Meet the doctors

Surgeon with a strong clinical activity based in technology transfer from de bench to de bedside. Currently Professor of Surgery and Chief of Surgery Department at “Fundación Jiménez Díaz” University Hospital (Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, Spain).
As Colorectal Surgeon, I have more than 30 years of experience both in the clinical setting as well as in research (more than 7000 surgical procedure with special focus in Minimal Invasive Surgery by lap). World pioneer in the use of adult mesenchymal stem cells derived from adipose tissue (ASC) in human cell therapy. From 2002, we led a clinical trial process about the use of ASC for the treatment of Crohn´s disease including Phase III clinical trials. These works have led to the introduction in the European market of the first cell therapy drug approved by the EMA for the treatment of fistulas of patients with Crohn’s disease (Cx601 / Darvadstrocel / Alofisel), of which he is an inventor with an institutional patent (UAM).
As relevant events can be noted as follow: five international patents in the field of Regenerative Medicine, two cells medicines developed and two companies created based to this scientific activity.
For the last 18 years, my Research Team has been also investigating, in collaboration with other international research groups, in analyzing the transforming ability of Circulating Nucleic Acids in Plasma/Serum (CNAPS/Liquid biopsy) from patients bearing colorectal cancer. This was previously demonstrating in vitro and in animal models, suggesting an infectious origin of cancer, and was tentatively named as the Genometastasis Theory (original theory).

Dr Herreros finished her medical training at Valencia Medical School (Spain) in July 2000, and after passing the National Medical Exam (MIR), joined La Paz University hospital in Madrid to complete her Residency program in Gastrointestinal and General Surgery in 2006. During that period, participated in the foundation of the cellular therapy unit directed by Damian Garcia-Olmo, and focused on its research activity, achieving the PhD Degree in 2006 with the first in the world autologous stem cell therapy Clinical Study performed in humans for treatment of colorectal fistula. Over the years, Dr Herreros has led or participated in 11 National and 4 Private Financed Research Studies involving the clinical use of stem cells for healing of digestive fistulas, which led to the production of numerous international publications on this topic. After Passing the USMLE (United States Medical Licensing Examination) and obtaining the ECFMG US certification, Dr Herreros completed her clinical training at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN in 2010 as a Colorectal Surgery Clinical Fellow. Then, she joined again Dr. García-Olmo Colorectal Unit at Fundación Jiménez Díaz University Hospital until now. In this Institution, Dr Herreros has been directly involved in the treatment of most of the cases treated with stem cell therapy performed both during research projects or as a compassionate use in general clinical practice, is leading the Surgical Unit of inflammatory Bowel Disease, and treats patients with other severe diseases as colorectal cancer.

The Stem Cell Therapy Unit of Fundación Jiménez Díaz University is a multidisciplinary team involving Colorectal Surgeons (Dr García Olmo, Dr Herreros, Dr Guadalajara), Biologists (Dr García-Arranz), Specialized Nurses, Lab technicians and Research assistants.

Dr Guadalajara, MD PhD. Head of Gastrointestinal Surgery Service.
Dr Guadalajara joined the Stem cell unit since its Foundation in La Paz University Hospital when started his Residency program, becoming part of the pioneers group that developed Stem Cell Therapy for the treatment of perianal fistula in Crohn’s disease. Dr Guadalajara provides worldwide surgical training in this field in collaboration with Takeda. This activity also allowed him to interact with associations of patients with colostomies, and actively collaborate in awareness and normalization campaigns of this problem. Associate Professor of Surgery at the Autonomous University of Madrid since 2014, he has created and implemented revolutionary teaching innovation projects such as “operemos.es”.  Finally, his clinical expertise is focused on Colorectal Robotic Surgery and advanced therapies in Proctology.

Mariano García-Arranz, PhD. Biochemistry and Molecular Biologist
PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Madrid Autónoma University (UAM) in 1996. Senior Researcher of the Laboratory of New Therapies of the Jiménez Díaz Foundation Health Research Institute since 2014 and associate professor of the Department of Surgery of the UAM since 2009. Mr García-Arranz is principal investigator and collaborator of research projects with public funding (regional, national and international) since 2006, belonging to the National Network of Cell Therapy (RICORS -Cooperative Research Network Oriented to Health Outcomes-), as well as in the network of advanced therapies of the Community of Madrid, Spain. Collaborating researcher in 36 clinical trials of cell therapy and pioneer in the use of cell therapy with mesenchymal cells derived from adipose tissue worldwide. Inventor in 7 research patents, 4 of them related to Cell Therapy. Author of 91 scientific articles with an h-index of 36 and with more than 2100 citations of his articles.  Reviewer of different national and international project agencies as well as indexed journals. Collaborator in master’s degrees (from 10 national universities) and summer courses (in 3 universities) since 2010.

We have the most advanced technologies and a team that is highly specialized in their use, at the Jiménez Díaz Foundation facilities in Madrid.