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Future Fertility welcomes new advisory board members heading into 2024
The group is comprised of professionals at the forefront of reproductive medicine, artificial intelligence and global healthcare
Future Fertility, the pioneer of AI-powered oocyte assessment, has proudly announced the expansion of its advisory board.
This distinguished group is comprised of professionals at the forefront of reproductive medicine, artificial intelligence and global healthcare. The advisory board’s members bring a wealth of expertise that spans clinical practice, embryology, scientific research, commercial strategy and AI integration.
Future Fertility held its inaugural advisory board meeting at this year’s ASRM congress in New Orleans, bringing the group together to reflect on the company’s progress in 2023 and identify areas for growth and support into 2024 and beyond.
“As a technology company that serves such a specialised area of medicine and laboratory practice, having the means to gain practical feedback, guidance and advice from industry experts will ensure our products continue to evolve in a way that meets the needs of our clients, and ultimately patients, worldwide,” says Christy Prada, CEO of Future Fertility.
“We are lucky to have such an inspiring group of leaders in their field supporting our ambitions.”
New members of Future Fertility’s advisory board include:
Sebastian Bohl – VP, Global Head of Product Planning & Portfolio Expansion, GBF Fertility at Merck Healthcare
Sebastian Bohl is an accomplished entrepreneurial leader with a diverse background that spans the pharmaceutical, diagnostics and medical devices sectors. His global and in-country roles have honed expertise in commercial strategy, marketing, consulting, and business development. With a keen drive for innovation and efficiency, he consistently delivers high performance, exemplifying a commitment to refining business models and organisational structures for optimal results. Mr Bohl’s commercial expertise aligns with Future Fertility‘s ambitions for growth in 2024.
Dr Kate Devine – Medical Director and Chief Research Officer, US Fertility
Dr Kate Devine is US Fertility’s Medical Director and Chief Research Officer. As a board-certified REI (Reproductive Endocrinologist and Infertility Specialist), she treats patients in Washington DC and was Shady Grove’s Research Director for over a decade. In her role as CRO at US Fertility, she leads a dedicated research division, expanding medical care in the field while also overseeing a culture of medical excellence at the network of clinics. She has authored more than 40 peer-reviewed articles and has a special focus on endometrial receptivity and optimization of frozen transfer cycles.
Dr Kathy Miller – Chief Scientific Officer, Innovation Fertility
Dr Kathy Miller, with a deep background of combined experience in research and laboratory management, serves as the Chief Scientific Officer at Innovation Fertility and is also the Vice President of MedTech For Solutions. She has authored over 100 abstracts, papers, and chapters on her research, which focuses on advancements in blastocyst culture, pre-implantation genetics and other new technologies such as time-lapse and artificial intelligence. This focus makes her a valuable contributor to Future Fertility’s pursuit of innovation.
Dr Mitch Rosen – Fertility Physician and Director, UCSF Fertility Preservation Program
Based at the UCSF Center for Reproductive Health, Dr Mitch Rosen is an expert in reproductive endocrinology and fertility, uniquely holding multiple clinical and laboratory roles. He is a fertility physician and high complexity lab director (HCLD), as well as an Associate Professor at UCSF where he teaches medical students, residents, and fellows. His commitment to medical education and research enhances the clinical and scientific depth of Future Fertility’s advisory team.
Dr Prati Sharma – Reproductive Endocrinologist, CReATe
Dr Prati Sharma, a distinguished REI at CReATe in Toronto, brings a patient-centric approach to the advisory board. Active in various medical associations across North America, her extensive training and board certifications underscore her commitment to providing exceptional patient care. Dr Sharma combines her love for research in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility with “patient-centred” clinical practice.
These new advisory board members join the following established members:
Dr Angie Beltsos – CEO Clinical and Medical Director, Kindbody
Dr Angie Beltsos is a board-certified REI and Chief Executive Physician of Kindbody, a national network of fertility clinics and fertility benefits provider in the US. She is also the founder and was CEO and CMO of Vios Fertility Institute – a network of fertility clinics. She has received numerous awards and is a popular speaker, both nationally and internationally, and a frequent media resource on the topic of infertility. Dr Beltsos is the executive chairperson for the Midwest Reproductive Symposium International and continues to educate and mentor REI doctors and students of all stages of education.
