Ashok Agarwal

Education

Ashok obtained his B.Sc. (Honors) in 1975, M.Sc. in 1977 and Ph.D. in 1983 at Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi (India), under the guidance of Late C. J. Dominic, Ph.D., FNA. He did his post-doctoral research on a Rockefeller Foundation Fellowship at the Division of Urology, Harvard Medical School and the Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts (1984-1986), under the guidance of Anita P. Hoffer, Ph.D., Ed.D.

Professional life

After his post-doctoral training at Harvard Medical School, Boston, Ashok worked as the Director of the Andrology Laboratory and Sperm Bank at the Newton-Wellesley Hospital, Boston (Medical Director: Robert A. Newton, M.D., F.A.C.S.) between 1986 and 1988. He was then appointed as the Director of Male Infertility Research and as an Instructor in Surgery and later an Assistant Professor of Urology at Harvard Medical School (Director of Urologic Research: Kevin R. Loughlin, M.D.) between 1988 and 1992. Aside from his teaching responsibilities, Ashok worked as the Coordinator of Andrology Testing in the Reproductive Endocrinology Laboratory in the Brigham and Women's Hospital (Medical Director: George L. Mutter, M.D.). Ashok was appointed in 1993 by the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Ohio, as the Head of the Clinical Andrology Center, which over the years under his leadership, has become a center of excellence for the diagnosis of male infertility and for fertility preservation of men with oncological conditions in the United States.

Ashok is a board certified Clinical Laboratory Director (HCLD) in Andrology by the American Board of Bioanalysis and an Inspector for the College of American Pathologists "Reproductive Laboratory Program" for accreditation of Andrology and In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) Laboratories. He has served as the Chairman of Board of the American College of Embryology from 2009 to 2012.

He is the Director of the highly successful Summer Internship Course in Reproductive Medicine. In the last 10 years, over 220 pre-med and medical students from across the United States and overseas have graduated from this highly successful annual program.

Ashok is active in basic and clinical research and his laboratory has trained more than 500 basic scientists and clinical researchers from over 50 countries. His American Center for Reproductive Medicine has provided hands on training to 185 candidates in human assisted reproduction (Embryology and Andrology techniques) from 44 countries.

Ashok has been invited as a guest speaker to over 30 countries for important international meetings. He has directed more than a dozen Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) and Andrology Laboratory Workshops and Symposia in recent years. He is a member of the International Advisory Commitee on Male Infertility for the Society for Translational Medicine.

Publications, editorship and reviewership

Ashok has published over 582 research articles and reviews in peer reviewed PubMed-indexed scientific journals. He has also authored over 200 book chapters in specialized medical books, and presented over 800 papers at both national and international scientific meetings. His Hirsch index (h-index) is 122 (Google Scholar) and 82 (Web of Science and Scopus), while his citation count is over 50,736 on Google Scholar. According to ResearchGate, Ashok has an RG score of 52.66 on 1,829 publications (980 articles, 39 books, 188 chapters, 461 conference papers). Ashok is ranked as the #1 Author in andrology/male Infertility and ART-related research, based on a Global Ranking of Authors Publishing in Andrology or Male Infertility report employing exhaustive searches on the Scopus database. Ashok is currently an editor of 34 highly acclaimed medical text books or manuals related to male infertility, ART, fertility preservation, sperm chromatin damage and antioxidants. He is also the Guest Editor of 8 special journal issues and an ad hoc reviewer for over 50 scientific journals.

Ashok serves on the Editorial Board ofAsian Journal of Andrology, Human Andrology, Human Fertility, International Brazilian Journal of Urology, Translational Andrology and Urology, Section Editor: Reproductive BioMedicine Online, Reproductive Biology & Endocrinology, and the World Journal of Men's Health.

Research interests

Ashok is the recipient of over 100 research grants and is actively involved in laboratory and clinical studies looking at the efficacy of certain antioxidants in improving the fertility of male patients. His current research interests include studies on molecular markers of oxidative stress, DNA integrity, and proteomics in the pathophysiology of male and female reproduction, effect of radio frequency radiation on fertility and fertility preservation in patients with cancer.

