebrate development 16:96.
7. O. Lacham-Kaplan and A. Trounson (1991), Fertilized mouse oocytes by immature spermatozoa have limited preimplantation development in vitro. Proc. Aus. Soc. Rep. Biol. 23:41.
8. D. Sobieszczuck, G. Fuscaldo, O. Lacham and A. Trounson (1991), Sperm microinjection and results in PROST TEST and IVF-ET cycles. Proc. Fert. Soc. Aus. 26.
9. G. Fuscaldo, R. McLachlan, D. Sobieszczuck, O. Lacham, A. Trounson (1991), Prediction of microinjection fertilization outcome based on semen characteristics. Proc. Fert. Soc. Aus. 26.
10. A. Trounson, O. Lacham (1993), Microinjection of sperm into ova. Proc. World Congress on IVF. 8.
11. M.C. Valiotis, O. Lacham-Kaplan and A. Trounson (1993), Pronuclei formation and embryo cleavage following electrofusion of round spermatids with oocytes from the mouse. Proc. Aus. Soc. Rep. Biol. 25:48.
12. O. Lacham-Kaplan, M.C. Valiotis and A. Trounson (1994), Development of mouse embryos after fusion of oocytes with testicular round spermatids. Theriogenology 41:232.
13. O. Lacham-Kaplan, A. Trounson (1994), Effect of sperm motility on the fertilization rate by intracytoplasmic sperm microinjection. Proc. Aus. Soc. Rep. Biol. 26:21.
14. A. Crombie, A.M. Suikkari, A. Kausche, J. Tiglias, O. Lacham-Kaplan, F. Barnes, A. Trounson (1994), Endocrinology of cycles involving immature oocyte collection. Proc. Fert. Soc. Aus. 27:08
15. A.H. Sathananthan, F.L. Barnes, A. Trounson, O. Lacham-Kaplan, A. Kausche, J. Tiglias (1994), Ultrastructure of human oocytes matured in vitro. Proc. Fert. Soc. Aus. 27:0137.
16.  A. Szell, A. Kausch K. May, O. Lacham-Kaplan, N. Lolatgis, JF Leeton, A. Trounson (1996), In-vitro oocyte cultures: clinical aspects. Symposium on The Ovary: Regulation, Dysfunction and treatment. Marco Iland, Florida (USA), Jan. 25-27.
17. O. Lacham-Kaplan, T. Gougoulidis, X. Ji, AO Trounson (1996): Expression of TEC4 antigen on mouse preimplantation embryos obtained from immature epididymal sperm. 12th Annual Meeting ESHRE, 30 June-3 July, pp. 60-61.
18. A. Trounson, O. Lacham-Kaplan and Teija Peura (1996): Fertilization and Development: From gamete fusion to development independent of the paternal genome. Serono Symposia, November 2nd, 1996, Hynes Convention Centre, Boston, USA.
19. O. Lacham-Kaplan, Y. Ohkuma, M. Jones, T. Gougoulidis, X. Ji., A. Trounson (1997): Fertilization of mammalian oocytes with immature sperm. Prince Henry’s 5th Annual Symposium, March 19-21, 1997, Monash Medical Centre, Melbourne, Australia.
20. O. Lacham-Kaplan, Y. Ohkuma, A. Trounson. (1997): Activation of mouse oocytes with human sperm extract increases fertilization rates after injection of immotile mature sperm and nuclei isolated from round spermatids. American Society for Reproductive medicine, 53rd Annual Meeting, October 18-22, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA. 
21.  A. Trounson, O. Lacham-Kaplan, G. Jones (1997): Reproductive capacity in patients with gonodal dysfunction. The XV FIGO World Congress of gynaecology and Obstetrics. September, USA.
22. O. Lacham-Kaplan and A. Trounson (1997), Growing embryos: do we really need a zona? In: ART: State of the art. Serono Symposia, December, Hawaii, USA.
23. O. Lacham-Kaplan, Y. Okuma and A. Trounson (1997), Genetic and developmental consequences of using immature sperm cells: spermatids and spermatocytes. In: ART: State of the art. Serono Symposia, December, Hawaii, USA.
24. J. Shaw, D. mattiske, O. Lacham-Kaplan, G. Shaw (1998), Development of ovarian tissue from pouch young of a marsupial, Macropus Eugenii, after grafting to SCID mice. Gordon research conference, July 5-9, Boston, USA.
25. BS. Choo, R. Glchrist, E. Spilseth, O. Lacham-Kaplan, O. Trounson, J. Shaw. (1998), Development of frozen thawed marmoset ovarian tissue after grafting to SCID mice. Australian Society for Reproductive Biology. August 23-26, Perth, Australia. 
26. O. Lacham-Kaplan, M. Diamente, O. Trounson (1999) Pregnancy following injection
Of mechanically isolated fetal fibroblast nuclei into enucleated bovine oocytes, Proc IETS, Theriogenology 51:206.
26. M. Diamente, O. Lacham-Kaplan, O. Trounson (1999) Development of enucleated bovine oocytes, Proc IETS, Theriogenology 51:198.

