Sonia Herraiz, Ph.D.

She obtained her Bachelors degree, majoring in Biology at the University of Valencia in 2003, and joined IVI Foundation in 2006, obtaining her PhD degree, also from the University of Valencia in 2010 with distinction as Magna Cum laude. As part of her post-doctoral training, she spent a year at the University of Edinburgh with Dr. Evelyn E. Telfer to learn in vitro follicle culture and oocyte maturation. In addition, she had several short term stays to improve her skills. These include Infertility Center of St. Louis (MI, US), hosted by Prof. Sherman Silber, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Kanagawa (Japan) hosted by Dr. Kawamura, and Stanford University, CA, USA, under the supervision of Prof. Aaron Hsueh.

The primary focus of her laboratory is ovarian rejuvenation. She tackles this question using a number of cutting-edge approaches, including autologous bone marrow-derived stem cell transplantation and ovarian fragmentation. She is also intersted in the development of new alternatives for Fertility Preservation in cancer patients where the ovarian transplantation is contraindicated. She has been funded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (SAF and FIS projects), and the Valencian Health Agency (PROMETEO project), as well as private institutions. She has also been awarded the highly competitive Sara Borrell postdoctoral grant from the Spanish Government in 2012 and from Valencian Education agency in 2016.

She has authored over 20 peer-reviewed scientific papers and review articles in international journals and presented over 30 communications in meetings. She received the Spanish Fertility Society Award in 2016. Dr. Herraiz is ad-hoc reviewer for a number of leading reproductive journals and has been recognized as a Star reviewer by Fertility and Sterility.

Dr. Sonia Herraiz is the co-director of 4 Thesis projects and 3 Master projects at University of Valencia and is Faculty of the Master’s Degree Program in Biotechnology of Assisted Human Reproduction (University of Valencia)