Irene Cervelló, Ph.D.

Biography

Dr. Irene Cervelló is a full-time investigator at FIVI-INCLIVA and Laboratory Manager & Endometrial Stem Cell and Bioengineering Research Group Leader at the IVI Foundation Research Department. She obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Biology in 2000, and her doctorate degree as “cum laude” with extraordinary prize in 2008, in the Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department at the University of Valencia School of Medicine. During her post-doctoral training, she was a visiting scholar for five months at the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine in North Carolina), USA, where she also performed tasks related to the revision of scientific articles and R&D project evaluations (Well Being of Women – ENGLAND and National Science Center-POLONIA).

As a researcher, her long time focus has been the identification, characterization and isolation of endometrial somatic stem cells and leiomyoma stem cells. More recently, her laboratory is developing therapeutic approaches to treat endometrial and uterine disorders using cell therapies and bioengineering.

Dr. Irene Cervello has participated as Principal Investigator in competitive projects both as emerging researcher (Generalitat Valenciana), and as lead researcher (FIS Projects 2018-2020). She published over 20 original articles in leading reproductive journals (Human Reproduction, Molecular Human Reproduction, Fertility and Sterility, Biology of Reproduction, PLoS One), and wrote six book chapters on somatic stem cells, reproductive medicine and bioengineering. Her research resulted in more than 40 scientific abstracts at international scientific meetings, including the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESRHE), the Society for Gynaecologic Investigation (SGI now SRI) and the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM). Derived from her work using stem cells in endometrial pathologies she successfully registered the patent “Stem cell therapy in Endometrial Pathologies” in 2014 as a co-inventor.

Dr. Cervelló has been involved in teaching postgraduate courses since 2003. Presently, she is the coordinator of the Stem cells Section in Human Reproduction Module of the Master’s Degree in Biotechnology of Assisted Human Reproduction (University of Valencia School of Medicine). In addition, Dr. Cervello is currently the thesis advisor of two Ph.D. students (Generalitat Valenciana), and previously advised two graduate students who successfully completed their theses (one with European Extraordinary Prize of Doctorate).

Education and Training

B.Sc.	University of Valencia, Spain (2000)
Ph.D (Biology)	University of Valencia, Spain (2008)
Fellowship	Principe Felipe Research Center, Spain (2010-2011)
Fellowship	Wake Forest University, Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine /WFIRM (North Carolina), USA (2013)

Honors and recognition

University of Valencia School of Medicine, Spain, Scholarship for pre-doctoral training	(2003-2005)
IVI Foundation (Spain) Scholarship for pre-doctoral training	(2005-2006)
Ministry of Education (Spain)-Equipo IVI pre-doctoral contract	(2007-2008)
Extraordinary PhD Thesis Award, University of Valencia (Spain)	(2008)
President’s Presenter Award, Society for Reproductive Investigation (formerly Society for Gynecologic Investigation) (SRI)	(2009)
Basic Science Award, European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE)	(2012)
“José Castillejo” program grant for young researchers (Ministry of Education (Spain)) for postdoctoral training at the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine	(2013)

Publications

Predicted COVID-19 molecular effects on endometrium reveal key dysregulated genes and functions.
Henarejos-Castillo I, Devesa-Peiro A, de Miguel-Gomez L, Sebastian-Leon P, Romeu M, Aleman A, Molina-Gil C, Pellicer A, Cervello I, Diaz-Gimeno P

Mol Hum Reprod. 2022 Oct 7:gaac035. doi: 10.1093/molehr/gaac035. Online ahead of print.. 2022 doi:

Human umbilical cord platelet-rich plasma to treat endometrial pathologies: methodology, composition and pre-clinical models.
Rodríguez-Eguren A, de Miguel-Gómez L, Francés-Herrero E, Gómez-Álvarez M, Faus A, Gómez-Cerdá M, Moret-Tatay I, Díaz A, Pellicer A, Cervelló I

Hum Reprod Open. 2022 Nov 28;2023(1):hoac053. doi: 10.1093/hropen/hoac053. eCollection 2023. . 2022 doi:

Bioengineering trends in female reproduction: a systematic review.
Francés-Herrero E, Lopez R, Hellström M, de Miguel-Gómez L, Herraiz S, Brännström M, Pellicer A, Cervelló I

Hum Reprod Update. 2022 Jun 2:dmac025. Online ahead of print. 2022 doi: 10.1093/humupd/dmac025

Establishment of Adenomyosis Organoids as a Preclinical Model to Study Infertility.
Juárez-Barber E, Francés-Herrero E, Corachán A, Vidal C, Giles J, Alamá P, Faus A, Pellicer A, Cervelló I, Ferrero H

J Pers Med. 2022 doi: 10.3390/jpm12020219

Bioengineered Endometrial Hydrogels with Growth Factors Promote Tissue Regeneration and Restore Fertility in Murine Models.
López-Martínez S, Rodríguez-Eguren A, de Miguel-Gómez L, Francés-Herrero E, Faus A, Díaz A, Pellicer A, Ferrero H, Cervelló I

Acta Biomater. 2021 doi:

Strategies for managing asherman's syndrome and endometrial atrophy: Since the classical experimental models to the new bioengineering approach.
de Miguel-Gomez L, Romeu M, Pellicer A, Cervello I

Mol Reprod Dev. 2021 doi:

5-aza-2'-deoxycitidine inhibits cell proliferation, extracellular matrix formation and Wnt/β-catenin pathway in human uterine leiomyomas.
Carbajo-Garcia MC, Corachan A, Segura-Benitez M, Monleon J, Escrig J, Faus A, Pellicer A, Cervello I, Ferrero H

Reprod Biol Endocr. 2021 doi:

Improved Models of Human Endometrial Organoids Based on Hydrogels from Decellularized Endometrium.
Frances-Herrero E, Juarez-Barber E, Campo H, Lopez-Martinez S, de Miguel-Gomez L, Faus A, Pellicer A, Ferrero H, Cervello I

J Pers Med. Jun. 2021 doi: 10.3390/jpm11060504

Stem Cells and the Endometrium: From the Discovery of Adult Stem Cells to Pre-Clinical Models.
de Miguel-Gomez L, Lopez-Martinez S, Frances-Herrero E, Rodriguez-Eguren A, Pellicer A, Cervello I

Cells. Mar. 2021 doi: 10.3390/cells10030595

A Natural Xenogeneic Endometrial Extracellular Matrix Hydrogel Toward Improving Current Human in vitro Models and Future in vivo Applications.
Lopez-Martínez S, Campo H, de Miguel-Gomez L, Faus A, Navarro AT, Díaz A, Pellicer A, Ferrero H, Cervello I

Front Bioeng Biotechnol. Mar. 2021 doi: 10.3389/fbioe.2021.639688

Stem cell secreted factor therapy regenerates the ovarian niche and rescues follicles
Buigues A, Marchante M, Miguel-Gómez L, Martinez J, Cervello I, Pellicer A, Herraiz S

Am J Obst & Gyn. 2021 Feb. doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2021.01.023

Development of Decellularized Oviductal Hydrogels as a Support for Rabbit Embryo Culture.
Francés-Herrero E, De Miguel-Gómez L, López-Martínez S, Campo H, Garcia-Dominguez X, Diretto G, Faus A, Vicente JS, Marco-Jiménez F, Cervello I

Reprod Sci.. 2021 Jan. doi: 10.1007/s43032-020-00446-6

Stem Cells and the Endometrium: From the Discovery of Adult Stem Cells to Pre-Clinical Models
de Miguel-Gomez L, Lopez-Martinez S, Frances-Herrero E, Rodriguez-Eguren A, Pellicer A, Cervello I,

Cells. 2021 Mar. doi: 10.3390/cells10030595

A Natural Xenogeneic Endometrial Extracellular Matrix Hydrogel Toward Improving Current Human in vitro Models and Future in vivo Applications
Lopez-Martinez S, Campo H, de Miguel-Gomez L, Faus A, Navarro A T, Diaz A, Pellicer A, Ferrero H, Cervello I,