Dr Avi Goldfarb – Chair in Artificial Intelligence and Healthcare, Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto
Professor Goldfarb’s leadership and groundbreaking research at the intersection of AI and healthcare provides pivotal insights in shaping Future Fertility’s responsible and interpretable AI solutions.
Dr Jim Meriano – Director, Embryology Laboratory, TRIO Fertility
Dr Jim Meriano has been instrumental in shaping and advancing Future Fertility’s AI-based oocyte assessment solutions. His extensive experience as an embryologist and lab director, spanning over 30 years in the field of fertility, has significantly contributed to the company’s research and academic insights.
Dr Rita Vassena – Founder and CEO, Fecundis
Dr Rita Vassena brings more than two decades of expertise in biomedical and fertility research to Future Fertility. With a notable tenure as the Global Scientific Director at Eugin Group and two terms as an Executive Member of ESHRE, she has co-authored over 110 fertility research papers. Currently leading Fecundis, Dr Vassena’s extensive experience and leadership will enrich Future Fertility’s scientific strategy.
With this accomplished advisory board, Future Fertility looks ahead to a year of commercial growth and innovation in 2024. The diverse expertise spanning clinical, embryology, commercial strategy and research uniquely positions the company to contribute significantly to its mission of developing AI-based solutions that solve real information gaps across the fertility journey.
Women with ADHD are nearly twice as likely to experience perimenopause symptoms compared with women without ADHD, new research has revealed.
The study reported 54 per cent of women with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder had perimenopausal symptoms, compared with 30 per cent without the condition.
Among perimenopausal women with ADHD, 59 per cent reported psychological symptoms such as anxiety, low mood, irritability and fatigue.
Physical symptoms, including hot flushes, headaches or palpitations (a rapid or irregular heartbeat), occurred in 30 per cent with ADHD versus 14 per cent without.
Published in 2025, the research also found symptoms tended to start earlier for women with ADHD, peaking around ages 35 to 39, while those without ADHD reported their most severe symptoms around age 45.
The study suggests two explanations for the increased burden among women with ADHD.
Firstly, anxiety and lower socio-economic status are known risk factors for perimenopausal symptoms; both are more common among women with ADHD and chronic stress may amplify risk.
Secondly, oestrogen helps modulate ADHD symptoms.
Women with ADHD are at higher risk of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) and other cycle-related issues because ADHD symptoms can intensify when oestrogen levels fall.
During perimenopause, oestrogen naturally declines, so women with ADHD may experience both typical perimenopausal symptoms and a worsening of ADHD symptoms at the same time.
The research also found a higher prevalence of lifetime post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms among women with ADHD.
When this factor was accounted for, women with ADHD who did not have PTSD still faced increased risks, though both risk and symptom intensity were reduced.
These findings suggest that interventions which reduce chronic stress and inflammatory responses could help women with ADHD navigate perimenopause more effectively.
Stanford graduates’ startup Clair is building a wearable hormone tracker for women, offering continuous, non-invasive monitoring.
The company, Clair, founded by Jenny Duan and Abhinav Agarwal, aims to build what its founders describe as a research-led, privacy-focused tool to help women see how hormone levels affect daily life.
Duan and Agarwal met in spring 2025 and began working on Clair shortly after. Over the past six months, they have been developing the technology and refining the company’s mission.
The device is designed to address gaps in women’s healthcare. Women remain underrepresented in medical research and clinical trials, leading to limited data and slower progress in understanding women’s health conditions.
According to Clair advisor and Stanford Medicine professor Brindha Bavan, hormone tracking in reproductive healthcare “improves our understanding of the function of and communication between the brain’s pituitary gland and ovaries or testes.
The pituitary gland is a small organ at the base of the brain that produces hormones regulating many bodily functions. The ovaries and testes are the primary reproductive organs that also produce sex hormones.
Hormonal health affects not only fertility and reproduction but also mental health, metabolism, energy levels and overall wellbeing.
Bavan said hormone tracking can “provide insight into menstrual cycle patterns and can aid with both diagnosing and assessing treatment for [various] conditions.”
“[Clair enables] patients [to] gain insight into their personal hormone fluctuations over different time periods,” Bavan said, “and share this information at healthcare visits to better understand and correlate any medical issues they are facing and avoid repeat blood draws.”
