Introduction to Guest Editor

There has been a rapid increase in our knowledge about stem cells and their application since our last issue on this topic in 2006. The understanding of the development, recruitment, and role of stem cells in reproductive medicine is the topic of this first issue of 2013. Dr. Carlos Simón, a member of our editorial board, has agreed to serve as guest editor. After reading the articles, our readers' knowledge in this field will be greatly expanded, and I predict this issue will be well referenced.

Professor Simón is board certified and a full professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Valencia, scientific director of the Fundación IVI, and was scientific director of the Prince Felipe Research Center from 2009 to 2011.

Since 1991, his basic and clinical research has contributed to the advancement of reproductive medicine, specifically in the understanding of human endometrial receptivity, embryo viability, embryonic implantation, and endometriosis. Simón discovered the relevance of the interleukin-1 system in embryonic implantation (Simon et al, J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1993, 1994; Endocrinology 1994; Biol Reprod 2006). He demonstrated the deleterious effect of elevated hormonal levels in patients with a high response to gonadotrophins, thus modifying established clinical practice (Hum Reprod 1995; Fertil Steril 1996,1998). Simón pioneered the concept that human oocytes are affected in endometriosis (Hum Reprod 1994; Fertil Steril 2000), thus changing clinical practice in oocyte donation. He proposed a new embryo coculture system, now successfully used worldwide (J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1996; Fertil Steril 2003). His basic research on endometrial receptivity led him to create and patent a customized array called the endometrial receptivity array for the molecular diagnosis of endometrial receptivity (Fertil Steril 2010).

In an independent bibliometric analysis considering publications in reproductive biology between 2003 and 2005, Simón was identified as the ninth most productive author in the world (Gonzalez-Alcaide et al, Fertil Steril 2008;90:941–956).

Since 2001, Simón has expanded his research into the field of stem cells, resulting in the derivation, characterization, and registration in the Spanish National Stem Cell Bank (BNLC) of 10 human embryonic stem cell (hESC) lines (http://www.isciii.es/ISCIII/es/contenidos/fd-investigacion/fd-ejecucion/fd-programas-investigacion/fd-investigacion-terapia-celular-medicina-regenerativa/banco-nacional-lineas-celulares.shtml). He derived the first two hESCs in Spain (Fertil Steril 2005) and described a new system for freezing hESCs in the absence of animal contaminants. Simón derived VAL-6M, the first line with a monogenic disorder (myotonic dystrophy type I) in Spain. He also obtained the first two hESC lines without destroying the human embryo using blastomere biopsy and demonstrated the lack of genetic diversity in the most commonly used hESC in the world (Mosher et al, N Engl J Med 2010). Finally, Simón reported the identification and characterization of human endometrial stem cells (Cervelló et al, PLoS ONE 2010;5(6):e10964).

As principal investigator, his work has been funded through 10 projects sponsored by the Spanish government, 5 by the Valencian government including a PROMETEO (granted to prestigious scientists) and 14 projects by international organizations, American universities, and private companies.

He has published 304 papers in international peer-reviewed journals, with an accumulated impact factor of 1,264,628. His papers have been cited >8000 times. His h-index is 52, and he is editor of 14 books.

Simón has directed 19 doctoral theses, all awarded “cum laude” including 4 PhD Awards of Excellence and one European PhD.

His research has originated 11 patent applications, leading to the creation of three biotech companies (IVIOMICS, Embryomics, and Stemlifeline).

Simón was awarded the “Prize Jaime I 2011 in Medical Investigation.”