Roberto Matorras (Santander, Spain) obtained is MD in Medicine at the University of Navarra (1976-1980) and his PhD in Medicine at the Autonomous University of Madrid (1986). He performed his Residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at La Paz Hospital, Madrid (1981-1984). His past employments include staff of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Department from the Hospital “Ramón y Cajal” (Madrid) (1984-1986), staff of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Hospital of Cruces, Vizcaya (1986- 1998), and Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Basque Country University (1989-2003). He was President of the Spanish Society of Infertility (2004-2006). His present professional activity is Director of the Reproduction Unit of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Hospital from Cruces, Vizcaya, Spain (1998), Chairman of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Basque Country University (2003) and Investigation and Teaching Director from the IVI Center, Bilbao (2007).

His main investigation areas are endometriosis, assisted reproduction, intrauterine insemination and fatty acids in pregnancy and reproduction. He is the author of 90 articles in English peer-reviewed medical journals and 300 articles in Spanish peer-reviewed medical journals. He has edited 8 scientific focused in Obstetrics and Gynecology and Assisted Reproduction, and is the author of 50 chapters of books. He has directed 5 doctoral theses. He has received 21 awards and honors.

In the Category of “UTERINE RECEPTIVITY”:

Project: Endometrial fluid proteomics to assess uterine receptivity.

Proteomic assessment of the endometrial liquid as a prognostic factor of the embryo implantation in In Vitro Fertilization involves the study of the proteomic composition of the endometrial fluid obtained at the moment of the embryo transfer as a marker of implantation. Although much effort has been made in order to maximize embryo implantation, the endometrial factor has received little attention. We have recently reported how endometrial fluid can easily be obtained by means of an embryo transfer catheter, and how in this liquid there are more than 800 different proteins. In the present project we intend to subject to the endometrial fluid (obtained by means of an embryo transfer catheter, immediately before embryo transfer in IVF patients and 2-3 days after oocyte pick-up in oocyte donors) to proteome analysis. The following analysis will be performed: two-D electrophoresis, protein differential analysis, protein identification by mass spectrometry, functional analysis and finally validation by ELISA and xMAP. The proteome pattern obtained in endometrial fluid, and also in peripheral blood will be studied in IVF patients and oocyte donors.

The hypothesis of the present study is that the different situation of endometrial development under hormonal stimulation might yield a different protein secretion pattern, and some of these proteins could be related with the implantation outcome. Consequently, a favourable and unfavourable protein pattern could be determined with important clinical applications. For example, an unfavourable pattern the day of the transfer, could involve the following consequences: 1) not to perform the transfer, freezing the embryos until a posterior cycle with a favourable protein pattern; 2) to delay the embryo transfer some days awaiting a more favourable pattern; 3) to increase the number of embryos to transfer, since the endometrium is less receptive. At the same time, a favourable pattern could be applied to reduce the number of embryos transferred, avoiding the risk of multiple gestation. Concerning the comparison with oocyte donors, in some IVF patients an adverse proteomic pattern could be detected, that perhaps could be related with the cause of the infertility.

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