Professor at CLINTEC recognised for contributions to fetal and maternal medicine
Professor Ganesh Acharya of Karolinska Institutet has been honoured by the Baltic Fertility Society during the 8th von Baer Seminar, held on 11 September 2026 at Alatskivi Castle in Estonia. The recognition highlights his contributions to research, education and clinical development in fetal and maternal medicine.
The von Baer Seminar brings together researchers, clinicians and early-career scientists working across reproductive and fetal medicine. The 2026 meeting was organised by the Baltic Fertility Society and featured scientific sessions covering reproductive genetics, embryo development, advanced in vitro models, pregnancy monitoring, the reproductive microbiome, and maternal-fetal medicine.
As part of the scientific programme, Professor Ganesh Acharya, at the Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, presented research on the transition of atrioventricular conduction during human embryonic and fetal development. During the meeting, he was recognised by the Baltic Fertility Society for his contributions to research, education and clinical development in fetal and maternal medicine, as well as for his longstanding engagement with reproductive medicine across the Nordic and Baltic region.
Continuing the scientific legacy
The seminar is named after Karl Ernst von Baer, one of the founders of modern embryology and a prominent figure in the scientific history of the University of Tartu. In 1827, von Baer identified the mammalian oocyte, a discovery that transformed scientific understanding of mammalian reproduction and embryonic development. His work also contributed to the description of the blastocyst and granulosa cells and helped establish key concepts in embryology.
Building on this scientific legacy, the von Baer Seminar serves as a meeting place for reproductive biology, clinical medicine and emerging technologies. By bringing together expertise from different disciplines, the event fosters scientific exchange and collaboration across the field of reproductive and fetal medicine.
The next edition of the seminar, the 9th von Baer Seminar, will take place on 10-11 September 2027 and will coincide with the 200th anniversary of von Baer’s discovery of the mammalian oocyte.
Further reading
Celebrating Baer – a Nordic scientist who discovered the mammalian oocyte. Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica Altmäe S, Acharya G, Salumets A