Lani Burkman

Published March 11, 2016 This content is archived.

Lani J. Burkman, associate professor emeritus in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and pioneering scientist in the study of male infertility, died March 4 of cancer in her home on Grand Island. She was 67.

Born in Santa Barbara, Calif., Burkman completed her doctoral work in physiology at the University of California, Davis. In 1982, she joined the Jones Institute for Reproductive Medicine — the Norfolk, Virginia, clinic that performed the first successful in vitro fertilization in the U.S. — where she developed the Hemizona Assay, a highly reputed sperm function test. Her studies led to the discovery of sperm hyperactivation, a critical stage in the fertilization of an egg.

Burkman joined the faculty of the UB Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in 1996. Her UB laboratory carried out clinical and basic research on new contraceptive drugs, on the use of sperm for toxicity testing and on the negative effects of nicotine and marijuana on sperm and male fertility.

After retiring from UB in 2009, she formed LifeCell Dx, a company that uses computer analysis to predict a male’s probability of fertility. She patented a process to assess male fertility over the internet, facilitating testing in remote domestic and international areas. Her work ultimately aided countless couples wanting to have children.

In her spare time, Burkman enjoyed gardening, sewing, singing and playing the piano.

She is survived by her husband, Thomas Burkman, emeritus research professor and former director of the Asian Studies Program at UB.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. March 19 in Trinity Church on Grand Island. Memorial gifts may be made to Journeys End Refugee Services.