Charikleia Papanikou
MSc, ESHRE certified, HCPC Registered

Senior Clinical
Embryologist

Lab Manager

Curriculum vitae

Mrs. Chara Papanikou graduated from the Faculty of Sciences, School of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece. Next, she received her master’s degree in Reproductive Biology from the University of Edinburgh (MSc in Reproductive Biology).

She worked for 4 years as a Clinical Embryologist at the Edinburgh Fertility Centre, where she obtained the special regulatory license in micro-assisted fertilization with human gametes (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection, ICSI) by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) in the UK as well as her certification in Clinical Embryology (ACE Certification), following extensive training and exam success.

She then worked at the Hewitt Fertility Centre of the Liverpool Women’s Hospital for 1 year, which is one of the largest Assisted Reproduction Units in Britain, performing more than 2,000 IVF cycles per year.

Upon her return to Greece, she collaborated with the IVF Centre of the Mitera Hospital, Athens, Greece. Next, she worked as Lab Manager in a new IVF Clinic (Genetyllis) in Athens, Greece.

In 2012, she decided to relocate back to the UK, following a proposal to collaborate with the pioneering team of the Bourn Hall Fertility Clinic, the first IVF Clinic to be established worldwide. She was part of the Bourn Hall family for 7 years and she contributed to the establishment of a new IVF Clinic, where she was the Chief Embryologist.

She is a member of the Association of Reproductive and Clinical Scientists (ARCS) and a member of ESHRE (European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology).

She holds the ESHRE European Certification for Senior Clinical Embryologists since 2010.

Following intensive training and exam success, she holds the title of Clinical Scientist, awarded by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) of Great Britain, since 2013. She has published multiple papers in scientific journals, such as the official journal of embryologists in the United Kingdom, and she voluntarily works for the ARCS. She is actively involved in the field of her postgraduate training and has participated in various specialized seminars on vitrification and foetal biopsy. Also, she annually participates in the publications review committee for the Fertility Conference in the United Kingdom.