A Brief History
of NCARB
Find out our story and be part of it by choosing to join the NCARB team.
From
the Beginning
to the
Late 1990s
1989
Founding
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NCARB was established by Glenn Zorn and Iman Danasouri.
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Marlene Angle served as Secretary.
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Initial membership was around 15 individuals.
1990
July Meeting
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Speaker: Dean Schilling on the thermodynamics of embryo freezing.
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Tom Nass circulated proposed guidelines for IVF and GIFT.
1995
April 20 Meeting
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Speaker: Pasquale Patrizio discussed “ICSI: Potential Genetic Concerns."
October Meeting
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By-laws were reviewed and adopted for group use.
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A poster introducing NCARB was presented at the ASRM meeting.
November 28 Meeting
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The first documented NCARB/BARES meeting took place at Lakeview Club in Oakland.
1996
October 17 Meeting
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Speaker: Dr. Gerry Schatten presented on “Molecular Dissention and Reconstitution of the Centrosome during Fertilization in Humans: Implications for Male Infertility.”
1997
January
-
Under President Kristen Ivani, topics included “The Percoll Wars: Whose Side Are You On?” and discussions on day 2 vs. day 3 embryo transfers, blastocyst transfers, and freezing strategies.
April
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Speaker: Terry Schlenker on assisted hatching, discussing techniques and best practices.
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Membership was approximately 37 during 1995–96.
November
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NCARB/BARES dinner featured Jonathan Van Blerkom on “Epigenetic Influences on Human Oocyte and Embryo Developmental Competence.”
1999
July 22
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Speaker: Kay Elder from Born Hall presented “IVF from Then to Now – A Perspective.”
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NCARB joined Alpha as a sub-group, with all paid members receiving both memberships.
November 3
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Speaker: Kay Elder from Born Hall presented “IVF from Then to Now – A Perspective.”
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NCARB joined Alpha as a sub-group, with all paid members receiving both memberships.
2000
May
-
Membership dues increased to $70.
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A letter was drafted to the State of California on behalf of NCARB regarding the licensing of embryologists.
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Total membership reached 41.
November
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Joint meeting at the Claremont Hotel with speaker Mark Hughes on Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis.
2001
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NCARB received several educational grants from vendors such as Organon and Serono in 2001 and 2002.
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Membership remained steady at around 40 during 2003 and 2004.
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In April 2003, discussions included vitrification and its potential effects on the oocyte spindle, as well as the clinical value of oocyte and ovarian tissue cryopreservation.
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NCARB began dedicating one annual meeting to reviewing individual IVF laboratory procedures.
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In 2005, educational grants were introduced, awarding four members $500 each for conference attendance.
2005
2006
2010
2006
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A new meeting topic emerged: FDA inspections.
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NCARB became a vital resource for sharing experiences and preparing for FDA inspections.
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On May 25, Dr. Wendell Lee spoke on FDA preparedness at UCSF.
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Dues were reduced to $25/year, reflecting the group's strong financial position.
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Planning began for the 20th-anniversary celebration at the ASRM meeting in San Francisco.
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Other topics included off-site embryo storage, extended culture, policies for abandoned embryos/sperm, and lab ergonomics.
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Dr. Fabbri joined a joint dinner meeting in November.
2007
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Discussions started on membership and event sponsorship.
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Membership exceeded 50, and a survey was distributed to help guide future board decisions.
2008
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The educational grant policy was updated to two grants of $500 per year.
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The 20th-anniversary celebration at the ASRM meeting was a notable success, featuring custom NCARB bags, chocolates, prizes, and engraved Apple iPod nanos.
2009
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The Alta Bates meeting on March 12 included discussions on ART for HIV-positive patients, vitrification, and lab disaster planning.
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Dues were raised to $50 for 2010, partly to address funding challenges for the joint dinner with the BARES group.
2010
-
The NCARB/BARES joint meeting saw record attendance (over 100 participants) and was supported by five sponsors.
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Feedback from member surveys influenced meeting topics, ensuring content was relevant for those traveling from afar.
The
Early
2000's
2011 to
Present
Day
2020
Adapting to the COVID-19 Pandemic:
-
NCARB remained committed to its educational mission by transitioning its scientific talks to a virtual format via Zoom.
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The annual NCARB-BARES event was canceled for the first time due to pandemic restrictions.
2025
Strengthening Financial Stability & Expanding Public Awareness:
During Vik Reddy’s tenure as NCARB President in 2025, and under his guidance, the board launched several key initiatives to adapt to industry changes:
1. Creation of a New Leadership Role – Director of Corporate & Community Outreach
​
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A new board position was introduced to secure sponsorships and donor contributions to support NCARB’s mission.
2. Launch of the Redesigned NCARB Website
​
​NCARB implemented a fully redesigned website to:
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Improve communication with members
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Streamline membership management
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Introduce a donation platform to help fund NCARB’s educational initiatives
3. Patient Outreach Initiative
​
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To further increase awareness of embryologists' contributions, NCARB implemented a patient outreach program aimed at educating the public.
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QR-coded informational displays were placed in IVF clinics.
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These QR codes direct patients to the NCARB website, where they can:
â–ª Learn about the vital role of embryologists in fertility care
â–ª Make financial donations to support the continuing education of embryologists
â–ª Sponsor NCARB’s scientific talks, either wholly or in partnership with our industry vendor sponsors, to help bring expert speakers
NCARB Today
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From a modest group of 15 members, NCARB has grown into a network of over 80 dedicated professionals.
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The joint NCARB/BARES meeting in 2024 set a new attendance record, with over 110 participants.
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Membership dues have remained affordable, ensuring broad accessibility to the community
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With board leadership transitioning every two years, NCARB continues to:
• Uphold integrity in the field
• Foster growth and professional connections
• Advance education in reproductive biology
• Increase awareness of the critical role of embryologists in fertility care
A Unique Community in an Evolving Industry:​​
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Despite industry competition, NCARB remains a collaborative space where professionals share knowledge and experience.
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Our core values continue to endure, ensuring NCARB’s lasting impact in reproductive science.