
Dr. Irene Díez Itza graduated as a Doctor in Medicine and Surgery from Oviedo University in 1994 and has been a Specialist in Obstetrics and Gynaecology since 1992. Dr. Díaz has been a Specialist Physician with the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Service at the Donostia University Hospital (Donostialdea IHO) since 1997 as well as leading the Systemic Diseases Area at the Biodonostia HRI since 2016, where she has also been Leader of the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Research Group since 2013. Furthermore, Dr. Díez is a Full University Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) since 2022. She has published 28 articles in high-impact journals, 19 in the first quartile, with 1,375 citations received (WOS, December 2021); h-index: 16. She has directed 4 doctoral theses and is currently directing another 3 which remain ongoing. |
Strategic Objectives
- To design a protocol for extracting circulating foetal DNA in maternal plasma based on microfluidic technology and the adaptation of current diagnostic protocols for aneuploidy, sex of foetus, Spinal Muscular Atrophy, Cystic Fibrosis, Achondroplasia and beta-thalassemia to microfluidic technology.
- To develop an innovative sensor technology using a new device to continuously measure pH and/or lactate, which is small in size and low cost, so that it can be disposable.
- To assess the degree to which this new technology matches the usual biochemical determinations in the blood. This new technology would represent an improvement on the features of currently used methods in monitoring of foetal heart rate (FHR), responding to the detected needs.
- To fit out the device’s electronic management. Study of energy consumption efficiency.
- To compare the degree of post-partum maternal depression and anxiety in women who have just given birth and been discharged early, as opposed to the usual discharge after 48-72 hours.
- To compare the proportion of maternal and neonatal complications in women who have just given birth and been discharged early, as opposed to the usual discharge after 48-72 hours.
- To compare the type of feeding, the duration of breast-feeding and the problems that arise to that effect in women who have just given birth and been discharged early, as opposed to being discharged after 48-72 hours.
- To compare the level of satisfaction with the treatment received in women who have just given birth and been discharged early, as opposed to the usual discharge after 48-72 hours.
- To carry out a cost study (hospital and non-hospital) between patients who have been discharged early compared with being discharged after 48-72 hours.
- To determine the sensitivity and specificity of the pulsatility index (PI) of the uterine artery in low risk nulliparous women to predict pre-eclampsia.
- To identify the optimum cut-off point of the PI of the uterine artery for early diagnosis of pre-eclampsia.
- To analyse the association of the PI of the uterine artery with the appearance of complications related to pre-eclampsia.
- To analyse the association of maternal characteristics (contraceptive method prior to pregnancy, type of pregnancy, MAP, weight at the start of pregnancy, height, BMI, smoker, weight gain up to week 32-34) with the test’s validity.
- To analyse the association between the examiner and the test’s validity.
- To assess the frequency of the standardisation of the increase in PI between the first or second term and the third term, and whether that standardisation is related to an increase in the risk of pre-eclampsia and/or associated complications (intrauterine growth restriction -IUGR-, placental abruption, gestational hypertension, babies that are small for gestational age -SGA- and stillbirth).
- Assessment of the anatomical and functional results of prolapse surgery.
- Assessment of the complications after prolapse surgery, including the appearance of de novo symptomatology.
- Study of the risk factors that play a part in the recurrence of prolapse surgery.
- To assess the prevalence of mechanical, urinary and defecatory symptoms in patients with surgical indication of pelvic organ prolapse (POP).
- To analyse the correlation of mechanical, urinary and defecatory symptoms and the degree of POP.
- To study the distribution with regard to the frequency, type and severity of the urinary symptoms, of patients with pelvic organ prolapse symptoms in which surgery has been indicated, before applying the surgical procedure.
- To study the impact of surgery in patients with POP and hidden stress urinary incontinence (SUI), according to the primarily applied surgical strategy: POP surgery only versus POP surgery combined with SUI surgery.