Front Bioeng Biotechnol. 2021 Mar. doi: 10.3389/fbioe.2021.639688

Stem cell-secreted factor therapy regenerates the ovarian niche and rescues follicles
Buigues A, Marchante M, de Miguel-Gomez L, Martinez J, Cervello I, Pellicer A, Herraiz S,

Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2021 1-Feb. doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2021.01.023

Development of Decellularized Oviductal Hydrogels as a Support for Rabbit Embryo Culture
Frances-Herrero E, De Miguel-Gomez L, Lopez-Martinez S, Campo H, Garcia-Dominguez X, Diretto G, Faus A, Vicente J S, Marco-Jimenez F, Cervello I,

Reprod Sci. 2021 Jan. doi: 10.1007/s43032-020-00446-6

Vitamin D as an effective treatment in human uterine leiomyomas independent of mediator complex subunit 12 mutation
Corachan A, Trejo M G, Carbajo-Garcia M C, Monleon J, Escrig J, Faus A, Pellicer A, Cervello I, Ferrero H,

Fertil Steril. 2021 Feb. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2020.07.049

Comparison of different sources of platelet-rich plasma as treatment option for infertility-causing endometrial pathologies
de Miguel-Gomez L, Lopez-Martinez S, Campo H, Frances-Herrero E, Faus A, Diaz A, Pellicer A, Dominguez F, Cervello I,

Fertil Steril. 2021 Feb. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2020.07.053

New insights for fertility preservation by ovarian tissue cryopreservation and transplantation in pediatric cancer patients
Herraiz S, Cervello I,

Fertil Steril. 2020 Dec. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2020.07.057

Personalized medicine through three-dimensional cell-based culture systems in assisted reproductive technologies: How close are we?
Diaz-Gimeno P, Cervello I,

Fertil Steril. 2020 Sep. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2020.07.021

Microphysiological Modeling of the Human Endometrium
Campo H, Murphy A, Yildiz S, Woodruff T, Cervello I, Kim J J,

Tissue Eng Part A. 2020 Jul. doi: 10.1089/ten.tea.2020.0022

Stem cell paracrine actions in tissue regeneration and potential therapeutic effect in human endometrium: a retrospective study
de Miguel-Gomez L, Ferrero H, Lopez-Martinez S, Campo H, Lopez-Perez N, Faus A, Hervas D, Santamaria X, Pellicer A, Cervello I,

BJOG. 2020 Apr. doi: 10.1111/1471-0528.16078

Long-term vitamin D treatment decreases human uterine leiomyoma size in a xenograft animal model
Corachan A, Ferrero H, Escrig J, Monleon J, Faus A, Cervello I, Pellicer A,

Fertil Steril. 2020 Jan. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2019.09.018

Bioengineering strategies of the uterus towards improving current investigative models and female reproductive health
Campo H, Cervello I, Pellicer A,

Facts Views Vis Obgyn. 2019 Mar. doi:

Tissue-specific decellularized endometrial substratum mimicking different physiological conditions influences in vitro embryo development in a rabbit model
Campo H, Garcia-Dominguez X, Lopez-Martinez S, Faus A, Vicente Anton J S, Marco-Jimenez F, Cervello I,

Acta Biomater. 2019 Apr 15. doi: 10.1016/j.actbio.2019.03.004

Reply: Bone marrow-derived endometrial cells: What you see is what you get
Santamaria X, Mas A, Cervello I, Taylor H S, Simon C,

Hum Reprod Update. 2019 1-Mar. doi: 10.1093/humupd/dmy042

Inhibition of tumor cell proliferation in human uterine leiomyomas by vitamin D via Wnt/beta-catenin pathway
Corachan A, Ferrero H, Aguilar A, Garcia N, Monleon J, Faus A, Cervello I, Pellicer A,

Fertil Steril. 2019 Feb. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2018.10.008

