Biography
Joyce Harper is Professor of Human Genetics and Embryology at University College London in the Institute for Women’s Health where she is head of the Reproductive Health Department, Principal Investigator of the Embryology, IVF and Reproductive Genetics Group, Director of Education and Director of two MSc programmes - Prenatal Genetics and Fetal Medicine and Reproductive Science and Women’s Health. She has been working in the fields of IVF and reproductive genetics since 1987. Her research includes preimplantation genetic diagnosis, factors affecting preimplantation development, comparison of in vivo and in vitro development, vitrification, differences in culture media, embryo selection methods, DNA damage, aneuploidy in sperm and social and ethical issues surrounding IVF and reproductive genetics including gamete donation and surrogacy.
Joyce has had many senior roles in the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE), including establishing the ESHRE PGD Consortium. She is chair of the HFEA Horizon Scanning Group and a member of the HFEA Science and Clinical Advances Advisory Committee. She is currently on the Board of the British Fertility Society and deputy chair of the Fertility Education Initiative. She has established a public engagement group to discuss women’s health and wellbeing issues – www.globalwomenconnected.com. She has been running hands on training courses in IVF and PGD since 1996 (www.embryologyandPGDacademy.com).