Mariana Giassetti, PhD

Education

Ph.D., Biomedical Sciences and Biotechnology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zaragoza – Zaragoza, Spain (2011-2015). 

Ph.D., Reproductive Biology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sao Paulo – Sao Paulo, Brazil (2011-2015). 

Master of Science, Animal Reproduction, Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sao Paulo – Sao Paulo, Brazil (2009-2011).

D.V.M. Degree, Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine - University of Sao Paulo – Sao Paulo, Brazil (2004- 2008).

Fluency: English, Spanish, and Portuguese

Courses Taught

Undergraduate Biology Courses

Graduate Catalog

• BIO 3300 2 – Developmental Biology and Embryology 

• BIO 3V9R – Research  

• BIO 3V90 – Individual Topics 

• HON 4V87- Honors Thesis 

• BIO 4365 – Topics in Evolution 

• BIO 5325 – Advanced Topics in Evolutionary Biology 

• BIO5V90 - Special Problems 

• BIO 6101 – Research Rotation

• BIO 6V10 – Doctoral Research 

• BIO 6V99 – Dissertation 

In the News

NIH NEWSROOM https://www.nichd.nih.gov/newsroom/news/050323-male-contraceptive-gene

Front line Genomics https://frontlinegenomics.com/arrdc5-a-newly-identified-regulator-of-spermatogenesis/

Biography 

Dr. Mariana Ianello Giassetti is a veterinarian holding two Ph.D. degrees: one in Reproductive Biology from the University of São Paulo, Brazil, and another in Biomedical Sciences and Biotechnology from the University of Zaragoza, Spain. She leads a research group dedicated to phylogenetic multi-omics analysis, male reproductive health, fertility, gene-edited animal models, and the study of paternal influence on offspring development. 

Combining her veterinary training with a deep interest in biotechnology, Dr. Giassetti completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Washington State University, where she studied spermatogenesis and embryogenesis while developing expertise in embryology, gene editing, genomics, and bioinformatics. Her research centers on the molecular mechanisms underlying male fertility and mammalian reproductive health, with particular emphasis on spermatogenesis and paternal effects on development, using CRISPR/Cas9 technology and multi-omics approaches. She is also committed to fostering interdisciplinary collaboration across veterinary medicine, biotechnology, and embryology, and maintains active research partnerships throughout South and Central America, Europe, and Africa. 

Prior to her academic career, Dr. Giassetti worked as an embryologist in the biotechnology industry, where she applied advanced reproductive techniques to support endangered species conservation and contributed to the development of gene-editing tools for mammoth de-extinction research, employing techniques such as Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer (SCNT) and Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) to initiate embryo development. 

Research Interests

Dr. Giassetti's research investigates spermatogenesis in mammals to uncover the molecular mechanisms underlying reproductive health and infertility. This process is essential for species continuity, as deficiencies in sperm formation can lead to male infertility and developmental complications in future generations. Despite its importance, our understanding of the genetic regulators governing spermatogenesis in non-model species remains limited. 

Using multi-species and multi-omics analysis paired with advanced bioinformatics, Dr. Giassetti's program has identified conserved genes in germ cells linked to spermatogenesis. The lab is now developing CRISPR-Cas9 models to explore the genetic basis of male-specific sterility. This work has revealed distinct gene expression patterns during spermiogenesis that point to critical roles in both male fertility and early embryogenesis—insights that offer promising molecular targets for addressing infertility, with broader implications for human and biomedical health, environmental conservation, and livestock productivity. The lab also studies paternal effects on offspring, examining how these influences are conserved across species. 

In addition, the Giassetti Lab has characterized unique expression patterns and potential regulatory networks among candidate genes active during spermiogenesis, identifying them as key regulators of male fertility's role in development and health. These findings are advancing new approaches in reproductive medicine, biomedical research, and conservation biology, with direct relevance to human health.

For more information about the Giassetti Lab, visit: http://www.giassettilab.com/

Selected Publications