StaffAlessandra Stella


Informations



E-mail
stella@ibba.cnr.it

Phone
+39 0223699477

Office
Milano

Research area
BIOTEC, QUALY, BIOGEN, PAINT


ORCID: 0000-0003-2850-3964
Scopus Author ID: 55919193200

Stella Alessandra

Director of Research

Education

Msc Università di Milano

PhD University of Guelph, Canada

Professional experience

2023-Currently: Director of Research at IBBA CNR

2009 – 2023: Researcher at IBBA CNR

2015 – 2018: Chief Scientific Officer Fondazione Parco Tecnologico Padano – PTP Science, Lodi, Italy

2014 – 2018: Core Facilities Coordinator  Parco Tecnologico Padano srl , Lodi Italy

2002 – 2014: Chief scientist Statistical Genomics and Bioinformatics – Centro Ricerche e Studi Agro-Alimentari CERSA – Segrate, Italy

2004: Visiting Professor Department of Animal Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA

1996 – 1999: Research Fellow  Canadian Dairy Network (CDN), Guelph, Canada.

1994: Research fellow. Associazione Nazionale Della Pastorizia (AssoNaPa)

Research interests

  • Statistical and bioinformatic analysis of biological processes
  • Genetics and genomics
  • Biotechnologies
  • Technology transfer
  • Application of statistical and bioinformatic methods to the analysis of plant, animal and human genetic data
  • Application of novel models and algorithms to the analysis and integration of -omics data
  • Development of methods and tools for the integration of genomic, phenotypic and environment information

Projects in progress

CASTANEVAL - Chestnut cultivation development in Lombardy: leveraging native genetic resources
Start date: 24/12/2022   End date: 23/12/2024

Regione Lombardia

Milano   Website

Eleonora Cominelli

Project duration:
24/12/2022 - 23/12/2024
Financing body:
Regione Lombardia
Project research leader:
Eleonora Cominelli
Headquarters:
Milano
Project website:
Website

CASTANEVAL - Chestnut cultivation development in Lombardy: leveraging native genetic resources


The CASTANEVAL project intends to respond to the need for scientific knowledge on Lombardy chestnut genetic resources in order to provide tools for the leverage and conservation of native germplasm and to undertake actions for the management recovery of chestnut groves. The pilot study areas are the chestnut groves in the municipality of Serle (BS) and in the Varese Pre-Alps (VA) The CASTANEVAL project aims also to develop a chestnut micropropagation system in order to offer a concrete, sustainable and economical tool for the conservation and multiplication of native germplasm of high local interest. The project will also study the ecological context and the degree of naturalness of the stands, from wild to coppice and cultivated varieties. A complete characterisation of the chestnut genetic resources in the areas under consideration will result from the integration of genetic, morphological, ecological and production data.

Sheep-TreeSeq: Analisi scalabile della diversità genetica ovina usando alberi (grafi) di sequenze genomiche
Start date: 01/12/2023   End date: 30/11/2025

CNR/Royal Society (Biennio 2024-2025)

Milano
Filippo Biscarini

Project duration:
01/12/2023 - 30/11/2025
Financing body:
CNR/Royal Society (Biennio 2024-2025)
Project research leader:
Filippo Biscarini
Headquarters:
Milano

Sheep-TreeSeq: Analisi scalabile della diversità genetica ovina usando alberi (grafi) di sequenze genomiche


Sheep-TreeSeq will perform scalable analysis of genomic diversity of sheep global populations using the novel tree sequence data format and methodology.

Technological advances in agritech have increased the availability of genomic data, leading to massive datasets (“big data”) which pose challenges for storage, processing and analysis, e.g. the sheer volume of the data, the rapid generation of new data (updating results, expanding training populations, streaming applications), and the heterogeneity of data sources (integration of data from multiple sequencing and genotyping platforms). The tree sequence algorithm offers an excellent way to address such challenges, by providing lossless compression and novel representation of the data. As an example, using tree sequences on the 1000 Bull Genome Project data a 90% lossless compression was obtained, reducing the data size from ~800 GB to 45 GB. For the Sheep TreeSeq project we will use around 3,500 sheep whole genome sequences and over 50,000 genotypes (~10 TB of data).

Our plan is to apply the tree sequence approach to compress the data and obtain a data representation highly suited for population genetics and demographic analysis: (i) principal component and genealogical nearest neighbour clustering; (ii) fixation index measuring genetic differentiation; (iii) deep neural network based clustering methods; iv) detection of runs of homozygosity (ROH) and heterozygosity-rich regions (HRR).

This is the first time that this approach is applied to sheep genomics.

IN-FACT One Health Basic and Translational Actions Addressing Unmet Needs on Emerging Infectious Diseases
Start date: 02/11/2022   End date: 31/10/2025

PNRR (PE13)

Milano, Lodi   Website

Paola Cremonesi

Project duration:
02/11/2022 - 31/10/2025
Financing body:
PNRR (PE13)
Project research leader:
Paola Cremonesi
Headquarters:
Milano, Lodi
Project website:
Website

IN-FACT One Health Basic and Translational Actions Addressing Unmet Needs on Emerging Infectious Diseases


The INF-ACT research program addresses pressing unmet needs of human emerging infectious diseases in both fundamental as well as in translational aspects, taking into consideration human health in a wider context including domestic and wild animals as potential disease reservoirs and environmental factors enhancing the possibility for spillover (One Health approach).

