Welcome to SCOPE

Welcome back to SCOPE! As we step into a new year and a new quarter, we are looking forward to reconnecting, sharing insights, and continuing important conversations that support best practice, innovation, and wellbeing in the laboratory.

Thank you for being part of the SCOPE community - we’re excited for what’s ahead in 2026.

A Quarter in review: key highlights & insights from 2025

In the final quarter of 2025, Scope turned its attention to ergonomics within the IVF laboratory. To better understand current practices, we invited members of the ALPHA community to share their experiences via a series of LinkedIn polls. When asked about micromanipulation station chair support, responses highlighted a clear opportunity for improvement. While almost 40% of respondents reported that their chairs were fully supportive and adjustable, 42% indicated that their chairs were not ideal for long periods of work, and 18% admitted that their chair was uncomfortable.

Although these findings are anecdotal, they reinforce the importance of prioritising embryologist welfare. Posture, seating, and workstation design all play a critical role in reducing physical strain during highly precise tasks. As we move into 2026, this is an ideal time to reassess laboratory furniture and consider upgrades that can prevent another year of unnecessary discomfort and potential injury.

Ergonomics is not limited to seating alone. Over half of respondents also reported experiencing occasional mild strain from repetitive pipetting, with a further 16% noting frequent or noticeable discomfort. These responses point to the cumulative impact of repetitive movements and the need to consider tools that are ergonomically designed for regular use.

As laboratories plan for the year ahead, evaluating alternative pipette options and ergonomic aids may offer meaningful improvements in comfort, sustainability, and performance at the bench.

📢SCOPE Focus of the Quarter: New Year, New Initiatives, New SCOPE Edition

A new year is always an opportunity to reset, reflect, and refocus. As we move from 2025 into 2026, ALPHA’s SCOPE is using this first quarter to look ahead at how we continue building strong laboratory practices that stay true to our long‑term vision of supporting practitioners in reproductive medicine through active discussions, peer-reviewed literature and international meetings. Progress toward that future depends not only on innovation, but also on our willingness to change how we work today.

🗓️15th Biennial ALPHA Conference 2026

2026 is an ALPHA Conference year! We are delighted to welcome embryologists and reproductive scientists to the 15th Biennial ALPHA Conference, returning for its much-anticipated gathering in the breathtaking city of Dubrovnik, Croatia, from Friday 17 April to Sunday 19 April. Join us for cutting-edge science, stimulating discussion, and exceptional networking with colleagues from across the globe. Registration is open and early rates are available only until Friday 30 January. After this date, late registration fees will automatically apply, so be sure to secure your place! Click here to register.

We extend our sincere thanks to everyone who submitted abstracts; the outstanding quality of the submitted work made for a fascinating festive-season read for our review committee members.

Art of ARTists®

We continue to celebrate creativity and beauty in our field! We invite you to share your artistic vision - whether it’s a stunning illustration, a creative depiction of lab work, a photograph or a unique perspective on embryo development. Show us your art and inspire your colleagues - your work could be featured in the next issue!

Staying in the realm of ART, creativity goes beyond the laboratory. We’ve noticed several clinical embryologists are using art and storytelling to create their own books that explain the patient's journey and reveal what happens behind the closed doors of the IVF laboratory. 

Take a look at Alice Lee and Diana Tain’s “Egg + Sperm = Babies” and Jennifer Ferrandiz’s “Make a Wish”.

💡Sustainability Spotlight

As the new year begins, consider making a simple but impactful resolution: only clinical waste belongs in the clinical waste bin. Take this opportunity to review your lab practices, conduct a waste audit, and monitor what is routinely being disposed of in clinical waste. Small changes in how we manage waste can make a big difference for both sustainability and efficiency in the lab.

British Medical Association: Template guide for clinical waste self-audit

Health Care Without Harm: Toolkit to understand plastic use in the laboratory. (How to perform a plastic audit from Page 33).

My Green Lab: Article “How to reduce waste in the Laboratory”

Keeping up With Literature

Stay at the forefront of reproductive science with our affiliated journal - RBMO. ALPHA membership provides access to RBMO and a wide range of basic research and clinical papers, helping you stay informed about the latest advancements, techniques, and best practices in the field. These resources can also provide the evidence and insights needed to support changes and improvements in your lab as you plan for the new year. Explore RBMO Hot Topics through this link!

Physical activity, sedentary time and sperm DNA fragmentation index in healthy Japanese men

Subtle translocation does not affect euploid blastocyst rate or pregnancy outcomes during preimplantation genetic testing

Comparing subjective indicators of health in adults aged 27–38 years conceived with and without assisted reproductive technology

On My Mind… Closing message from the Executive Committee 

Irene Cuevas-Sáiz, MSc

Just a year into my appointment to the ExCo of ALPHA, I’d like to share my reflections on my experience so far. Being part of this society feels like a dream realized. ALPHA’s founders and its leadership over the years have been professional role models of mine, and I am delighted to learn from their experiences and contribute to a shared vision as an ExCo member. 

In 2025, we focused mostly on the upcoming Congress in Dubrovnik, Croatia (Don’t miss it!) I hope you have had an opportunity to take a close look at the program. Putting the conference program together involved identifying the most elevant and engaging topics for our field today, while also looking ahead to future directions. We invited speakers recognized for their outstanding contributions, expertise and sharing their work in accessible and engaging ways. Reviewing the abstracts was a particularly rewarding experience, with many excellent submissions received and accepted for presentation at the meeting. 

While the congress has understandably occupied much of this year, what has struck me most from within the society is its strong collaborative spirit. This is reflected both in the development of consensus documents for clinical embryologists and in the sharing of knowledge across the wider scientific community through close collaboration with related societies.

At its core, ALPHA is about science for scientists, and I feel so grateful to be a part of this community. Many thanks to the entire Executive Committee, especially Alison and Mina, for their support and trust. We will continue our work, remaining true to the mission of ALPHA, as envisioned by its founders and hope that they will feel proud of our work. I am confident that the work will be fruitful with many new and meaningful projects ahead.

Finally, I would like to encourage all embryologists and reproductive laboratory specialists to become part of ALPHA. If you are already a member, you know all the advantages of membership. If you are not a member yet… What are you waiting for? Let´s continue to learn, communicate, and collaborate - together!

See you all in Dubrovnik!!