RESEARCH GROUPS

Maternal and Fetal Medicine

Overview

Team

Publications

Projects

Patents

Dissemination

15

Number of publications

66.67
%

% Q1

26.67
%

% D1

66.67
%

% Leadership

80.00
%

% Female Leadership

2.29

CROWN (2021-2025)

21.88
%

HCP10% (2021-2025)

53.33
%

% Open access

26.67
%

% International Collaboration

5

Highly cited papers / HCP 1% (2021-2025)

4

Publications in high-IF journals with high Altmetric scores

16

Number of Ongoing Projectes (total)

2

International ongoing projects

5

Number of New projects (total)

1

International new projects

2

Number of Active clinical Trials

1

Number of New Clinical Trials

1

Number of Theses

In 2025, the Maternal-Fetal Medicine Group at Vall d’Hebron Research Institute maintained strong and sustained research activity, with nine active funded projects and two in extension phase. Two new competitive grants were secured: one from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (AES) and one from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The group also strengthened its clinical research capacity by obtaining a Río Hortega contract for Ester del Barco. A total of 26 scientific papers were published: 7 in top 10% journals, 8 in top 25%, 7 in Q2, 2 in Q3, and 1 in Q4. Two PhD theses were defended, including Pablo García Manau at Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Manel Mendoza received the Premi a la Recerca d’Impacte ICS. The group remains active in ERN ITHACA and participates in the EU-funded PREGNADIGIT-EU project, reinforcing its international collaborations.

CORE/MISSIONS

  • AI, Data, Imaging & Digital Health
  • Innovative & Advanced Therapies
  • Rare Diseases
  • Transplant & Immunomodulation

PROGRAMS

  • Robotic Surgery & Simulation
  • Woman, Gender & Diversity Perspective in Health Research

TEAM

Group Leader

Manel Mendoza, Nerea Maiz

Principal Investigator (PI)

Anna Suy, María Goya, Nerea Maiz, Carlota Rodó, María Ángeles Sánchez-Durán, Melchor Carbonell, Maia Brik, Manel Mendoza, Erika Bonacina, Serena Brigidi

Researchers

Barranco Martinez, Francisco, Calero Fernández, Inés Zulema, Farràs Llobet, Alba, Font Zabalia, Vicenç, Garcia Ruiz, Itziar; Herrero García, Julio; Higueras Sanz, Ma Teresa; Illan Hernandez, Lidia; Manrique Muñoz, Susana; Moreno Perez, Elena; Pancorbo Lerma, Maria Luisa; Perello Barcelo, Maria Antonia; Serrano Sanchez, Berta; Cabeza Oliver, Carmen; Robert Marchal, Elisabet

PhD Students

Arévalo Martínez, Silvia; Del Barco Martínez, Ester; Armengol Alsina, Mireia; Catalán Sanz, Sara; Teixidó Troyano, Anna; Dalmau Artal, Marta; Casellas de Miguel, Alba; Brox Martín, Anna; Elisabeth Sanfeliu de España; Queralt Ferrer Menduiña

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

Garcia-Manau P, Bonacina E, Martin-Alonso R, Martin L, Palacios A, Sanchez-Camps ML, Lesmes C, Hurtado I, Perez E, Tubau A, Ibañez P, Alcoz M, Valiño N, Moreno E, Borrero C, Garcia E, Lopez-Quesada E, Diaz S, Broullon JR, Teixidor M, Chulilla C, Ferrer-Costa R, Gil MM, Lopez M, Ramos-Forner GM, Blanco JE, Moreno A, Lázaro-Rodríguez M, Vaquerizo O, Soriano B, Fabre M, Gomez-Valencia E, Cuiña A, Alayon N, Sainz-Bueno JA, Vives A, Esteve E, Ocaña V, López MÁ, Maroto A, Carreras E, Mendoza M.
Angiogenic factors versus fetomaternal Doppler for fetal growth restriction at term: an open-label, randomized controlled trial.
Nat Med. 2025;31(3):1008-1015
DOI: 10.1038/s41591-024-03421-9
IF: 58.7

2. Giné C, Arévalo S, Maiz N, Rodó C, Moreno E, Casas B, Manrique S, Meléndez M, López M, Carreras E
Fetoscopic two‐layer closure for open neural tube defects: prospective study of obstetric, surgical and perinatal outcomes in the first 50 cases
Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. 2025;66(4):453-461
DOI: 10.1002/uog.70013
IF: 6.3

Del Barco E, Molano LAG, Vargas M, Miserachs M, Puerto L, Garrido-Giménez C, Soler Z, Muñoz B, Pratcorona L, Rimbaut S, Vidal M, Dalmau M, Casellas A, Carreras E, Manichanh C, Goya M
The Effect of Probiotics on Preterm Birth Rates in Pregnant Women After a Threatened Preterm Birth Episode (The PROPEV Trial).
Biomedicines. 2025;13(5):1141
DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines13051141
IF: 3.9

Casellas A, Martínez C, Amigó J, Ferrer R, Martí L, Merced C, Medina MC, Molinero I, Calveiro M, Maroto A, Del Barco E, Carreras E, Goya M, DIABECOVID STUDY Group
Evaluation of an Alternative Screening Method for Gestational Diabetes Diagnosis During the COVID-19 Pandemic (DIABECOVID STUDY): An Observational Cohort Study.
Diagnostics (Basel). 2025;15(2):189
DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics15020189
IF: 3.3

Brik M, Sánchez-Polán M, Farràs A, Hernández-Fleury A, Temprado J, Calero I, Higueras T, Silva C, Zhang D, Carreras E, Barakat R
Maternal and cardiovascular factors related to carotid intima-media thickness during pregnancy: A prospective cohort study
Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2025;310:113943
DOI: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2025.113943
IF: 2.1

SELECTED PROJECTS

Screening for Preeclampsia in Africa: Feasibility, adaptation, and implementation
Principal Investigator: Manel Mendoza Cobaleda
Agency: Gates Foundation
Funding: 999.925€
Period: 2025-2028

Optimizando el uso de aspirina para la prevención de la preeclampsia (Ensayo clínico Optim-PRE
Principal Investigator: Manel Mendoza
Agency: Instituto de Salud Carlos III
Funding: 201.875 €
Period: 2026-2028

Marcadores angiogénicos revelados frente a ocultos para confirmar la preeclampsia a término: un ensayo clínico abierto, controlado y aleatorizado
Principal Investigator: Erika Bonacina
Agency: Instituto de Salud Carlos III
Funding: 51.875€
Period: 2025-2027

Estudi trio en fetus amb malformacions del sistema nerviós central (estudi CNS-TRIO)
Principal Investigator: Nerea Maiz
Agency: Fundació La Marató de TV3
Funding: 197.000€
Period: 20.2.2025- 20.2.2028

PregnaDigit EU, a Remote Digital Care System for Accessible, and Sustainable Pregnancy Care
Principal Investigator: Nerea Maiz
Agency: EIT Health
Funding: 1.149.965,75€ (Total); 112.223 € (HVH) + 8.471€ (VHIR)
Period: 2024-2025

PATENTS

DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES

ESPINA BÍFIDA E HIDROCEFALIA. Federación española de asociaciones
Place: Online
Date: 22/10/2025
Brief: Investigar antes de nacer: nuestro trabajo en espina bífida. This was a presentation to the patient associations of Spina bifida about the research we carry out on spina bifida at VHIR.