Education

Profile

  Dr. Ahmady received his PhD in Embryology from National University of Singapore under the supervision of Professor SC Ng, a pioneer in micromanipulation and the scientist credited for producing the first SUZI (Sub zonal insemination, technique prior to ICSI) live birth in humans. His post- graduate research focused on male infertility. He did a systematic study of fertilizing ability of dead sperm (at cellular and molecular level especially DNA damage) to unravel the process of life, concluding integrity of sperm DNA is the most determining factor. He developed Single Sperm Curling test for selecting a viable sperm in ICSI procedure. He also developed the hamster-ICSI assay for evaluating fertilizing ability of severe male factor patient's sperm. He produced first ICSI live-birth in mouse.  In 2000 He took one year post-doctoral fellowship in Dr. Andras Nagy lab at Samuel Lunenfield Research institute, Toronot working on somatic cell nuclear transfer, stem cell, and mitochondria injection.
Currently Dr. Ahmady is an assistant professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Southern California, a member of USC stem cell, and Lab director at USC fertility center.

Research Interest

• Mitochondrial injection
• In vitro maturation
• Optimizing vitrification using supercool ice-blocker
• 3D culture
• Induced pluripotent stem cells
• In vitro generation of gametes

Professional Activities

1. Produced live-birth from ICSI-derived embryos in the mouse. This is the first report of live-birth following mouse ICSI (Human Reprod., 1995; 10: 431-435).
2. Developed hamster-ICSI assay as a test for fertilizing ability of severe male factor sperm prior to clinical ICSI (J. Ass. Reprod., 1996; 13: 647-651).
3. Developed Single Sperm Curling (SSC) test for selection of viable sperm in ICSI procedure (Fertil Steril., 1997; 68:346-350).
4. Produced live-birth from injection of dead sperm (at the various stage of cell death) in the mouse. This is the first systematic study in fertilising ability of dead sperm (Human Reprod, 1999; 14: 2279-2285; Human Reprod, 1997; 12: 2797-2801; J. Exp. Zool., 1999, 284:696-704).
5. Publication of DNA damage is cited in practice guidelines of American Society for Reproductive Medicine[Fertil Steril 2006; 86 (5 suppl 1): S35–S37].

Editorial Board Journal Member

1. Journal of Reproduction and Stem Cell Biothechnology (JRSCB).
2. Iranian Journal of Reproductive Medicine (IJRM).

Professional Society Member

1. American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM).
2. American Association of Bioanalyst (AAB).
3. American Board of Bioanalysis (ABB).
4. College of Reproductive Biology (CRB).
5. American College of Embryologist (ACE).
6. Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis Special Interest Group (PGD SIG).

Extra Professional Activity

• College of American Pathologist (CAP): Reproductive laboratory Team leader inspector.
• Reviewer for Journal of Andrology, Fertility & Sterility, European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, and Human Reproduction.

Honors and Awards

Award/ Certificate

1. HCLD (High Complexity Lab Director), ABB, USA 2004.
2. Certificate of qualification as Lab director in Andrology and Endocrinology from New York state department of health, 2005.
3. Second prize of the first Royan International Infertility Research Award, Tehran, Iran, Sep 2000.
4. Authorised by Ministry of Health, Singapore, to perform laboratory procedures in IVF and other Assisted reproduction Technologies (ART) in Singapore January 1996-Dce 1999.
5. National University of Singapore to pursue postgraduate studies (covered tuition fees and stipend), 1995.