The device, which resembles a bracelet worn on the wrist, will connect to a mobile app, allowing all data processing to occur directly on the user’s phone rather than in external data centres.
“The device connects with an app so all of the processing happens on the app itself, not in a data centre like other devices. This is especially important given the current political climate around data privacy,” Agarwal said.
Clair also plans to pursue FDA approval and position itself as a medically credible device rather than solely a lifestyle product. The company is planning to launch a clinical trial at Stanford Medicine this spring.
Duan’s interest in women’s health and technology began as a Stanford undergraduate. At TreeHacks in 2024, she built apps focused on endometriosis, a condition where tissue similar to the lining of the womb grows outside of it.
She said a course on Philanthropy for Sustainable Development was particularly influential. “It was this class that sparked my interest in building a solution in [the women’s healthcare] space,” Duan said.
WUKA has announced a groundbreaking partnership with the Royal Yachting Association (RYA), including RYA Scotland and RYA Northern Ireland, supporting women and girls in sailing.
Building on WUKA’s growing #TackleAnything campaign – which has already reached thousands of girls across sports in the UK – this collaboration brings practical period solutions into sailing.
Together, WUKA and the RYA are committed to breaking down barriers so periods never limit confidence, participation, or performance on the water.
Ruby Raut, WUKA founder & CEO, said: “Partnering with the RYA has been incredibly important for us at WUKA.
“Sailing is an amazing way for women and girls to build confidence, and periods shouldn’t hold anyone back from enjoying the water or reaching their full potential.
“Through this partnership and our #TackleAnything campaign, we’re proud to provide practical solutions and innovative products that help female sailors feel comfortable, confident, and free to focus on learning, performing, and having fun.
“Breaking down barriers and supporting women to tackle anything — on land, at sea, and everywhere in between – has never felt more meaningful.”
WUKA, which stands for Wake-Up Kick Ass, shares the RYA’s commitment to inclusivity and empowerment.
In 2023, WUKA launched #TackleAnything, a campaign supporting women, girls and sportspeople with periods. Since its launch, the initiative has reached 3,576 girls across 46 clubs and partnered with a range of sports across the UK – from Scottish Gymnastics to Titans wheelchair basketball – helping young athletes play without limits and stay confident, comfortable, and in the game.
The brand offers period-friendly aquatic apparel and practical solutions that help women train and compete with freedom of movement and total assurance.
Through this partnership, WUKA will provide innovative period swimwear for young sailors across key RYA programmes, including the NI Sailing Team, the RYA Scotland Performance Pathway Programme, and the British Sailing Pathways Talent Academies.
By combining WUKA’s mission to challenge stigma with the RYA’s commitment to inclusion, the partnership ensures young sailors can focus on what matters most – learning, performing, and enjoying their time on the water – with confidence and comfort. RYA members will also receive a 10 per cent discount on WUKA products.
Sailing offers incredible benefits for women and girls, but time on the water can present unique challenges -particularly during menstruation.
Together, WUKA and the RYA are providing practical solutions that remove these barriers, helping young sailors participate fully and confidently in the sport.
Sara Sutcliffe, RYA CEO, said: “At the RYA, we have been making strides to break down barriers for women of all ages to help ensure they can experience the water in a supportive and positive environment.
“From education workshops and practical sessions, we want to make sure our female sailors are empowered and this partnership is another great example of how we can demonstrate possible tools to equip them to succeed”.
This partnership is part of the RYA’s wider commitment to making sailing a sport where women and girls can thrive. Alongside initiatives such as the Female Futures Group, the Women’s Race Officials Programme and all new Talent Academy Female Future’s Camps; it demonstrates a continued focus on removing barriers and creating meaningful opportunities across every stage of the sailing.
WUKA’s involvement ensures that practical solutions are available on the water, from innovative period swimwear to support resources, helping young sailors feel fully equipped and confident during training and competition.
By integrating these tools into RYA programmes, WUKA brings a new level of comfort and assurance to female athletes, allowing them to focus entirely on performance, enjoyment, and growth in the sport.
For any women and girls looking to learn more about sailing, visit www.rya.org.uk.
For more information on WUKA visit www.wuka.co.uk.
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