Main lines of research
- Prenatal diagnosis: A New GEnetic LABoratory for non-invasive prenatal diagnosis.
- Continuous monitoring of pH and/or lactate through an implantable micro-sensor in an animal vault.
- Early post-partum discharge: Assessment of maternal and neonatal complications. Impact on maternal anxiety and post-partum depression.
- Validation of the pulsatility index of the uterine artery in the early diagnosis of pre-eclampsia in low-risk primigravidae.
- Pelvic organ prolapse:
- Assessment of the symptoms associated with prolapse.
- Risk factors involved in the recurrence of prolapse after surgical treatment.
Team Members
Name Surname | Center | |
Miren Arrue Gabilondo | Donostialdea IHO | miren.arruegabilondo@osakidetza.eus |
María Josefa Belar Ortega | Donostialdea IHO | mariajosefa.belarortega@osakidetza.eus |
Mikel Gorostidi Pulgar | Donostialdea IHO | mikel.gorostidipulgar@osakidetza.eus |
Ibón Jaunarena Marin | Donostialdea IHO | ibon.jaunarenamarin@osakidetza.eus |
María Aranzazu Lekuona Artola | Donostialdea IHO | mariaarantzazu.lekuonaartola@osakidetza.eus |
Scientific Output

VALIDACION IN VITRO DE MODELOS 3D BIOIMPRESOS DE VASOS LINFATICOS Y TUMORES PARA EL DESARROLLO/TESTADO DE FARMACOS ANTIMETASTASICOS
Código: 22BU211
Investigador Principal (IP): IBON JAUNARENA MARIN
Entidad Financiadora: DEPARTAMENTO DE SALUD
Fecha de Inicio: 2021-11-01
Fecha de finalización: 2023-03-31
Importe Concedido: 10.665,00 €
Código: 22BU211
Investigador Principal (IP): IBON JAUNARENA MARIN
Entidad Financiadora: DEPARTAMENTO DE SALUD
Fecha de Inicio: 2021-11-01
Fecha de finalización: 2023-03-31
Importe Concedido: 10.665,00 €
MONITORIZACION FOTONICA PERINATAL DE PARAMETROS BIOQUIMICOS ADVERSOS EN TIEMPO REAL
Código: 2020333021
Investigador Principal (IP): IBON JAUNARENA MARIN
Entidad Financiadora: DEPARTAMENTO DE SALUD
Fecha de Inicio: 2020-01-01
Fecha de finalización: 2020-12-31
Importe Concedido: 48.338,29 €
Código: 2020333021
Investigador Principal (IP): IBON JAUNARENA MARIN
Entidad Financiadora: DEPARTAMENTO DE SALUD
Fecha de Inicio: 2020-01-01
Fecha de finalización: 2020-12-31
Importe Concedido: 48.338,29 €
DISPOSITIVO PARA LA MONITORIZACION NO INVASIVA, CONTINUA Y EN TIEMPO REAL DEL BIENESTAR FETAL INTRAPARTO
Código: 2019222008
Investigador Principal (IP): IBON JAUNARENA MARIN
Entidad Financiadora: DEPARTAMENTO DE SALUD
Fecha de Inicio: 2019-01-01
Fecha de finalización: 2019-12-31
Importe Concedido: 49.185,00 €
Código: 2019222008
Investigador Principal (IP): IBON JAUNARENA MARIN
Entidad Financiadora: DEPARTAMENTO DE SALUD
Fecha de Inicio: 2019-01-01
Fecha de finalización: 2019-12-31
Importe Concedido: 49.185,00 €
BIOIMPRESION 3D DE MODELOS IN VITRO DE VASOS LINFATICOS Y TUMORES PARA EL DESARROLLO DE FARMACOS ANTIMETASTASICOS
