'Lianne has changed my life. It has been a miraculous, life changing treatment for me.'
Szmelskyj, I. Aquilina, L.
Elsevier, Oxford, 2015
Foreword by Professor Giovanni Maciocia.
Lianne is a co-author of the internationally recognised textbook *Acupuncture for IVF and Assisted Reproduction: An Integrated Approach to Treatment Management*, published by Elsevier in 2015.
The textbook explores the integration of acupuncture with assisted reproductive technologies, fertility treatment pathways, reproductive medicine, and modern clinical practice. It was among the first comprehensive texts dedicated specifically to acupuncture and assisted reproduction and offered a structured framework for practitioners working in fertility care.
The publication has gained international reach and has been used by practitioners, educators, researchers, and students in countries including:
The book remains a recognised reference in fertility acupuncture and has contributed to professional education, practitioner development, and the advancement of fertility-focused acupuncture practice worldwide.
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Martin Dean
Lecturer and Clinical Supervisor, University of Lincoln
Director, The Acupuncture Fertility Centre
March 2015
“A must have for the bookshelf of any acupuncturist who is ever called upon to treat fertility issues – if you have room for one book, this surely must be it.”
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Dr Lee Hullender Rubin
The American Acupuncturist
Winter 2015
“The authors confidently evince the TCM acupuncture approach as an effective adjuvant ART treatment and present a well-researched, clinically relevant text for new and seasoned fertility acupuncturists alike.”
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Stephen Clarke
Journal of the Australian Traditional Medicine Society
May 2015
“Practitioners of all levels of experience and TCM students should find it compelling reading and an invaluable companion to their learning.”
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David Frederick Mayor
Acupuncture in Medicine
February 2015
“Only Irina Szmelskyj and Lianne Aquilina really do justice to the complexities involved in integrating acupuncture with IVF and ART.”
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Aquilina L.
In:
Wilkinson C (Editor)
Perspectives in Healthcare
Palgrave Macmillan
2006
Contributed a scholarly book chapter examining the impact of the therapeutic relationship on patients, dental nurses, and dental surgeons.
Drawing on qualitative healthcare research, the chapter explored communication, trust, professional interaction, patient experience, and the broader importance of therapeutic relationships within healthcare delivery and developed a model that healthcare professionals can adopt.
The work reflects a broader interest in patient-centred care, healthcare communication, professional relationships, and the human dimensions of healthcare practice. The full study, in thesis form, should be accessed from the University of Lincoln.
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European Journal of Integrative Medicine
2015;7:689–695
This publication examined the psychological and social effects of infertility and fertility treatment, and considered the implications for healthcare support, service delivery, and patient-centred care.
The work examined the broader impact of fertility issues on individuals and couples and emphasised the need for comprehensive support in reproductive healthcare.
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Published articles exploring traditional Chinese medical philosophy and its relationship to clinical practice, professional reflection, and the development of traditional Chinese medicine within contemporary healthcare settings.
The publications explored the dynamic relationship between theory, observation, clinical reasoning, and professional understanding within traditional East Asian medicine.
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2023
Contributed to the international stakeholder consultation process for the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) guidelines.
The draft guideline was made available for international review and consultation between May and June 2023.
Within Annex 6 of the published guideline documentation, ESHRE recognises both organisational representatives and individual experts who provided comments during the consultation process.
Lianne Marie Aquilina (United Kingdom) is included among the individual experts who provided commentary on the draft guideline.
This contribution was part of an international consultation involving fertility specialists, reproductive medicine clinicians, embryologists, researchers, and healthcare experts from multiple countries.
The activity demonstrates involvement with evidence-based fertility care, reproductive medicine policy, guideline development, and international healthcare standards.
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By Dr Sabine Wilms
Journal of Chinese Medicine
Issue 131
February 2023
Invited by the Journal of Chinese Medicine to conduct a scholarly review of Dr Sabine Wilms’ work examining the medical ethics and professional philosophy of Sun Simiao, one of the most influential physicians in Chinese medical history.
The review explored themes including:
The invitation acknowledged expertise in Chinese medicine scholarship, education, professional reflection, and clinical practice.
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16 February 2026
Published commentary in response to:
Zhang X, Chen Q, Liu Y et al.
JAMA Network Open
The published commentary concentrated on methodological considerations concerning sham acupuncture controls in acupuncture research.
The response emphasised the possible biological effects of sham acupuncture interventions and explored implications for:
The commentary stated:
“Sham acupuncture is likely biologically active, so the control and intervention becomes a dose trial. To detect a difference between the interventions the sample size calculation should factor in the fact that this includes two biologically active agents, otherwise the trial may become underpowered.”
The publication reflects ongoing interests in research methodology, clinical trial design, critical appraisal, and evidence-based healthcare.
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2019
Invited by senior academic and editorial colleagues to provide peer-review commentary on research and publication submissions related to acupuncture and IVF.
Activities included:
One project involved reviewing a retrospective acupuncture cohort study on acupuncture for IVF conducted by medical doctors within a hospital setting in Europe.
Recommendations were given regarding methodology, reporting standards, interpretation of results, and articulation of research aims.
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2021-2026
As a trustee, advisor, researcher, and professional contributor, Lianne has actively supported translating healthcare research into professional practice, public understanding, policy discussions, and practitioner education.
Her work has aimed to connect evidence, clinical practice, healthcare policy, and professional development to support research-minded clinicians.
2026
Authored an article examining developments in research leadership, international collaboration, research strategy, and professional engagement within acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine.
The publication highlighted opportunities for enhancing research capacity, fostering collaboration, improving professional standards, and promoting evidence-informed practice.
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2025
Featured in an international interview discussing fertility care, reproductive medicine, evidence-informed practice, acupuncture, and integrative healthcare.
The interview examined modern fertility support, reproductive medicine, patient-centred care, and international views on acupuncture and fertility treatment.
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Professional commentary analysing the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) Real-World Evidence Framework and its implications for healthcare research, evidence generation, policy development, and clinical practice.
The publication examined how real-world evidence could influence healthcare decision-making and evidence-based practice.
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Evidence-informed review analysing current endometriosis guidelines, acupuncture research, healthcare policies, accredited registers, and patient access to evidence-based care.
The publication examined the link between healthcare guidance, interpretation of research, professional standards, and modern healthcare delivery.
