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January 16, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TRANS OVA GENETICS EXPANDS ITS TEAM IN RESPONSE TO GROWING CLIENT INTEREST IN IVF AND SEX-SORTED SEMEN
Sioux Center, Iowa - Trans Ova Genetics has increased its technical expertise and production capacity in order to offer clients additional strength and focus in advanced reproductive technologies. Beef and dairy cattle breeders have continued to express growing interest in the use of in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and sexed-semen applications, in addition to the company's core offering of embryo transfer (ET) services. Because of increased demand of IVF technology, combined with sexed-semen and freezing services, production capacity for IVF services recently has doubled, including additional donor housing, technical team members and lab capacity.
Additions to the team
Expertise also has been added to Trans Ova Genetics' technical team. Hong Wei leads the company's efforts dedicated to research as well as IVF and sexed-semen services. Luciano Cattaneo, Suzanne Menges and Nelson Yang are new team members who provide specific expertise in these areas.
Wei is director of research and development and has a B.S. degree in biology, an M.S. degree in bovine IVF, combined with experience using sexed-semen technology, and a Ph.D. in intracytoplasmic sperm injection specific to cattle.
Cattaneo, sexed-semen lab manager, earned his D.V.M. degree in Argentina and has six years of experience working with semen-sexing technology in Brazil, Argentina, and the United States.
Menges, in-vitro fertilization (IVF) lab manager, south, brings over seven years of experience in livestock embryo transfer and IVF to the team. Menges also has worked on several research and commercial cloning projects and is completing her M.S in animal science, physiology and reproduction, at Texas A&M University.
Yang, in-vitro fertilization lab manager, north, applies nearly twenty years of experience from IVF laboratory work in Ireland, England, China, Canada and the U.S.
Schmidt promoted
In addition, Dr. Jon Schmidt has been promoted to lead Trans Ova Genetics' team of embryologists and technicians in serving clients' needs. Schmidt, director of professional services, has been with Trans Ova Genetics for over two years managing and performing embryo transfer activities. He received his D.V.M. degree from Iowa State University and has abundant experience with advanced reproductive services.
"Trans Ova Genetics is completely committed to providing our dairy and beef cattle breeder clients the very best advanced reproductive technical expertise," says Dr. David Faber, president of Trans Ova Genetics. "Our Professional Services Team's number one objective is to achieve clients' goals in the areas of embryo transfer, in-vitro fertilization, sexed-semen applications and other emerging technologies that will help advance and extend the development of their superior cattle."
Trans Ova Genetics currently helps clients across the country effectively implement embryo transfer programs and has the capacity to house donor cows "in-clinic" at eleven separate locations across the U.S. The company also has several recipient program options, including Trans Ova Genetics' health-certified recipients and Multiplier Herd programs. The IVF, sexed-semen, genetic preservation and cloning technologies are rapidly growing service categories uniquely offered by Trans Ova Genetics.