Publications

1. Farghaly T, Khalifa E, Mostafa S, Hussein M , Bedaiwy M, Goldfarb J, Ahmady A. The Effect of Temporary Meiotic Attenuation on the In Vitro Maturation Outcome of Bovine oocytes. In Preparation.
2. Farghaly T and Ahmady A. In Vitro Maturation Outcome of Bovine Oocytes after Using Two Meiotic Inhibitors in Extended prematuration culture. In Preparation
3. Farghaly T and Ahmady A. Improving the success of the in vitro maturation outcome of bovine oocytes by controlling the maturation process using meiotic inhibitors. In Preparation.
4. Farghaly T and Ahmady A. The effect of Three Dimensional pre-maturation culture with or without meiotic inhibitors on the in vitro maturation outcome of bovine oocytes. In Preparation.
5. Farghaly T and Ahmady A. The effect of Body Mass index on the rescue in vitro maturation and overall IVF outcome in controlled ovarian hyperstimulation cycles. In Preparatin.
6. Farghaly T and Ahmady A. Evaluation of the outcome of in vitro matured oocytes in stimulated IVF cycles. In Preparation
7. Farghaly T and Ahmady A. The effect of Alginate three dimensional culture on the development of pre-implantation mouse embryos. In Preparation.
8. Badrzadeh H, Najmabadi S, Paymani R, Macaso, T, Azadbadi Z and Ahmady A, Supercool X-1000 and supercool Z-1000, two ice blockers, and their effect onvitrification/warming of mouse embryo.EJOGRB, 2010; 151:70-1.
9. Sun L, Liu L, Li M, Afifiyan N and Ahmady A, PGD and prenatal diagnosis: a comparison and a review in different genetic disorders, 2010, CWHR, 2010; 6:245-9.
10. Baw, CK, Ly KD, Kader A, Ahmady A, Agarwal A. Single Blastocyst Transfer: Contemporary Experience. CWHR, 2010; 6:219-26.
11. Kader A, Agarwal A, Abdelrazik H, Sharma RK, Ahmady A and Falcone T. Evaluation of post-thaw DNA integrity of mouse blastocysts after ultrarapid and slow freezing. Fertil Steril. 2009;91:2087-94.
12. Ahmady, A and Michael E. Successful pregnancy and delivery following intracytoplasmic injection of frozen-thawed non-viable testicular sperm and oocyte activation with calcium ionophore. Journal of Andrology, 2007; 28:13-4.
13. Ahmady et al. Birth of health boy following transfer of vitrified donor embryo. In preparation.
14. Chew S, Ahmady A, Goh P.S. and Foong L.C. The effects of 1.5T magnetic resonance imaging on early murine in-vitro embryo development. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2001; 13:417-420.
15. Ahmady A and Ng, SC.  Influence of sperm plasma membrane destruction on human sperm head decondensation and pronuclear formation.Arch Androl., USA, 1999; 42:1-7.
16. Ahmady A, and Ng SC. Developmental capacity of damaged spermatozoa. Human Reprod, 1999; 14: 2279-2285. 
17. Ahmady A and Ng, SC. Destruction of protamine in human sperm inhibit sperm binding and penetration in zona-free haster penetration test, but increase sperm head decondensation and male pronuclear formation in hamster-ICSI assay. J. Assist. Reprod. Genet., 1999; 16:128-132.
18. Ahmady, A and Ng, SC. Fertilizing ability of apoptotic (DNA-damaged) spermatozoa. J. Exp. Zool.,  1999 ,284:696-704.
19. Ahmady, A and Ng, SC. Is biologically dead sperm reproductively dead. Biol. Reprod., 1999; 60 (Suppl. 1): 105 (abst. 36).
20. Ahmady, A; Bongso, A and Ng, SC.  Induction of Acrosome reaction in human sperm by exposing to an electrical field. Arch. Androl., USA, 1997; 38: 57-65.
21. Ahmady, A and Ng, SC. Single Sperm Curling (SSC) test, a modified hypo-osmotic swelling test, as a potential technique for selection of viable sperm in ICSI procedure. Fertil Steril., USA, 1997; 68:346-350.
22. Ahmady, A and Ng, SC. Sperm head decondensation, pronuclear formation, cleavage and embryonic development following intracytoplasmic injection of mitochondrial-damaged sperm in mammals. Zygote,UK, 1997; 5: 247-253.
23. Ahmady, A and Ng, SC. Fertilization and development of mouse injected with membrane-damaged sperm. Human Reproduction; UK, 1997; 12: 2797-2801.
24. Ng, SC; Liow, SL; Ahmady, A; Bongso, A. New perspectives in understanding fertilization in the era of microinjection. J. Mamm. Ova Res., Iapan, 1996; 13: S7-8.
25. Ahmady, A; Bongso, A and Ng, SC.  Intracytoplasmic injection of human sperm into the hamster oocyte (hamster-ICSI assay): as a test for fertilizing capacity of the severe male factor sperm. J. Ass. Reprod., 1996; 13: 647-651.
26. Ahamdy, A; Bongso, A and Ng, SC.  Exposure of human sperm to electrical field: effects on acrosome reaction. Penetration rate and motility. ARTA, USA, 1996; 9:137-137.
27. Ahmady, A; Bongso, A and Ng, SC  Intracytoplasmic injection of human sperm into the frozen-thawed hamster oocytes. Med. Sc. Res., UK, 1996; 24: 693-694.
28. Ahmady, A; Ng, SC; Liow, SL; Ali,J; Bongso, A and Ratnam, SS. Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) of mouse oocytes with 5 mM Ca++ at different intervals. Human Reprod., UK, 1995; 10 :431-435.
29. Ng, SC; Liow, SL, Ahmady, A, Yong, EL, Bongso, A and Ratnam, SS.  Intracytoplasmic sperm injection-is there a need for an animal model, specially in assessing the genetic risks involved. Human Reprod., 1995; 10: 2523-2525.
30. Ng, SC; Liow, SL, Ahmady, A, Bongso, A; Kumar, J; Chan, CLK and Ratnam, SS. The use of non-contact microbeam laser for assisted reproduction. IX world congress on IVF and ART. 3-7 April 1955: 29-34.
31. Ng, SC; Liow, SL; Ahmady, A; Bongso, A; Chan, CLK; Kumar, J; Yong, EL and Ratnam, SS.  Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) in severe male factor patients and patients with failed fertilization without male factor: Experience from the National University Hospital, Singapore. J. Asst. Reprod. Genet. Suppl., 1995; 12 (3): 83S.
32. Ahmady, A; Ng, SC; Bongso, A; Liow, SL and Ratnam, SS. Induction of acrosome reaction in human sperm by an electrofusion current. Singapore J. Obst. Gyna., Singapore, 1994; 25: 132.

