Research Institute of Mother and Child Care (IDIMI)
It was created in 1988 under Professor Dr. Alejandro Goic G's deanship. It is located in the San Borja Arriarán Clinical Hospital and carries out activities of both national and international relevance in the field of reproductive medicine but also growth, development, and pediatric endocrinology and genetics. As part of these activities, the IDIMI has been able to generate and foster a close relationship between fundamental and applied sciences.
This fruitful relationship, which has directly benefited the patients, has resulted in relevant contributions to global science, which have been published in high-impact national and international scientific journals. In order to conduct these investigations, IDIMI professionals are regularly awarded funds to pursue widely recognized lines of research. The Institute is also actively involved in the Fondap Centre for Molecular Cell Studies. It works with various laboratories, including ones specialized in In-Vitro Fertilization, Molecular Biology, Cellular Biology, Molecular Endocrinology, Molecular Reproductive Endocrinology, Cell Culture, Paediatric Endocrinology, Cytogenetics, and Molecular and Reproductive Andrology. IDIMI has two pavilions and different rooms for walk-in and outpatient procedures for the service of Paediatric Endocrinology as well as Human Reproduction.
The institute conducts high-level scientific research in these places. It is also responsible for bringing about biomedical technologies and pharmacological products aimed at improving the patients' quality of life.
The IDIMI academic group also teaches at the School of Medicine, mainly for the postgraduate programs. It is also a strategic partner of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) with regard to the training of Latin American postdoctoral students in the field of Reproductive Biology.
Moreover, the IDIMI Program of Reproductive Medicine is in charge of developing the In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF) Program for the Ministry of Health and Fonasa whose mission is to provide care to Chilean couples with limited resources having difficulties to conceive a child. Over the past years, this research group has focused on the following subject matters: fundamental and clinical aspects of ovarian and spermatic functions; gametes interaction; developing and implementing mammalian embryos; assessing and treating infertile couples through highly complex laparoscopic and hysteroscopic surgeries, hormone therapies and IVF.
The Pediatric Endocrinology Program addresses mechanisms related to human growth and development, focusing on research aimed at studying growth disorders and pubertal development, the gonadal function of adolescents with diabetes mellitus, metabolic disorders in the case of children with intrauterine growth retardation, and placental endocrinology. It is responsible for the nationwide Children's Diabetes Program, which has an independent multidisciplinary professional team of doctors, nurses, nutritionists, and psychologists, and is a model for the rest of the country.
Finally, IDIMI hosts one of the three Centres of Advanced Clinical Research established by the School of Medicine, which is funded by the Mecesup 2 Program ("Productive and Sustainable Integration of Outstanding Biomedical and Medical Sciences Doctoral Alumni"), granted to the university in 2006.
Information and contact
San Borja Arriarán Hospital
Address: Av. Santa Rosa 1234, Santiago, 2nd floor
Telephone: +562 29770850 - +562 29770864 - +562 29770865