Lika Chkonia
Lika Chkonia is one of the pioneers of reproductive medicine in Georgia. With over three decades of experience, she has helped shape the country’s path in assisted reproduction. Lika began her career in the United States at the Jones Institute for Reproductive Medicine—home of the first IVF birth in the U.S.—where she trained as a post-doctoral fellow. She was actively involved in teaching micromanipulation techniques such as ICSI, embryo biopsy, and assisted hatching. After working as an embryologist in the U.S. for eight years, she returned to Georgia and became a leading figure at the Zhordania Institute and the Medical Center Junona. She has introduced multiple “firsts” in Georgia, including the country’s first birth through ICSI, the first successful case of microsurgical sperm retrieval, the first baby born from a vitrified blastocyst, and the first application of PGT-A. Lika is also an active member of the international scientific community. She served as Chair of the SIG Global and Socio-Cultural Aspects of Infertility for ESHRE (2022–2024), and currently chairs the Society for Reproductive Medicine and Biology of Georgia. In 2020, she co-founded Genomics — Reproart’s in-house center for reproductive genetics — alongside Georgian scientists based in the U.S. Throughout her career, Lika has remained dedicated to scientific advancement, patient-centered care, and the responsible development of assisted reproduction in Georgia and beyond.