The project is focused on three “vertical” research nodes

  • Emerging and re-emerging viral diseases (respiratory viruses and zoonotic viruses);
  • Arthropod vectors and vector-borne pathogens (with a focus on VBDs most at risk of expand or emerge in Italy, such as arboviruses);
  • Diseases sustained by bacteria and fungi resistant to multiple antibiotics (AMR and molecular mechanisms of MDR).

and two “transversal” research nodes to interact with the basic and translational activities

  • Integrated “One Health” epidemiology (man, animal and man-animal), monitoring and mathematical models;
  • Development of new therapeutic treatment strategies (identification of molecular targets, generation of small molecule libraries for drug discovery, testing of lead compounds and their optimization).

The INF-ACT consortium is composed of 25 research Institutions from the public and the private sector from all over Italy; the CNR is involved in Node 1, 3, 4 and 5.

SCALA-MEDI Improving sustainability and quality of Sheep and Chicken production by leveraging the Adaptation potential of LocAl breeds in the MEDIterranean area
Start date: 01/08/2022   End date: 31/07/2026

Prima EU

Milano   Website

Alessandra Stella

Project duration:
01/08/2022 - 31/07/2026
Financing body:
Prima EU
Project research leader:
Alessandra Stella
Headquarters:
Milano
Project website:
Website

SCALA-MEDI Improving sustainability and quality of Sheep and Chicken production by leveraging the Adaptation potential of LocAl breeds in the MEDIterranean area


The SCALA-MEDI project will optimise the sustainable use and conservation of local breeds of chicken and sheep from the Mediterranean region, focusing on adaptation to climatic conditions and consumer preferences .

The expertise and data from previous EU projects will be extended to the genetic and epigenetic characterisation of local resources and their adaptation to different production environments in three North African countries, Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco.

Tools and strategies will be developed to improve local breeds for sustainable production. Application of these tools will be demonstrated to farmers in diverse Mediterranean production systems.

AGRITECH SPOKE 1 Plant, animal and microbial genetic resources and adaptation to climatic changes
Start date: 01/09/2022   End date: 31/08/2025

PNRR

Milano, Lodi, Roma   Website

Alessandra Stella, Emanuele Capra

Project duration:
01/09/2022 - 31/08/2025
Financing body:
PNRR
Project research leader:
Alessandra Stella, Emanuele Capra
Headquarters:
Milano, Lodi, Roma
Project website:
Website

AGRITECH SPOKE 1 Plant, animal and microbial genetic resources and adaptation to climatic changes


Resilience of agricultural and forest ecosystems under stressful conditions generated by climate change (CC) requires valorization and exploitation of genetic resources through cutting-edge conservation strategies, combined with deep characterization of genomes and high-throughput phenotyping.

Activities will include massive sequencing of accession/breeds/strains, extensive marker-based description of genomes, (pan)genome elucidation, deep phenotyping and multi-omics characterization.

Resulting information, processed through advanced methods for complex data analysis/interpretation/storage/management, will highlight superior alleles/haplotypes, identify beneficial interactions under a variety of conditions, and define conservation units.

Projects completed

COVES - Development and validation of a rapid method for the detection of SARSCoV-2 on environmental surfaces
Start date: 21/04/2020   End date: 20/10/2020

Regione Lombardia

Lodi
Paola Cremonesi

Project duration:
21/04/2020 - 20/10/2020
Financing body:
Regione Lombardia
Project research leader:
Paola Cremonesi
Headquarters:
Lodi

COVES - Development and validation of a rapid method for the detection of SARSCoV-2 on environmental surfaces


The COVES project will develop and validate a simplified sampling and analysis procedure on a portable device for the specific and sensitive detection of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in the environment. This procedure will ensure greater safety in the work areas, thus reducing the negative impact that the COVID-19 emergency has on the local and national economy and decreasing the gap between the information and the suggested solutions. The main result of the project will be the development of a method for the rapid analysis of the SARS-CoV-2 in the environment, suitable for a field-use also by non-expert users. The project involves Hyris Ltd, leader of the project, which develops the technology, IBBA CNR which will take charge of the method validations and IZSLER (section of Pavia) which will validate “in-situ” the efficacy of this method on various contaminated surfaces using SARS-CoV-2 positive samples with known concentration.

