IDIP – Instituto de Desarrollo e Investigaciones Pediátricas “Prof. Fernando Viteri” – was created in 2001 by Resolution Nº 862/01 of the Ministry of Health of the Province of Buenos Aires, with the sponsorship and support of the Scientific Research Commission of the Province of Buenos Aires (CICPBA), Argentina. IDIP is part of The Children´s Hospital “Sor María Ludovica”; since 2004, IDIP is Associate Research Centre of CICPBA by virtue of an agreement between the Ministry of Health and the Scientific Research Commission (Res. 1239/04). In 2008, by Resolution 280/08 IDIP was named after Prof. Dr. Fernando E. Viteri, in recognition of his fundamental role in the creation and development of the Institute. (see Prof. Viteri´s Resume)

The Children´s Hospital is a recognized leader in delivering high-quality healthcare services; healthcare team members update their specific knowledge at national and international congresses, and the institution keeps strong relations with universities and hospitals in the USA, Japan, France, Belgium, Spain, Germany, and Italy through agreements that reinforce mutual collaboration.

Professionals are eager to present results from their research and to perform academic activities. The expectations for a healthcare institution have been fully surpassed, since more than 200 abstracts and oral presentations are submitted each year to national and international congresses.

In the 60s, Prof. Dr. Vicente Climent supported the academic training of professionals, introducing innovations in patient care at the Neonatology Service. Later, fellows from CICPBA (Dr. Herminia Itarte and Dr. Adelaida Rodrigo) incorporated to the Hospital, when Prof. Dr. Mario Rentería was Head of the Service of Teaching and Research. Dr. Rentería organized the professional training of healthcare team members for the different clinical specialties at renowed national and international centers.

Prof. Emilio Armendáriz and Prof. Roberto Silber – form the Pediatric Clinic Service – and Prof. Julio A. Mazza  and  Jorge Morano – from the Infant Medicine Department – also supported this commitment. Although there are no precedents for the creation of research institutes within public hospitals in the Province of Buenos Aires, such idea was anticipated more than 50 years ago by Minister of Health Dr. Ramón Carrillo.

During Dr. Herminia Itarte´s Direction, Prof. Fernando Viteri hosted Dr. Horacio F. González –  member of the Board of Directors in charge of the Teaching and Research Area and current Director of IDIP – to further his studies in Research Administration (Fullbright Fellow for the period 1999 – 2000) at the University of Berkeley in California.