Human Endometrial Reconstitution From Somatic Stem Cells: The Importance of Niche-Like Cells
Lopez-Perez N, Gil-Sanchis C, Ferrero H, Faus A, Diaz A, Pellicer A, Cervello I, Simon C,

Reprod Sci. 2019 Jan. doi: 10.1177/1933719118766251

Uterine stem cells: from basic research to advanced cell therapies
Santamaria X, Mas A, Cervello I, Taylor H, Simon C,

Hum Reprod Update. 2018 1-Nov. doi: 10.1093/humupd/dmy028

De- and recellularization of the pig uterus: a bioengineering pilot study
Campo H, Baptista P M, Lopez-Perez N, Faus A, Cervello I, Simon C,

Biol Reprod. 2017 Jan 1. doi: 10.1095/biolreprod.116.143396

Bioengineering the Uterus: An Overview of Recent Advances and Future Perspectives in Reproductive Medicine
Campo H, Cervello I, Simon C,

Ann Biomed Eng. 2017 Jul. doi: 10.1007/s10439-016-1783-3

Leucine-rich repeat-containing G-protein-coupled receptor 5-positive cells in the endometrial stem cell niche
Cervello I, Gil-Sanchis C, Santamaria X, Faus A, Vallve-Juanico J, Diaz-Gimeno P, Genolet O, Pellicer A, Simon C,

Fertil Steril. 2017 Feb. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2016.10.021

Autologous cell therapy with CD133+ bone marrow-derived stem cells for refractory Asherman's syndrome and endometrial atrophy: a pilot cohort study
Santamaria X, Cabanillas S, Cervello I, Arbona C, Raga F, Ferro J, Palmero J, Remohi J, Pellicer A, Simon C,

Hum Reprod. 2016 May. doi: 10.1093/humrep/dew042

Translating Regenerative Medicine to the Clinic. Advances in Translational Medicine. Regenerative Medicine and Tissue Engineering in Reproductive Medicine: Future Clinical Applications in Human Infertility.
Cervello I, Medrano JV, Simon C,

2016 doi:

Human CD133(+) bone marrow-derived stem cells promote endometrial proliferation in a murine model of Asherman syndrome
Cervello I, Gil-Sanchis C, Santamaria X, Cabanillas S, Diaz A, Faus A, Pellicer A, Simon C,

Fertil Steril. 2015 Dec. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2015.08.032

Cell Therapy and Tissue Engineering from and toward the Uterus
Cervello I, Santamaria X, Miyazaki K, Maruyama T, Simon C,

Semin Reprod Med. 2015 Sep. doi: 10.1055/s-0035-1559581

Contribution of different bone marrow-derived cell types in endometrial regeneration using an irradiated murine model
Gil-Sanchis C, Cervello I, Khurana S, Faus A, Verfaillie C, Simon C,

Fertil Steril. 2015 Jun. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2015.02.030

Overexpression of the truncated form of High Mobility Group A proteins (HMGA2) in human myometrial cells induces leiomyoma-like tissue formation
Mas A, Cervello I, Fernandez-Alvarez A, Faus A, Diaz A, Burgues O, Casado M, Simon C,

Mol Hum Reprod. 2015 Apr. doi: 10.1093/molehr/gau114

Current understanding of somatic stem cells in leiomyoma formation
Mas A, Cervello I, Gil-Sanchis C, Simon C,

Fertil Steril. 2014 Sep. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2014.04.051

Identification and characterization of the human leiomyoma side population as putative tumor-initiating cells
Mas A, Cervello I, Gil-Sanchis C, Faus A, Ferro J, Pellicer A, Simon C,

Fertil Steril. 2012 Sep. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2012.04.044

Bone marrow-derived cells from male donors do not contribute to the endometrial side population of the recipient
Cervello I, Gil-Sanchis C, Mas A, Faus A, Sanz J, Moscardo F, Higueras G, Sanz M A, Pellicer A, Simon C,