BILLBOARDADVERTISING PLATE POSTER

CASTADIVA-Biodiversity and multifunctionality of the chestnut tree. Valorization of genetic resources for the development of Lombardy sub mountain areas
Start date: 11/06/2021   End date: 30/11/2023

Regione Lombardia

Milano   Website

Eleonora Cominelli

Project duration:
11/06/2021 - 30/11/2023
Financing body:
Regione Lombardia
Project research leader:
Eleonora Cominelli
Headquarters:
Milano
Project website:
Website

CASTADIVA-Biodiversity and multifunctionality of the chestnut tree. Valorization of genetic resources for the development of Lombardy sub mountain areas


Over the centuries, the chestnut tree, cultivated for its fruits and timber, has become an essential element of subsistence for many societies in mountain and sub-mountainous areas, revealing its potential as a multifunctional species. However, today a large part of chestnut forests is in a state of degradation and abandonment, mainly due to the depopulation of rural areas, global climate change and recent outbreaks of exotic pests. With a view to the recovery and enhancement of chestnut genetic resources, the CASTADIVA project mainly aims to:

  • map the chestnut areas of pilot areas in the Lombardy Region (chestnut groves in the Municipality of Serle, BS and in the Varese Prealps, VA);
  • evaluate the genetic diversity of chestnut woods, genetically characterize local varieties
  • to characterize the fruits from a morphological, pomological, qualitative and nutritional point of view
  • integrate data obtained from genetic and morphometric analysis with ecological, silvicultural, phytosanitary and possibly socio-economic data;
  • identify the best practices and management criteria for the conservation and enhancement of chestnut genetic resources to be applied in the areas of greatest interest; transfer information to local administrations and the agricultural world.
BIO-MEMORY
Start date: 15/10/2021   End date: 15/02/2024

CNR

Milano, Lodi, Pisa, Roma
Flavia Pizzi, Aldo Ceriotti

Project duration:
15/10/2021 - 15/02/2024
Financing body:
CNR
Project research leader:
Flavia Pizzi, Aldo Ceriotti
Headquarters:
Milano, Lodi, Pisa, Roma

BIO-MEMORY


The project is organized in 3 main activities:

1) Implementation and updating of the BioGenRes network of biobanks, with a focus on nationally/internationally recognized collections of animal, plant or microorganism species samples (animal and plant germplasm banks, microbial strain libraries of pathogenic/toxigenic organisms, nematodes, soil and water microflora and microorganisms used in agro-industry and food (e.g. microbial starters for fermentations)).

2) Replication (rejuvenation) and expansion of material stored in collections. For plant and microbial collections: multiplication of accessions for which a small amount of material is available and rejuvenation of accessions whose seed viability data are below the expected standards (> 85%). For animal collections of zootechnical interest: collection and freezing of genetic material of local breeds to complete sampling carried out in previous projects or expansion of the number of species and breeds stored in cryobanks.

3) Biochemical, molecular, metabolic, functional and phenotypic characterization of the material conserved in the biobanks of the BioGenRes network, also in order to carry out association studies and to identify markers associated with traits linked to production and/or adaptation to biotic and abiotic stress factors.

FARM-INN Farm-level interventions supporting dairy industry innovation
Start date: 05/10/2020   End date: 31/08/2021

AGER

Lodi   Website

Bianca Castiglioni

Project duration:
05/10/2020 - 31/08/2021
Financing body:
AGER
Project research leader:
Bianca Castiglioni
Headquarters:
Lodi
Project website:
Website

FARM-INN Farm-level interventions supporting dairy industry innovation


The project FARM-INN aims to provide farm-level interventions supporting dairy industry enhancing safety and quality of milk and cheese and providing the necessary scientific evidence and new insight regarding their functional properties. The proposed actions will be carried out assessing and improving animal welfare and the environmental sustainability. In particular, two aspects will be tackled and studied in the proposed project: i) the development and use of new feed supplements adsorbing mycotoxins and reducing pathogenic and spoilage clostridia in milk ii) the characterization of cheese making and functional properties of A1 and A2 variants of beta-casein in milk. The evaluation of environmental sustainability of the adsorbent supplementations to the cow rations and the potential effect of cheese making using A1 and A2 beta-casein types in milk analyses through a Life Cycle Assessment approach will be performed.

The project will offer opportunities to the dairy farmers to strengthen their competitiveness, in the context of a better control of safety and quality issues, and will help dairy industry in placing on the market high-quality products adapted to the new expectations of consumers.

sPATIALS3 - Improvement of agrifood productions and innovative technologies for a safer and more secure and sustainable nutrition
Start date: 01/02/2020   End date: 31/10/2022

Regione Lombardia

Milano, Lodi   Website

Francesca Sparvoli

Project duration:
01/02/2020 - 31/10/2022
Financing body:
Regione Lombardia
Project research leader:
Francesca Sparvoli
Headquarters:
Milano, Lodi
Project website:
Website

sPATIALS3 - Improvement of agrifood productions and innovative technologies for a safer and more secure and sustainable nutrition


sPATIALS3 is a technological and research hub involving 12 CNR Institutes belonging to 4 different Departments and 4 companies. Main objectives will be: obtainment of innovative food products improved for their nutritional and functional properties; provision and implementation of precision technologies to guarantee products quality, safety and traceability; development of innovative and eco-sustainable smart– and active-packaging to minimize and reuse wastes, where possible, and to increase food preservability; provision to consumers and producers of tools for results exploitation.

Istituto

Search website