Angiogenesis and reproduction - Prof. Valentina Russo - a.a. 2023/2024
Reproductive Biotechnologies - Elective
ATTENZIONE: i contenuti di questo corso sono relativi all'anno accademico 2023/2024
Topic outline
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Born: Napoli, 10th May 1971
Nationality: Italian
PROFESSIONAL AND ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE
1996, Degree in Veterinary Medicine, University of Naples “Federico II”, Italy (110/110 cum laude).
1996, Licence to practise the Veterinary Profession.
July 1997-September 2001, Scientific Technician for Veterinary Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo.
October 2001-2015, Academic Researcher in Veterinary Anatomy (SSD-VET/01), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo
October 2015-present, Associate Professor in Veterinary Anatomy (SSD-VET/01), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo
ACADEMIC ASSIGNMENTS
2004 - 2014, elected for two terms Representative of the researchers of the Faculty Council of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo
2012 – present Prof. Russo is scheduled in the register of reviewers of the Ministry of Education University and Research
2013 – 2016 Delegate of the Rector for the Orientation programme of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
2017-2019 Member of the AQ Commission of the Master Degree Course in Reproductive Biotechnologies.
2016-2017 Responsible for the didactic activity of the Lazio Region "Torno Subito" Project.
2018- ongoing Vice-coordinator of the PhD Course in "Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology", University of Teramo.
2019 - to date Member of the CPDS Commission of the Faculty of Biosciences.
Prof. Russo has been a member of the committees for Doctorate courses and postdoctoral fellowship admission calls.
FUNDED RESEARCH PROJECTS
She is in national (FIRB-PRIN) and European (H2020-MSCA) funded research projects, the main ones:
- Chief Advisory Board for ITN-EJD 2015-REP-BIOTECH Grant agreement ID: 675526
- Head of research units in COFUND-DP-2015- REP-EAT Grant agreement ID: 713714.
- PI of the H2020-MSCA-ITN-EJD-2020-P4 FIT project Grant agreement ID: 955685
EDITORIAL ACTIVITY
- She is Editorial member for the following scientific journals:
Stem Cells International
Journal of Animal Research and Veterinary Science
BioMed Research International.
- Prof. Russo is Guest Editor for several Special Issues for:
Cells
International Journal of Molecular Sciences
-Reviewer of several articles for scientific journals with IF.
RESEARCH INTERESTS
The research carried out by Prof. Valentina Russo focuses on Reproductive Biology and, in recent years, on the study of amniotic stem cells in Livestock Mammals. In particular:
- A) BIOLOGY OF REPRODUCTION
1) Study on the epigenetic and telomeric reprogramming and on chromatin remodelling during post-natal oogenesis and in in vitro grown oocytes.
2) Evaluation of the existing correlation between ovarian follicle growth and angiogenesis of the follicular wall determined by the expression of the Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF).
3) Cryobiology applied to the oocyte.
- B) AMNIOTIC STEM CELLS AND REGENERATIVE MEDICINE.
1) isolation, characterization and amplification of amniotic epithelial and fluid stem cells (AECs and AFCs).
2) Evaluation of AFC and AEC in vitro differentiating ability, in particular, for the tenogenic differentiation using the co-culture technique.
3) Assessment of AFC and AEC regenerative potential in allo and xeno- transplantation in experimentally induced tendon lesions in sheep and in equine superficial digital flexor tendon spontaneous defects.
4) Study of AFC and AEC survival, mitotic and differentiative ability, and epigenic stability in vitro and in vivo.
5) Development and fabrication of tendon biomimetic scaffolds.
6) Tendon biomimetic scaffolds engineering with AECs and their biocompatibility, teno-differentiation and immunomodulatory testing.
Publications
Valentina Russo has published 193 papers in all of which 80 on international peer reviewed scientific journals with impact factor (Total citations = 1125, h-index = 22).
https://scholar.google.it/citations?hl=it&user=ZOy0okEAAAAJ&view_op=list_works&sortby=pubdate
Russo participated to national and international Congresses, also as invited speaker.
TEACHING AND RESEARCH IN HIGHER EDUCATION (PhD programmes)
2023- ongoing Coordinator of the PhD Course in "Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology", University of Teramo
2018- 2023 Vice-coordinator of the PhD Course in "Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology", University of Teramo.
XVIII – XXIII cycle member of the Academic Board of the Doctorate Course in "Biotechnology of Reproduction", University of Teramo.
XXIV- XXXIX cycle member of the Academic Board of the Doctorate Course in "Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology", University of Teramo.
Prof. Russo was tutor of several national and international PhD students.
TEACHING
2003 - 2010, 1st Level Degree Course in Animal Welfare and Protection: In “Comparative Anatomy of Domestic animals”
Academic years from 2005-ongoing Interuniversity 2nd Level Degree Course in Reproductive Biotechnology, University of Teramo and University of Chieti – Pescara in “Structure and Physiology of the Reproductive Apparatus”
Academic years from 2020-ongoing 2nd Level Degree Course in Advanced Biotechnologies in “Tissue Engineering”.
Academic year 2008- 2009, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Teramo, 1st Level Degree Course Food Science and Technologies: in “Structure and Function of animal organisms”
Academic year 2011-2012, One-Long Cycle 2nd Level Degree Course in Veterinary Medicine:
in “Veterinary Anatomy and Histology”.
Publications
Valentina Russo has published 190 papers in all of which 85 on international scientific journals with impact factor.
https://scholar.google.it/citations?user=ZOy0okEAAAAJ&hl=it&oi=sra
The Ovary (Second Edition)
Author: Peter C.K. Leung and Eli Y. Adashi
Edition: Academic Press, 2004, Cambridge, Massachusetts, Stati Uniti