27. LM. Lewin, O. Lacham-Kaplan, L. Mittelman and A. Trounson (1999) Confocal microscopy of sperm chromatin decondensation in mouse eggs. Proc The Annual meeting of Israel Fertility Association (IFA) pp 25.
28. WG James, O. Lacham-Kaplan, AO Trounson (1999) Successful development of 6-DMAP replacement for bovine oocyte activation research. ASRB, Melbourne, Australia.
29. S. Galea, O. Lacham-Kaplan, AO Trounson (1999) Confocal analysis of decondensation and pronuclear formation in human sperm injected into murine oocytes. ASRB, Melbourne, Australia.
30. S. Galea, O. Lacham-Kaplan, AO Trounson (1999) preliminary study: high fertilization rates produced with prolonged storage of male factor patient sperm following ICSI into murine oocytes. ASRB, Melbourne, Australia.
31. N. Korfiatis, A. Trounson and O. Lacham-Kaplan (2000) Effects of donor cell cycle on in-vitro development of bovine nuclear transfer embryos produced by Piezo injection ASRB, Canberra, Australia
32. O. Lacham-Kaplan, M. Diamente, D. Pushet, V. Hall, I. Lewis and A. Trounson (2000) Nuclear transfer by injection of mechanically and chemically isolated fetal fibroblast nuclei in the bovine. ASRB, Canberra, Australia
33. O. Lacham-Kaplan, R. Daniels (2001): fertilization using cumulus cells as artificial gametes. ESHRE, Lausanne, Switzerland


Invited speaker:
1989  "Sub -Zonal sperm microinjection as a treatment for male infertility" Beilinson   Medical Centre, Petah Tikva, October, Israel.
1989  "Sub-Zonal sperm microinjection as a treatment for male infertility" Hakiria    Medical Centre, Tel-Aviv, October, Israel.
1990  "The need of microinjection in human reproduction" The first international congress on micromanipulation in human reproduction, Rome, December, Italy.
1991  "Sperm microinjection program at Monash IVF", Department of O & G, Gothenburg University, Gothenburg, November, Sweden.
1992  "Embryonic development after sperm microinjection" Serono satellite    symposium on male infertility, Adelaide, November, Australia.
1993  "SUZI and ICSI at Monash IVF" Monash IVF-IVF America Symposium, Melbourne, March, Australia.
1994  "Microinjection assisted fertilization: Comparison of different    techniques", Serono International Symposium on Male Factor In Human   Infertility. April, Paris, France. 
1997  "Fertilization of mammalian oocytes by sperm precursor cells and immature sperm", 5th Annual Symposium, Prince Henry's Institute of Medical Research,
March, Melbourne, Australia.
1997  "Genetic and development consequences of using immature sperm cells, spermatids and spermatocytes", Serono International Symposium on ART: State of the Art". December, Hawaii, USA.
1997. "Genetic and developmental consequences of using immature sperm cells: spermatids and spermatocytes". Serono International Symposium on ART: State of the Art". December, Hawaii, USA.
1999:  "Micromanipulation procedures for gametes and embryos" Australian Society for reproductive Biology (ASRB). September, 1999, Melbourne, Australia.

Extracurricular activities:
· Biosafety officer, OHS committee member.
· Public education on Nuclear Transfer technology: Giving lectures to activity groups, parent groups and teachers. 

Breakthrough findings:
· The production of the world first horse by sperm injection of frozen sperm into aspirated oocytes.
· The production of the first Australian cloned calves.
· The development of artificial gametes.