Rita Vassena

Dr. Rita Vassena received a DVM and PhD from the University of Milan, Italy, with studies involving the evaluation of oocyte developmental competence in large animal models. She completed her postdoctoral training at the Fels Institute for Cancer Research, Philadelphia, where she focused her work on the early events of chromatin remodeling after somatic cell nuclear transfer. From 2007 to 2011 she has been working at the Center of Regenerative Medicine in Barcelona – Spanish National Stem Cell Bank, where she focused her research efforts on the developmental competence of human embryos, as well as studying pluripotency in embryonic and induced stem cells. Since 2011 she is the Scientific Director of Clinica EUGIN, a European reference center for the treatment of infertility, where she coordinates research in the area of human IVF, and directs the basic research laboratory of the center. Dr.Vassena has co-authored more than 30 research papers in several high ranking journals and is a frequent speaker at international meetings. She currently serves in the Executive Committee of ESHRE.