Dr. Martín Hidalgo is the author of some thirty scientific articles in international journals and has spent 13 years working in the investigation of reproductive signaling pathways, especially focused on sperm.
The grant, which he has received from the Minister of Health and Social Services of the Extremadura Regional Government, José María Vergeles, will be used to develop a research project that aims to find new tools to address the growing problem of male infertility.
In the case of Extremadura, about 1,000 couples seek help each year in public health to try to solve infertility problems.
The project, called SPIGOMIC, aims to develop new tools that allow overcoming the current classic sperm analysis protocols, which present limitations when it comes to predicting the fertilizing capacity of sperm, especially in the case of men who, despite presenting sperm parameters normal, they may be infertile. The project aims to offer new options to these patients.
This project is part of a new line of research in the Cáceres Health Area Research Unit in which Urology and Gynecology professionals from the San Pedro de Alcántara Hospital and the research community of the University of Extremadura will also participate (INBIO C + G).
“We need new standardized protocols to predict fertility success, which will save us significant time and healthcare resources and, most importantly, will significantly reduce the anxiety of couples starting this process. It is key to find new fertility biomarkers that will help to discriminate the fertility potential of an ejaculate “, explains Dr. Martín Hidalgo.
To do this, and within the framework of this project, Martín Hidalgo and his colleagues study the metabolism of sperm in fertile and infertile men, as an alternative to the classic seminogram, to discover new keys that allow predicting the fertility potential in semen.
The ultimate goal is to develop a semen extender (product that can be mixed with sperm to prevent spoilage while being held or sent for possible insemination) tailored to the specific needs of infertile males, in order to help them overcome their trouble.
In this way, in addition, the use of less aggressive assisted reproductive technologies for women, such as intrauterine insemination, could be promoted compared to others that involve severe hormonal treatments or surgical procedures such as in vitro fertilization or intracytoplasmic sperm injection.
EXTREMADURA RECEIVES INVESTMENTS
For his part, the Minister of Health, José María Vergeles, has shown his “pride” in presenting the scholarship to Dr. Martín Hidalgo. After congratulating the researcher, he highlighted his curriculum and his research career in the field of infertility, a job he does in Extremadura but which has not prevented him from “weaving collaborative networks” both nationally and internationally.
“This scholarship is very important to us; it must always have a recipient with a powerful curriculum and a stable line of research in which it is integrated. We have fulfilled it, and that is good news for Extremadura,” he said.
On the other hand, Vergeles has valued how Extremadura brings together all the elements to attract investments in biomedical research by companies such as Roche, which highlighted its role as a pioneer in innovation and in the development of personalized precision medicine.
STOP THE BRAIN LEAK
For her part, the director of the Roche Farma Medical Department, Beatriz Pérez, has indicated that the research carried out by Martín Hidalgo “clearly demonstrates the reason for the Stop Fuga de Cerebros grant, which allows Roche to collaborate with the system health and research fabric to retain scientific talent in their field while encouraging top-level research on pathologies that have an impact on patients “.
“We are convinced that, thanks to the work of Martín Hidalgo and his colleagues, men with infertility problems will be able to have new therapeutic options in the future that will allow them to fulfill their dream of being parents,” he added.
RETAIN TALENT
For FundeSalud, the foundation attached to the Department of Health and Social Services of the Junta de Extremadura, and convenor of the scholarship, it is a pleasure to award this scholarship with the support of Roche.
FundeSalud has among its foundational purposes the support and strengthening of the R & D & I structures of Extremadura through the promotion of material and human resources.
This scholarship is one more activity carried out by FundeSalud with the aim of attracting and retaining research talent in our health system. It is essential to create a research career in the Extremadura health system, and this type of scholarship is an important starting point, but it must be continued once this support ends.
The Cáceres Health Area Research Unit is located in the Cáceres University Hospital Complex and is directed by Dr. José Zamorano.
Since its foundation in 2000, the Research Unit has developed multiple projects, mainly in the field of inflammatory, cardiovascular and cancer diseases, the incorporation of Dr. Martín will open a new line of research in the field of fertility.
This will make it possible to expand collaboration with professionals from our center interested in this pathology and also to strengthen ties with researchers from the University of Extremadura who work in this area.
Likewise, the technical and scientific knowledge acquired by Dr. Martín in his “extensive professional career” will be of “great help” in carrying out the projects that are currently being carried out in this unit.
SUPPORT TALENT
The Stop Brain Drain program is part of a Roche Farma project that began in 2017 with the aim of retaining the best researchers and favoring the development of their work in the immediate environment, thus developing a network that, through the work scientific, ends up generating a positive impact on patients and society.
The scholarships are intended to support the work of researchers whose scientific work includes basic or translational research and is currently being developed in the Autonomous Communities, in this case in Extremadura.
These scholarships are managed by the health agencies of the autonomous communities that join the project through the processing of a collaboration agreement between Roche Farma and the entity designated by each health agency.
To date, the departments of Andalusia, Aragon, the Balearic Islands, the Canary Islands, Castilla-La Mancha, Castilla y León, Catalonia, the Valencian Community, La Rioja, Madrid, Murcia, Navarra and the Basque Country have been assigned to this collaboration formula.
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