Dr. Vincenza Rita Lo Vasco

Brief Biography:

Born in Gela (Italy) on 1969, July, 17th.

Graduated in Medicine and Surgery at Padua University in 1993. Specialization in Medical Genetics at Padua University in 1997 summa cum laude. PhD in Human and Molecular Morphologic Sciences at Bologna University 2001-2004.

Academic positions:

Assistant geneticist at Regional Hospital of Treviso, department of Medical Genetics from 1998 to 2000. Assistant professor in Human Anatomy, SSD BIO/16, since 2th January 2004 at Rome University “La Sapienza”. Professor of medical genetics at the University Medical School of Padua from 1998 to 2002. Professor of Human Anatomy in the Degrees in Pharmacy, in Toxicology and in Chemical Technologies of the University of Rome since 2003 until now. Member of the Committee of PhD School in Regenerative Medicine of Padua University. Since 2010 she is expert of the Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency for Erasmus.

Research interests:

MD graduation with a thesis about the analyses of the effects of porcine pancreatic islets infusion in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. This study needed the application of cell isolation and culture, microsurgery, histopathology techniques and work with experimental animals. Mentor Prof. Gennaro Favia. In 1997 graduation as specialist in medical genetics with a thesis about familiarity for keratoconus and lissencephaly transmitted as recessive X-linked character. This work required statistical analyses and the application of cytogenetics and molecular cytogenetics techniques. Mentor Prof. Romano Tenconi. During the specialization training genetic syndrome counselling, survey of at risk pregnancies for morphologic fetal abnormalities and for biochemical screening anomalies, working 4 years into Clinical Genetics Unit in Padua University under the guide of Prof. Romano Tenconi and Prof. Maurizio Clementi. Work into Medical Genetics Unit at Treviso Hospital (1998-2000), first two years with a research grant funded by bank Cassa Marca and last year with a collaboration contract, in genetic syndrome counselling, survey of at risk pregnancies for morphologic fetal abnormalities and for biochemical screening anomalies. The survey of biochemical screenings required laboratory archive and statistical expertise, database creation for clinical and biochemical data archive. In 1/2001-12/2003 PhD in Human Morphological and Molecular Sciences at the Department of Anatomia and Fisiologia dell’apparato locomotore in Bologna University, under the guide of Prof. Lucio Cocco. Training in molecular cytogenetics (FISH, SKY, CGH), molecular biology (RT-PCR, RealTime PCR, Western blotting, ELISA, siRNA, tissue in situ hybridation) and cell biology (primary human cell culture, transfection). Research activity regarded the analysis of relationships between Phosphoinositide-specific Phospholipase C (PI-PLC) Beta1 expression in myelodispastic syndromes and acute myeloid leukaemia patients and their clinical outcome in collaboration with the Department of Medical Genetics of University of Chieti (Prof. Giuseppe Calabrese). Practice with fluorescence microscopy for cell morphology and morphometry imaging analyses, using different acquisition programs (Vysis, Genikon, Nikon-ACT and more recently Nikon NIS element). Further research activity regarded the analysis of the expression of  PI-PLC beta1 and gamma1 in schizophrenia, bipolar disorders, major depression affected individuals and normal controls in collaboration with the Stanley Brain Research Laboratory of Bethesda (Dr Maree Webster). She cheracterized the PLC family in HUVEC cells. She studied the histological aspects of inflammation in the arterial walls of fetuses with aorta wall thickness.

Any other information:

She is reviewer for the following journals: The Application of Clinical Genetics; Journal of Genetic Syndromes and Gene Therapy; African Journal of Microbiology Research; The Chinese journal of Physiology; Journal of cellular physiology; Journal of Clinical Pathology; Gene Expression to Genetical Genomics; Folia Histochemica Et Cytobiologica.

What I think of the idea behind WebmedCentral:

To connect scientists is fundamental to improve knowledge and collaboration among researchers.