Lane Fertility Institute

Dr. Danielle Lane is an esteemed Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility specialist who founded Lane Fertility Institute in 2009. Lane Fertility Institute has a primary goal of facilitating patients’ pathways to parenthood. At Lane Fertility Institute, Dr. Lane leads a team that offers a full scope of cutting-edge fertility treatments and concierge level care. Services at Lane Fertility include services including IUI, IVF, fertility preservation, alternative family planning, PGD/PGS, and many other fertility services. She serves patients throughout the Northern California area and beyond. Dr. Lane began seeing patients at the Marin Community Center with a commitment to providing individuals and families of all backgrounds access to fertility as a bridge to services in her office. In addition, she is the founder of the Fertility Lane Donor Egg and Sperm Bank which provides the most diverse donor database in the country. Dr. Lane attended McGill University where she earned a B.Sc in Physiology before completing her medical training at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, her residency at Yale-New Haven Hospital, and her fellowship at the University of California, San Francisco. She opened the Center for Reproductive Health at Kaiser Permanente in Napa-Solano in 2005. She has built an organization focused on the core values of teamwork and collaboration needed to help individuals through their fertility journey. In addition, the continuous and rigorous professional development that permeates the culture at Lane Fertility Institute ensures that the organization’s protocols and laboratory techniques remain on the cutting edge. This is reflected in LFI’s consistently superior pregnancy rates and donor egg quality. Dr. Lane has authored many scientific articles and patient articles. Her research interests include developing patient-sensitive protocols, fertility preservation using oocyte vitrification, ethnic variability in IVF response, and improving access to donor eggs and sperm. As one of a few black female Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility specialists, Dr. Lane wholeheartedly believes that representation matters in providing access to a diverse group of patients. Additionally, as a proud resident of San Francisco, she fully supports the LGBTQ community and their options to become pregnant and create a family. Dr. Lane understands the importance of providing personalized care while consistently growing and expanding her boutique practice in the name of building families. ​If you have discovered a need for fertility services — whether it is treatment or fertility preservation — Dr. Lane and the team at Lane Fertility Institute are here to help you build your family.

Dr. Sheela S. Ali is certified as a High Complexity Laboratory Director, Clinical Consultant and Technical Supervisor by the American Board of Bioanalysts and has been a part of human IVF laboratory science since 2008. She is the IVF laboratory director of Lane Fertility Institute from 2020 where she has worked closely with our embryology team towards continuous quality improvement to offer the highest standards of care to our patients. She earned her master’s degree in Clinical Embryology and Andrology from the Jones Institute of Eastern Virginia Medical School and her PhD in Developmental and Integrative Biology from the University of North Texas. During her graduate studies, her research focus was on E-Cadherin and its role in trophectoderm grafts from sibling embryos as well as the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and predictive modeling to aid in identification of critical values in IVF treatments. Her research was the foundation of her valiant efforts towards AI integration in IVF, which would augment the power of clinical decisions leading to optimized patient outcomes. Dr. Ali is an active member of the SART Quality Assurance Committee, SRBT Membership committee of ASRM and SpaceBorn United Board- IVF sector. In the past, she has served as a panelist for NASA’s space biology research program-postdoctoral, worked with the United Nations (UN) as an expert reviewer proposals submitted related to the PCR testing platforms for SARS-CoV-2., served as a scientific advisory board member for College of Reproductive Biology (CRB) and EmbryVu genetics laboratory. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling with her family and discovering different cultures across the globe. “Lane Fertility Institute builds a strong foundation on values to democratize access to patient care. I am proud of the programs we have built and offer, to include our Intended Parent, Donor and Gestational Carrier programs which provide all patients, nationally, options that best fit their needs.”

