Rita Vassena

Tel: +34-638420051

Email: rvassena@cmrb.eu

Employment history:

2007-current

Research Associate

Stem Cell Bank

Centre for Regenerative Medicine - CMR[B]

Barcelona Biomedical Research Park, Barcelona, Spain

2004 - 2006

Postdoctoral Fellow

The Fels Institute for Cancer Research, Temple University School of Medicine

Temple University, Philadelphia, USA.

Teaching experience:

2005-2006

Instructor for portions of the graduate level course: developmental embryology Temple University School of Medicine, USA

2001 – 2002

Campus-One Project

Design and development of an on-line course of microscopic anatomy, University of Milan.

Education:

2003

Ph.D. in biotechnology of reproduction

University of Milan, Italy.

Supervisor: Dr.Fulvio Gandolfi

2001

M.Sc. reproductive physiology

Large Animal Clinical Sciences,

University of Saskatchewan, Canada.

1998 D.V.M.

University of Milan, Italy.

Academic awards:

2005

Lalor Foundation Merit Award

Society for the Study of Reproduction Annual Meeting, Quebec City, PQ, Canada

2001

Organon Best Intern/Student Research Award

Canadian Fertility and Andrology Society Annual Meeting, Whistler, BC, Canada

2001

Best Overall Research Paper

Canadian Fertility and Andrology Society Annual Meeting, Whistler, BC, Canada

1999

Best Biomedical Graduation Research Thesis

Italy-Switzerland Regio Insubrica Award, Laveno, Italy

Scientific Publications:

Hao L, Vassena R, Wu G, Han Z, Cheng Y, Latham KE, Sapienza C (2009) The Unfolded Protein Response Contributes to Preimplantation Mouse Embryo Death in the DDK Síndrome. Biology of Reproduction, Epub on Jan 8.

Aasen T, Raya A, Barrero MJ, Garreta E, Consiglio A, Gonzalez F, Vassena R, Bilić J, Pekarik V, Tiscornia G, Edel M, Boué S, Belmonte JC (2008) Efficient and rapid generation of induced pluripotent stem cells from human keratinocytes. Nat Biotechnol. 2008 Nov;26(11):1276-84.

Han Z, Vassena R, Chi MM, Potireddy S, Sutovsky M, Moley KH, Sutovsky P, Latham KE (2008) Role of glucose in cloned mouse embryo development. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 295(4):E798-809. Epub 2008 Jun 24.

Vassena R*, Han ZM*, Gao S, Latham KE (2007) Deficiency in recapitulation of stage-specific embryonic gene transcription in two-cell stage cloned mouse embryos. Molecular Reproduction and Development: 74(12):1548-56 *equal contribution

Vassena R, Han ZM, Gao S, Baldwin DA, Schutlz RM, Latham KE (2007) Tough beginnings: alterations in the transcriptome of cloned embryos during the first two cell cycles. Developmental Biology: 304 (1): 75-89.

Zheng P, Vassena R, Latham KE (2007) Effects of in vitro oocyte maturation and embryo culture on the expression of glucose transporters, glucose metabolism, and insulin signaling genes in rhesus monkey oocytes and preimplantation embryos. Molecular Human Reproduction:13(6): 361-71.

Potireddy S, Vassena R, Patel B, Latham KE (2006) Analysis of polysomal mRNA populations of mouse oocytes and zygotes: dynamic changes in maternal mRNA utilization and function. Developmental Biology 298 (1), 155-66.

Zheng P, Vassena R, Latham KE (2006) Expression and downregulation of WNT signaling pathway genes in rhesus monkey oocytes and embryos. Molecular Reproduction and Development: 73 (6): 667-77.

Miyara F, Han Z, Gao S, Vassena R, Latham KE (2006) Non-equivalence of embryonic and somatic cell nuclei affecting spindle formation in clones. Developmental Biology: 289 (1), 206-17.

Vassena R, Dee Schramm R, Latham KE (2005) Species-dependent expression patterns of DNA methyltransferase genes in mammalian oocytes and preimplantation embryos. Molecular Reproduction and Development: 72 (4), 430-6.

Brevini TAL, Vassena R, Francisci C, Gandolfi F (2005) Role of adenosine triphosphate, active mitochondria and microtubules in the acquisition of developmental competence of parthenogenetically activated pig oocytes. Biology of Reproduction. 72(5): 1218-1223.

Brevini TAL, Vassena R, Paffoni A, Francisci C, Fascio U, Gandolfi F (2004) Exposure of pig oocytes to PCB during in vitro maturation: effects on developmental competence, cytoplasmic remodeling and communications with cumulus cells. European Journal of Histochemistry. 48(4): 347-356.

Bagg MA, Vassena R, Papasso-Brambilla E, Grupen CG, Armstrong DT, Gandolfi F (2004) Changes in ovarian, follicular, and oocyte morphology immediately after the onset of puberty are not accompanied by an increase in oocyte developmental competence in the pig. Theriogenology. 62(6): 103-111.

Luciano AM, Modina S, Vassena R, Milanesi E, Lauria A, Gandolfi F (2004) Role of intracellular cAMP concentration and oocyte-cumulus cells communications on the acquisition of the developmental competence during in vitro maturation of bovine oocyte. Biology of Reproduction: 70 (2), 465-72.

Vassena R, Mapletoft RJ, Allodi S, Adams GP (2003). Morphology and developmental competence of bovine oocytes relative to follicular status. Theriogenology; 60, 923-932.

Vassena R, Adams GP, Mapletoft RJ, Pierson RA, Singh J (2003). Ultrasound image characteristics of ovarian follicles in relation to oocyte competence and follicular status in cattle. Animal Reproduction Sciences; 76 (1-2): 25-41.

Modina S, Luciano AM, Vassena R, Baraldi-Scesi L, Lauria A, Gandolfi F (2001). Oocyte developmental competence after in vitro maturation depends on the persistence of cumulus-oocyte communications, which are linked to the intracellular concentration of cAMP. Italian Journal of Anatomy and Embryology; 106 (Suppl. 2): 241-248.

Gandolfi F, Vassena R, Lauria A (2000). The developmental competence of the oocyte before puberty: is something missing? Reproduction of Domestic Animals; 35, 1-7.

Luciano AM, Pocar P, Milanesi E, Vassena R, Lauria A, Rieger D, Gandolfi F (1999). Intracellular cAMP concentrations in bovine cumulus-oocyte complexes during in vitro maturation. In “Gametes: Development and Function” Serono Symposia. Lauria and Gandolfi Editors.

Affiliations:

Member European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE)

Member Society for the Study of Reproduction (SSR)

Member 2004-2005 Education Committee of the SSR

Trainee representative 2006-2008 SSR

Ad hoc reviewer for:

Molecular Human Reproduction

Biology of Reproduction

Theriogenology

Molecular Reproduction and Development