Research

Carlos Simón MD, PhD / Felipe Vilella, PhD

Study of endometrial receptivity

We discovered the transcriptomic signature of human endometrial receptivity.

Now, we are focusing on a new, minimally invasive procedure using single-cell analysis.

Inmaculada Moreno, PhD

The endometrial microbiome in human reproduction

Our research group has described the existence of the endometrial microbiome and its clinical implications on the reproductive outcome.

We investigate the impact of uterine microbiome dysbiosis and its clinical impact.

Felipe Vilella, PhD

Materno-embryonic communication

We have investigated how the mother communicates with the preimplantation embryo prior to implantation, and discovered that the maternal endometrium modifies the transcriptomics of the embryo in health and disease.

The language use in this dialogue is composed by extracellular vesicles, miRNA and DNA secreted by the endometrium to the endometrial fluid that is internalized by the embryo modifying its transcriptome.

Xavier Santamaria MD, PhD

Adult stem cells in the human endometrium

We have identified the existence of human endometrial stem cells and have further clarified their origin from the endogenous source (endometrium) and from the bone marrow.

We have demonstrated the therapeutic potential of autologous bone marrow CD133+ stem cells in the treatment of non-curable endometrial pathologies such as Asherman’s syndrome or endometrial atrophy.

Carmen Rubio, PhD

The embryo as the patient

Our previous clinical research has already shown the benefits of preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidies (PGT-A) to increase live birth rates and decrease miscarriages and time to pregnancy.

Now, we aim to develop a non-invasive approach to identify euploid embryos for transfer by assessing the cell-free DNA secreted by the embryo without the need for embryo biopsy.

Tamara Garrido, PhD

The maternal implication in the origin of pre-eclampsia

Preeclampsia is a major obstetric complication affecting 8% of first-time pregnancies with serious consequences for both mother and child. Despite years of investigations, its etiology remains elusive. The unsolved question is why shallow trophoblast invasion occurs, and we turned the attention to the maternal decidua. Our published studies evidenced for the first time a defective decidualization in the endometrium of women with preeclampsia, which is detected at the time of delivery and lingers for years afterwards. In this context, the major challenge is to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying this defect, as well as to delving into specific cell populations that may be altered in this syndrome.

Aymara Mas, PhD

Molecular and celular origin of gynecological tumors

Our previous work has demonstrated the genomic differential characterization of myomas and leiomyosarcomas.

We aim to shift the diagnostic and therapeutic focus of uterine leiomyomas and leiomyosarcomas through genomic characterization.

Felipe Vilella, PhD/Pradeep Reddy, PhD

Creation of artificial gametes by transdifferentiating human somatic cells

Creation of artificial gametes is a long-term goal in the field of infertility research.

Our lab has demonstrated the possibility of converting somatic cells into primordial germ cell-like cells by inducing the expression of germ cell genes.