Book and Chapters

1. Karimzadeh, M and Ahmady, A. The fundamental of in vitro Fertilization (book published, 1992, in Persian Language), Iran, 1992.
2. Ng, SC; Liow, SL; Ahmady, A, Ho J. Sperm microinjection. In: Visual atlas of human sperm structure and function for assisted reproductive technology, Sathananthan AH (ed), NUS, Singapore, 1996; pp 175-192

Presentation

1. Thakore S,  Patel B, Lam L,  Goldfarb J, Ahmady A. The effect of incubator type on mouse embryo development: conventional box versus top-load bench incubators. ASRM Annual Meeting 2014, Honolulu.
2. Patel P, Thakore S, Perri M, Lam L, Liu J, Goldfarb J, Ahmady A. Optimizing embryo vitrification - determining the impact of sucrose in equilibration solution. ASRM Annual Meeting 2014, Honolulu.
3. Patel B, Lam L, Palavos L, Elguero S, Liu J, Goldfarb J, Ahmady A. Optimal human serum albumin (HSA) concentration in mouse embryo culture systems. ASRM Annual Meeting 2014, Honolulu.
4. Patel B, Elguero S, Peskin B, Hurd W, Goldfarb J, Ahmady A. Comparison of equilibration times required to achieve physiological Ph in a humidified conventional incubator verses a non-humidified incubator. ASRM Annual Meeting 2013, Boston.
5. Farghaly TA, Salman SA, Shazly S, Goldfarb J, Ahmady A. Evaluating  the  role of baseline anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) as a predictor of oocyte maturation, early embryo cleavage and blastocyst development in itracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles. ASRM Annual Meeting 2013, Boston.
6.  Patel B, Elguero S, Rossi B, Liu J, Goldfarb J, Ahmady A. Factors affecting Ph stability in embryo culture medium: Impact of humidified carbon dioxide (CO2) incubators. ASRM Annual Meeting 2013, Boston.
7. Farghaly TA, Rossi, BV, Peskin B, Hecht B, Goldfarb J, Ahmady A. The effect of alginate three dimensional culture on the development of preimplantation mouse embryos. ASRM Annual Meeting 2012, San Diego.
8. Farghaly TA, Israel  S, Marconi  M, Loeb  A, Goldfarb  J,  Ahmady A. Ice blockers improve vitrification outcome of mouse embryos by allowing lower cryoprotectant concentration in vitrification media within a closed system. ASRM Annual Meeting 2012, San Diego.
9. Khalifa  EM, Farghaly TA, Mostafa  SM, . Hussein M, Goldfarb  J, Ahmady A. The effect of three dimensional prematuration culture with or without meiotic inhibitors on the in vitro maturation (IVM) outcome of bovine oocytes. ASRM Annual Meeting 2012, San Diego.
10. Khalifa  EM, Farghaly TA, Mostafa  SM,  Bedaiwy  MA, Goldfarb  J, Ahmady A. The effect of body mass index (BMI) on the rescue in vitro maturation (IVM) outcome in stimulated in vitro fertilization cycles. ASRM Annual Meeting 2012, San Diego.
11. Farghaly TA,  Mostafa  SA, Khalifa  EM, Bedaiwy  MA, Goldfarb  J, Ahmady A. The effect of 5 days extended exposure of immature bovine oocytes to a combination of maturation inhibitors on the in vitro maturation (IVM) outcome. ASRM Annual Meeting 2011, Philadelphia.