Recent awards

Ashok received the 2011 and 2012 Innovator Award for the development of "Remote Sperm Banking Kits" from the Cleveland Clinic Innovations. From 2010 to 2017 he was a recipient of the Star Award from the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. As an acknowledgement to his contributions to medical education, Ashok was thrice-awarded the Scholarship in Teaching Award in 2011, in 2013 and in 2014 by the Case Western Reserve University Medical School. These awards recognize his innovative Summer Internship Course in Reproductive Medicine, which has been held annually since 2008. In addition, Ashok was also twice recognized by a Scholarship in Teaching Award in 2013 and in 2014 for his distinctive Hands-On Training Program in Advanced Reproductive Techniques, which has been conducted yearly since 2003.

Books

1. Andrology Laboratory Manual. Editors: Kaimini Rao, Ashok Agarwal, MS Srinivas, 2010, ISBN 978-81-8448-901-9
2. Fertility Preservation: Emerging Technologies and Clinical Applications. Editors: Emre Seli, Ashok Agarwal, 2011, ISBN 978-1-4419-1783-6
3. Sperm Chromatin: Biological and Clinical Applications in Male Infertility and Assisted Reproduction. Editors: Armand Zini, Ashok Agarwal, 2011, ISBN 978-1-4419-6857-9
4. Practical Manual of In Vitro Fertilization: Advanced Methods and Novel Devices. Editors: Zsolt Peter Nagy, Alex Varghese, Ashok Agarwal, 2012, ISBN 978-1-4419-1780-5
5. Workbook on Human Spermatozoa and Assisted Conceptions. Editors: Sonia Malik, Ashok Agarwal, 2012, ISBN 978-9-350-25517-9
6. Studies on Men's Health and Fertility. Editors: Ashok Agarwal, John Aitken, Huan Alvarez, ISBN 978-1-61779-776-7
7. Male Infertility: Contemporary Clinical Approaches, Andrology, ART and Antioxidants. Editors: Sijo Parekattil, Ashok Agarwal, 2012, ISBN 978-1-4614-3335-4
8. Studies on Women's Health. Editors: Ashok Agarwal, Botros Rizk, Nabil Aziz, 2012, ISBN 978-1-62703-041-0
9. Fertility Preservation in Females: Emerging Technology and Clinical Applications. Editors: Emre Seli, Ashok Agarwal, 2012, ISBN 978-1-4614-5616-2
10. Fertility Preservation in Males: Emerging Technology and Clinical Applications. Editors: Emre Seli, Ashok Agarwal, Springer, 2012, ISBN 978-1-4614-5619-3
11. Quality Management in ART Clinics. Editors: Fabíola Bento, Sandro Esteves, Ashok Agarwal, 2012, ISBN 978-1-4419-7139-5
12. Sperm Chromatin for the Clinician: A Practical Guide. Editors: Armand Zini, Ashok Agarwal, 2013, ISBN 978-1-4614-7842-3
13. Sperm Chromatin for the Researcher: A Practical Guide. Editors: Armand Zini, Ashok Agarwal, 2013, ISBN 978-1-4614-8458-5
14. Medical and Surgical Management of Male Infertility. Editors: Botros Rizk, Nabil Aziz, Ashok Agarwal, Edmund Sabanegh, 2013, ISBN 978-9350259467
15. Male Infertility for the Clinician: A Practical Guide. Editors: Sijo Parekattil, Ashok Agarwal, 2013, ISBN 978-1-4614-7851-5
16. Antioxidants in Male Infertility: A Guide for Clinicians and Researchers. Editors: Sijo Parekattil, Ashok Agarwal, 2013, ISBN 978-1-4614-9157-6
17. Clinical Embryology: A Practical Guide. Editors: Zsolt Peter Nagy, Alex Varghese, Ashok Agarwal, 2013, ISBN 978-1-4614-8375-5
18. Gamete Assessment, Selection and Micromanipulation in ART. Editors: Zsolt Peter Nagy, Alex Varghese, Ashok Agarwal, 2013, ISBN 978-1-4614-8359-5
