Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Valencia and Scientific Director of IVI Foundation since 1994. In 2004, due to his pioneer work on human embryonic stem cells in Spain, he was appointed as Head of the Valencia Node of the Spanish Stem Cell Bank at the Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe (CIPF). From 2005 to 2007, he was Coordinator of the Department of Regenerative Medicine at CIPF.

From 1991 to 2001, his traslational medical investigation in Reproductive Medicine focused on the study of endometrial receptivity, the mechanisms that regulate embryo implantation in the uterus, and endometriosis. This work has been funded through 8 projects from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias de la Seguridad Social, 4 projects from the Ministerio de Educación Ciencia y Tecnología and 12 projects from international organisms and American Universities. As a result, new co-culture systems for human embryos, the genomic study of the human endometrium and the discovery of molecules used to create new contraceptives, were created. From 2001 to present, his background in Reproductive Medicine has allow him to open the human embryonic stem cell field in Spain.

His group derived the first two human embryonic stem cell lines in Spain, and 5 more lines (VAL-3 to VAL-7) have been derived, published and registered(www.isciii/htdocs/terapia/terapia_bancocelular.jsp). One of which is the first Stem Cell line with monogenic defects in Spain. VAL-6M is a cell line with Myotonic Dystrophy Type I (Steinert Disease) that has already been used in several investigations by other researchers. His pioneer work in Spain has made possible the creation of the Valencia Node of the Spanish human embryonic stem cell bank co-financed by the central and regional governments for a total of 18 millions €. He is inventor of 8 international patent applications including 3 in the field of Regenerative Medicine. Three Spin-offs based in his studies (Stemlifeline, Embryomics and IVI Genómica), have been created.

His scientific trajectory has lead to the publication of 235 peer review papers in international journals with a total impact factor of 749,873 and 98 papers in national journals. His H-Index is 42. He is editor of 7 books published in English, 6 in Spanish and 1 in Portuguese and is director of 17 Doctoral Thesis, all awarded with “Sobresaliente cum laude”, including four Doctorate Awards, one European Doctorate and one Award from the Official Medical Doctors Professional College of Valencia for the best Doctoral Thesis 2005. Dr. Simon has been granted awards by the Spanish Fertility Society (SEF) in 1991, 2001 and 2003; Spanish Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology (SEGO) in 1997 and 1999; Society for Gynaecological Investigation (SGI) President Poster Award in 1993 and President’s Presenter Awards in 2002, and the Society of Reproductive Endocrinologist of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) in 1993, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2005, 2008. He has organized 12 International and 1 National Scientific Meetings. Member of the Editorial Board of several international publications including Human Reproduction, Reproduction and Reproductive Biomedicine on line. Dr. Simon has served as member in research committees of international societies including SGI, ASRM, ESHRE and IFFS and the World Health Organization as member of the HRP Scientific and Ethical Review Group since 1998.He is the Spanish representative at the International Society of Stem Cell Research (ISSCR).