PLoS One. 2012 doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0030260

Reconstruction of endometrium from human endometrial side population cell lines
Cervello I, Mas A, Gil-Sanchis C, Peris L, Faus A, Saunders P T, Critchley H O, Simon C,

PLoS One. 2011 doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0021221

Stem cells in human endometrium and endometrial carcinoma
Cervello I, Mirantes C, Santamaria X, Dolcet X, Matias-Guiu X, Simon C,

Int J Gynecol Pathol. 2011 Jul. doi: 10.1097/PGP.0b013e3182102754

Identification, characterization and co-localization of label-retaining cell population in mouse endometrium with typical undifferentiated markers
Cervello I, Martinez-Conejero J A, Horcajadas J A, Pellicer A, Simon C,

Hum Reprod. 2007 Jan. doi: 10.1093/humrep/del332

Presentations

Corachán A Trejo MG Carbajo-García MC Faus A Escrig J Monleón J Pellicer A Cervelló I Ferrero H Vitamin D as an effective treatment to reduce cell proliferation and extra cellular matrix formation in human uterine leiomyomas regardless MED12 mutation status.. Presented at the 36th annual meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology, Copenhagen,Denmark, July 5-8, 2020

Corachán A Ferrero H Escrig J Monleón J Faus A Cervelló I Pellicer A O-208 VITAMIN D LONG-TERM TREATMENT DECREASES HUMAN UTERINE LEIOMYOMA SIZE THROUGH SPECIFIC MOLECULAR MECHANISMS IN A XENOGRAFT ANIMAL MODEL. Presented at the 35th annual meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology, Vienna, Austria, 14-16 October 2019

López Martínez S Campo H De Miguel-Gómez L Faus A Ferrero H Cervelló I O-121: Improving three-dimensional in vitro culture methods of human endometrial stem cells: bioengineering tissue-specific hydrogels. Presented at the 74th Scientific Congress & Expo of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, Denver, CO, USA, 23-26 June 2019

De Miguel Gómez L López Martínez S Faus A Hervás D Ferrero H Cervelló I P-790: Stem cell therapy induces a shift from an inflammatory environment towards an immune tolerant scenario promoting endometrial tissue regeneration. Presented at the 74th Scientific Congress & Expo of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, Denver, CO, USA, 23-26 June 2019

Campo H García-Domínguez X López-Martínez S Antón J Marco-jiménez F Cervelló I Biomimetic Coatings from Decellularized Rabbit Endometrium Inuence the In Vitro In Vitro Development of PreImplantation Embryos. . Presented at the 34rd annual meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology, Barcelona, Spain, March 12-16, 2019

Corachán A Ferrero H Escrig J Monleón J Faus A Cervelló I Pellicer A Eects of Vitamin D in Human Uterine Leiomyoma Growth in a Xenograft Animal Model.. Presented at the 34rd annual meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology, Barcelona, Spain, March 12-16, 2019

De Miguel-Gómez L Faus A López-Martínez S López-Pérez N Castillón G Pellicer A Cervelló I Human Platelet-Rich Plasma from Patients with Uterine Pathologies Contributes to Endometrial Regeneration: A Current Therapeutic Approach? . Presented at the 34rd annual meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology, Barcelona, Spain, March 12-16, 2019

López-Pérez N Santamaría X Díaz-Gimeno P Sebastian-Leon P Faus A Remohí J Pellicer A Simón C Cervelló I Stem Cell-Secreted Paracrine Factors in Human Endometrial Regeneration . Presented at the 33rd annual meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology, Geneva,Switerland, March 6-10,2018

Corachán A Ferrero H Aguilar A García N Monleón J Faus A Galiano D Cervelló I Pellicer A Vitamin D can inhibit proliferation of uterine fibroid cells in vitro through the Wnt/?-Catenin signalling pathway. , , July 2-5 ,2017

García N Aguilar A Corachán A Monleón J Ferrero H Galiano D Navarro AT Cervelló I Pellicer A In vitro proliferation of uterine fibroids is related with vitamin D receptor and patient´s age. , , July 2-5 ,2017