19. Building and Managing an IVF Laboratory: A Practical Guide. Editors: Zsolt Peter Nagy, Alex Varghese, Ashok Agarwal, 2013, ISBN 978-1-4614-8365-6
20. Male Infertility: A Complete Guide to Lifestyle and Environmental Factors. Editors: Stefan Du Plessis, Edmund S. Sabanegh, Ashok Agarwal, 2014, ISBN 978-1-4939-1040-3
21. Understanding Male Infertility Global Practices and Indian Perspective. Editors: Sonia Malik, Ashok Agarwal, 2014, ISBN 978-8-1312-3264-4
22. Non-Invasive Sperm Selection for the In Vitro Fertilization: Novel Concepts and Methods. Editors: Ashok Agarwal, Edson Borges, Jr., Amanda S. Setti, 2015, ISBN 978-1-4939-1411-1
23. Strategies to Ameliorate Oxidative Stress During Assisted Reproduction. Editors: Ashok Agarwal, Damayanthi Durairajanayagam, Gurpriya Virk, Stefan Du Plessis, 2015, ISBN 978-3-319-10259-7
24. Unexplained Infertility: Pathophysiology, Evaluation and Treatment. Editors: Glen Schattman, Sandro Esteves, Ashok Agarwal, 2015, ISBN 978-1-4939-2140-9
25. Endometriosis: A Comprehensive Update. Authors: Sajal Gupta, Avi Harlev, Ashok Agarwal, 2015, ISBN 978-3-319-18307-7
26. Puberty: Physiology and Abnormalities. Editors: Philip Kumanov and Ashok Agarwal, Springer Publishing, New York, 2016. ISBN 978-3-319-32122-6
27. Varicocele and Male Infertility: Current Concepts, Controversies and Consensus. Authors: Alaa Hamada, Sandro C. Esteves, Ashok Agarwal, 2016, ISBN 978-3-319-24934-6
28. Recurrent Pregnancy Loss: Evidence-Based Evaluation, Diagnosis and Treatment. Editors: Asher Bashiri, Avi Harlev, Ashok Agarwal, 2016, ISBN 978-3-319-27450-8
29. Exercise and Human Reproduction: Induced Fertility Disorders and Possible Therapies. Editors: Diana Martin, Stefan Du Plessis, Ashok Agarwal, 2016, ISBN 978-1-4939-3402-7
30. Andrological Evaluation of Male Infertility: A Laboratory Guide. Editors: Agarwal A, Gupta S, Sharma R, 2016, ISBN 978-3-319-26797-5
31. Proteomics in Human Reproduction: Biomarkers for Millenials. Authors: Ashok Agarwal, Luna Samanta, Damayanthi Durairajanayagam, Paula Intasqui, 2016, ISBN 978-3-319-48416-7
32. Oxidative Stress in Human Reproduction: Shedding Light on a Complicated Phenomenon. Editors: Ashok Agarwal, Rakesh Sharma, Sajal Gupta, Avi Harlev, Gulfam Ahmad, Stefan S. du Plessis, Sandro C. Esteves, Siew May Wang, Damayanthi Durairajanayagam, 2017, ISBN 978-3-319-48425-9
33. Cryopreservation of Mammalian Gametes and Embryos: Methods and Protocols. Editors: Zsolt Peter Nagy, Alex C. Varghese, Ashok Agarwal, 2017, ISBN 978-1-4939-6828-2
34. The Diagnosis and Treatment of Male Infertility: A Case-Based Guide for Clinicians. Editors: Nabil Aziz, Ashok Agarwal, 2017, ISBN 978-3-319-56545-3

Journal Special Issues (Guest Editor)

1. Varicocele and Male Infertility, 2016.
2. The Azoospermic Male: Current Knowledge and Future Perspectives, 2013.
3. Advances in Andrology and Male Reproductive Health, The Open Reproductive Science Journal, 2011.
4. Current Concepts in Assisted Reproduction and Fertility Preservation (Part II), Current Women's Health Reviews, 2010.
5. Current Concepts in Female Infertility Management (Part I), Current Women's Health Reviews, 2010.
6. Infertility, Archives of Medical Science, 2009.