Dr. Nika Vizcarra is a compassionate and dedicated Board-Certified Obstetrician-Gynecologist (OB/GYN) with a multifaceted approach to healthcare. She holds a medical degree from Penn State College of Medicine and a Master’s in Human Nutrition from Columbia University, reflecting her commitment to comprehensive wellness. As an ob/gyn resident, she received numerous awards for her dedication to family planning, underserved medicine, and minimally invasive gynecological procedures. Dr. Vizcarra’s expertise extends beyond clinical, reproductive medicine, as she is also a proud graduate of the Physicians for Reproductive Health Leadership Training Academy, where she gained invaluable insights into reproductive justice advocacy and continues to use those skills to ensure her patients receive. Her professional interests include comprehensive reproductive health care, reproductive justice advocacy, and equitable healthcare provision. Prior to delving into the world of infertility, Dr. Vizcarra was a general ob/gyn who provided patients with full spectrum reproductive and sexual healthcare as well as a champion for reproductive rights. Dr. Vizcarra is excited to join the esteemed team at Lane Fertility Institute, where she can continue her mission of helping individuals and couples achieve their reproductive and family goals. At Lane Fertility Institute, she aims to provide compassionate care within a reproductive justice framework, ensuring that every patient receives holistic support tailored to their unique needs. Outside of medicine, Dr. Vizcarra enjoys spending time with family and friends (especially her rambunctious puppy, Enzo!), pursuing her interests in dance and aerial arts, exploring new cultures through travel, and indulging in culinary experiences. Feel free to tap into her expertise in nutrition and lifestyle management – it’s an area close to her heart, and she’s always eager to share her knowledge and insights!

Li Mei has been in the field of reproductive biology for more than 25 years in the United States, Japan, and Canada. She is board-certified as a Technical Supervisor (TS) in Embryology by the American Board of Bioanalysis (ABB). Che is also an active member of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine and the College of Reproductive Biology of the ABB. Che grew up in China where she received both her B.S. and M.S. She received additional training at the Development Biology Sciences Department at Tokyo University and later did additional research at McGill University in Canada. As the senior embryologist, Che performs all procedures needed in the embryology and andrology lab at Lane Fertility Institute. She also manages all the quality control and assurances. “I am grateful to be a part of the team at Lane Fertility Institute. I am fortunate to be part of the wonderful experience of helping people obtain their goal of becoming parents and building families!”

Mary Jane performs procedures in the Andrology Lab at LFI, including semen analysis, preparation of semen for IVF/IVC, IUI, and semen cryopreservation. As a junior embryologist, Mary Jane assists Lane Fertility Institute’s senior embryologist with oocyte retrievals, oocyte vitrification, embryo transfer procedures, the freezing of specimens, grading of samples, the receipt and shipment of tissue, routine QA/QC events, federal reporting, data entry, and data logs. “I’m grateful to be a part of an amazing team who works together hand in hand to make miracles happen in the lives of families who undergo IVF. Working in the LFI laboratory gives me a very special privilege to help and witness extraordinary events unfold.”

Allison has been in the field of women’s health for 35 years. She has particular expertise in the field of third party reproduction. Allison started her career in Southern California with Dr. Marrs in 1990. She has been trained by Dr. Alice Domar to teach Mind /Body classes and did so from 2003-2011. She went on to develop and coordinate the Third Party Reproduction programs at Pacific Fertility Center and most recently at UCSF from 2011-2017. With attention to detail and the compassion that guarantees success for the intended parents and donors/surrogates, Allison loves what she does! “There is nothing greater than supporting persons trying to create a family. Sometimes it certainly takes a village. Working in the field of Fertility requires trust and compassion. I am looking forward to bringing my expertise to you.”

Michelle is a dedicated and passionate graduate of UC Davis, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Public Health and Women’s Studies, graduating cum laude. Her academic journey has been fueled by a strong commitment to advancing health equity and understanding the intersection of gender and health. Michelle furthered her education by earning a Master’s in International Health, focusing on data analytics and epidemiology. Her research uses data-driven insights to address global health challenges, particularly in marginalized communities. With a robust foundation in qualitative and quantitative methods, she strives to make meaningful contributions to public health initiatives and policies that empower women and improve health outcomes worldwide.

Marina is a results-driven individual with a bachelor’s degree in Child and Adolescent Development. She is currently a UC Berkeley Extension’s Post-Baccalaureate Health Professions Program student. With a strong interest in women’s health and healthcare equitability, Marina’s goal is to apply for a Master’s of Physician Assistant Studies. With an initial interest in music and voice, Marina began her academic career pursuing a Bachelor’s of Music. In realizing she had more interest in healthcare, she obtained a post-baccalaureate certification in Speech and Language Pathology as the field blended her academic interests in both voice and health. Marina furthered her knowledge by gaining years of experience working as a coordinator for speech therapy services, assisting in neurogenic voice-related research, and working as a medical assistant at an ear, nose, and throat clinic.

Ann coordinates screening for potential egg donors and works with intended parents to identify the best donor match for them. She is eager to support families on their fertility journeys, bringing compassion and expertise to her work. She is committed to providing personalized care, ensuring that every patient feels heard and understood. She looks forward to contributing her skills to help patients achieve their dreams of building a family.