12. Farghaly TA,  Mostafa  SA, Khalifa  EM, Liu J, Goldfarb  J, Ahmady A. Improving the success of in vitro maturation (IVM) by controlling the rate of oocyte maturation with meiotic inhibitors using bovine oocyte model. ASRM Annual Meeting 2011, Philadelphia.
13. Farghaly TA,  Bedaiwy  MA, Khalifa  EM, Mostafa  SA, Hurd WW, Ahmady A. Effect of pre-maturation incubation with maturation inhibitor on meiotic resumption and embryonic development of bovine oocytes. ASRM Annual Meeting 2011, Philadelphia.
14. Ahmady A and Khorram O. Efficacy of a novel closed vitrification system for cryopreservation of mammalian oocytes and embryos. ASRM Annual Meeting 2008, San Francisco.
15. Khorram O and Ahmady A. Critical temperature point for storage of vitrified embryos ASRM Annual Meeting 2008, San Francisco.
16. Badrzadeh H, Najmabadi S, Paymani R, Macaso, T, Azadbadi Z and Ahmady A. The effect of using two ice blockers supercools X-1000 and Z-1000, on Vitrification - thawing of mouse embryos.   ASRM Annual Meeting 2008, San Francisco.
17. Macaso T, Najmabadi S, Peymani R,  Badrzadeh H,  Azadbadi Z and A. Ahmady A. Does the number of embryos per straw matters in vitrification/thaw process? ASRM Annual Meeting 2008, San Francisco.
18. Paymani R, Najmabadi S, Badrzadeh H, Macaso,T, Azadbadi Z and Ahmady A. Comparison of two vitrifcation solutions on the outcome of thawing when a closed vitrification system, V-Kim, is used. ASRM Annual Meeting 2008, San Francisco.
19. Michael E and Ahmady A, The use of cytobrush in cervical canal preparation for embryo transfer procedure. 2005, ASRM & CFAS annual meeting, Montreal, Canada
20. Ahmady A, Soliman S and Michael E. Influence of sperm quality on outcome of egg-sharing program. 2003, CFAS Annual Meeting, Victoria, BC, Canada.
21. Michael E and Ahmady A, Uterine septum: a frequently missed or dismissed diagnosis in fertility management. 2003, CFAS Annual Meeting, Victoria, BC, Canada.
22. Mahzad M, Michael E, Soliman S and Ahmady A,  Impact of basal day-3 FSH/LH ratio on IVF/ICSI outcome. 2003, CFAS Annual Meeting, Victoria, BC, Canada.
23. Ahmady A and Michael E , The impact of finding mucus and blood at the tip of embryo transfer catheter on procedure outcome. 2003, CFAS Annual Meeting, Victoria, BC, Canada.

Invited guest speaker

1. Male infertility, Past, Present, and future (an embryologist View), First International Symposium and Workshop on Clinical EMBRYOLOGY, Yazd, Iran Nov 2008.
2. V-Kim: a novel closed vitirifcation system for cryopresavation of mammalian oocyte and embryo. First International Symposium and Workshop on Clinical EMBRYOLOGY, Yazd, Iran Nov 2008.
3. Micromanipulation and it’s application in Clinical/Experimental Embryology. Training course, Cleveland clinic, Cleveland, OH, Nov 2007.
4. Male Infertility, Past, Present, and Future. Training course, Cleveland clinic, Cleveland, OH, Nov 2007.
5. Fertilization & Embryonic development, summer training course, Cleveland clinic, Cleveland, OH, Jun 2009.
6. ART and it’s relevant techniques, Summer training course, Cleveland clinic, Cleveland, OH, Jun 2009.
7. Fertilization & Embryonic development, summer training course, Cleveland clinic, Cleveland, OH, July 2010.