Código: 20BU207
Investigador Principal (IP): IBON JAUNARENA MARIN
Entidad Financiadora: OSI DONOSTIALDEA
Fecha de Inicio: 2019-10-01
Fecha de finalización: 2021-09-30
Importe Concedido: 12.262,00 €
Código: 20BU207
Investigador Principal (IP): IBON JAUNARENA MARIN
Entidad Financiadora: OSI DONOSTIALDEA
Fecha de Inicio: 2019-10-01
Fecha de finalización: 2021-09-30
Importe Concedido: 12.262,00 €
DISPOSITIVO PARA LA MONITORIZACION CONTINUA INTRAPARTO DE PH Y LACTATO PROTOTIPADO Y PRUEBA DE CONCEPTO PRECLINICA
Código: 2018222032
Investigador Principal (IP): IBON JAUNARENA MARIN
Entidad Financiadora: DEPARTAMENTO DE SALUD
Fecha de Inicio: 2018-01-01
Fecha de finalización: 2018-11-30
Importe Concedido: 36.710,00 €
Código: 2018222032
Investigador Principal (IP): IBON JAUNARENA MARIN
Entidad Financiadora: DEPARTAMENTO DE SALUD
Fecha de Inicio: 2018-01-01
Fecha de finalización: 2018-11-30
Importe Concedido: 36.710,00 €
COMPARACION DE LOS METODOS DE IMAGEN PARA LA VALORACION DE LA INFILTRACION MIOMETRIAL EN EL CANCER DE ENDOMETRIO
Código: 18BU210
Investigador Principal (IP): MARIA ARANZAZU LEKUONA ARTOLA
Entidad Financiadora: HOSPITAL UNIVERSITARIO DONOSTIA
Fecha de Inicio: 2017-09-30
Fecha de finalización: 2018-09-30
Importe Concedido: 1.200,00 €
Código: 18BU210
Investigador Principal (IP): MARIA ARANZAZU LEKUONA ARTOLA
Entidad Financiadora: HOSPITAL UNIVERSITARIO DONOSTIA
Fecha de Inicio: 2017-09-30
Fecha de finalización: 2018-09-30
Importe Concedido: 1.200,00 €
NG17 INVESTIGACION COLABORATIVA EN SISTEMAS DE MONITORIZACION PORTABLE EN NANOCIENCIAS Y NANOTECNOLOGIAS
Código: KK-2017/00012
Investigador Principal (IP): IBON JAUNARENA MARIN
Entidad Financiadora: DEPARTAMENTO DE DESARROLLO ECONOMICO, SOSTENIBILIDAD Y MEDIO AMBIENTE
Fecha de Inicio: 2017-03-01
Fecha de finalización: 2019-03-31
Importe Concedido: 21.016,00 €
Código: KK-2017/00012
Investigador Principal (IP): IBON JAUNARENA MARIN
Entidad Financiadora: DEPARTAMENTO DE DESARROLLO ECONOMICO, SOSTENIBILIDAD Y MEDIO AMBIENTE
Fecha de Inicio: 2017-03-01
Fecha de finalización: 2019-03-31
Importe Concedido: 21.016,00 €
ESTUDIO PARA EVALUAR LA EFICACIA DE LA DETECCIÓN PRECOZ DEL LINFEDEMA DE EXTREMIDADES INFERIORES TRAS LINFADENECTOMIA POR CÁNCER GINECOLÓGICO E IMPLANTACIÓN DEL CIRCUITO
Código: 17BU214
Investigador Principal (IP): IBON JAUNARENA MARIN
Entidad Financiadora: HOSPITAL UNIVERSITARIO DONOSTIA
Fecha de Inicio: 2017-01-01
Fecha de finalización: 2019-05-31
Importe Concedido: 3.000,00 €
Código: 17BU214
Investigador Principal (IP): IBON JAUNARENA MARIN
Entidad Financiadora: HOSPITAL UNIVERSITARIO DONOSTIA
Fecha de Inicio: 2017-01-01
Fecha de finalización: 2019-05-31
Importe Concedido: 3.000,00 €