Fabian Zanella
Director, Head of Process and Analytical Development at Pluristyx, Inc.- Claim this Profile
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English Native or bilingual proficiency
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Spanish Native or bilingual proficiency
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Portuguese Native or bilingual proficiency
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French Limited working proficiency
Topline Score
Bio
Alison Fanton
I highly recommend Fabian Zanella as a leader, mentor, and scientist. As the Head of Cell Biology at StemoniX, he exhibited exceptional leadership skills, guiding the team through the highs and lows of a small startup. Fabian's calm demeanor and thoughtful approach to problem-solving made him an invaluable asset to the company, and was a role model for how effective managing can create a healthy workplace environment. As a scientist, Fabian was always at the forefront of cutting-edge stem cell and cardiomyocyte research and was able to effectively communicate complex concepts to both his team, company leadership, and clients. His creativity, curiosity, and commitment to excellence were evident in all of his work. Finally, Fabian's compassion and mentorship were truly remarkable. He consistently took the time to guide and teach members of his team, fostering an environment of growth and learning. As a young scientist, I greatly appreciated his approachable nature and patience. I cannot recommend Fabian Zanella highly enough and am grateful to have had the opportunity to work under his leadership.
Steven Biesmans
Fabian is a scientific leader with an exceptional skill for program management and motivating people. I had the pleasure to work with Fabian at StemoniX, where he was heading all R&D activities. Fabian was particularly talented at managing several projects simultaneously, delivering results on tight deadlines and keeping his team engaged and motivated at the same time. He led by example, demonstrating initiative, deep scientific knowhow, agility, and creativity. He also made sure we never had our weekly team meetings without hot lunch and delicious desserts. I highly recommend Fabian to any potential businesses seeking new talent. He gets the job done!
Alison Fanton
I highly recommend Fabian Zanella as a leader, mentor, and scientist. As the Head of Cell Biology at StemoniX, he exhibited exceptional leadership skills, guiding the team through the highs and lows of a small startup. Fabian's calm demeanor and thoughtful approach to problem-solving made him an invaluable asset to the company, and was a role model for how effective managing can create a healthy workplace environment. As a scientist, Fabian was always at the forefront of cutting-edge stem cell and cardiomyocyte research and was able to effectively communicate complex concepts to both his team, company leadership, and clients. His creativity, curiosity, and commitment to excellence were evident in all of his work. Finally, Fabian's compassion and mentorship were truly remarkable. He consistently took the time to guide and teach members of his team, fostering an environment of growth and learning. As a young scientist, I greatly appreciated his approachable nature and patience. I cannot recommend Fabian Zanella highly enough and am grateful to have had the opportunity to work under his leadership.
Steven Biesmans
Fabian is a scientific leader with an exceptional skill for program management and motivating people. I had the pleasure to work with Fabian at StemoniX, where he was heading all R&D activities. Fabian was particularly talented at managing several projects simultaneously, delivering results on tight deadlines and keeping his team engaged and motivated at the same time. He led by example, demonstrating initiative, deep scientific knowhow, agility, and creativity. He also made sure we never had our weekly team meetings without hot lunch and delicious desserts. I highly recommend Fabian to any potential businesses seeking new talent. He gets the job done!
Alison Fanton
I highly recommend Fabian Zanella as a leader, mentor, and scientist. As the Head of Cell Biology at StemoniX, he exhibited exceptional leadership skills, guiding the team through the highs and lows of a small startup. Fabian's calm demeanor and thoughtful approach to problem-solving made him an invaluable asset to the company, and was a role model for how effective managing can create a healthy workplace environment. As a scientist, Fabian was always at the forefront of cutting-edge stem cell and cardiomyocyte research and was able to effectively communicate complex concepts to both his team, company leadership, and clients. His creativity, curiosity, and commitment to excellence were evident in all of his work. Finally, Fabian's compassion and mentorship were truly remarkable. He consistently took the time to guide and teach members of his team, fostering an environment of growth and learning. As a young scientist, I greatly appreciated his approachable nature and patience. I cannot recommend Fabian Zanella highly enough and am grateful to have had the opportunity to work under his leadership.
Steven Biesmans
Fabian is a scientific leader with an exceptional skill for program management and motivating people. I had the pleasure to work with Fabian at StemoniX, where he was heading all R&D activities. Fabian was particularly talented at managing several projects simultaneously, delivering results on tight deadlines and keeping his team engaged and motivated at the same time. He led by example, demonstrating initiative, deep scientific knowhow, agility, and creativity. He also made sure we never had our weekly team meetings without hot lunch and delicious desserts. I highly recommend Fabian to any potential businesses seeking new talent. He gets the job done!
Alison Fanton
I highly recommend Fabian Zanella as a leader, mentor, and scientist. As the Head of Cell Biology at StemoniX, he exhibited exceptional leadership skills, guiding the team through the highs and lows of a small startup. Fabian's calm demeanor and thoughtful approach to problem-solving made him an invaluable asset to the company, and was a role model for how effective managing can create a healthy workplace environment. As a scientist, Fabian was always at the forefront of cutting-edge stem cell and cardiomyocyte research and was able to effectively communicate complex concepts to both his team, company leadership, and clients. His creativity, curiosity, and commitment to excellence were evident in all of his work. Finally, Fabian's compassion and mentorship were truly remarkable. He consistently took the time to guide and teach members of his team, fostering an environment of growth and learning. As a young scientist, I greatly appreciated his approachable nature and patience. I cannot recommend Fabian Zanella highly enough and am grateful to have had the opportunity to work under his leadership.
Steven Biesmans
Fabian is a scientific leader with an exceptional skill for program management and motivating people. I had the pleasure to work with Fabian at StemoniX, where he was heading all R&D activities. Fabian was particularly talented at managing several projects simultaneously, delivering results on tight deadlines and keeping his team engaged and motivated at the same time. He led by example, demonstrating initiative, deep scientific knowhow, agility, and creativity. He also made sure we never had our weekly team meetings without hot lunch and delicious desserts. I highly recommend Fabian to any potential businesses seeking new talent. He gets the job done!
Experience
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Pluristyx, Inc.
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United States
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Biotechnology
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1 - 100 Employee
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Director, Head of Process and Analytical Development
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Feb 2023 - Present
• Established Analytical Development and QC function for the company, setting high standards for crucial cell-based assays, optimizing research-grade assays and partnering closely with Quality Assurance to ensure adequacy to cGMP expectations. • Own Analytical Development and QC department budgeting, forecasting, recruiting, mentoring and development of analytical scientists. • Member of the company’s management team, fully integrate with program management to meet company crucial… Show more • Established Analytical Development and QC function for the company, setting high standards for crucial cell-based assays, optimizing research-grade assays and partnering closely with Quality Assurance to ensure adequacy to cGMP expectations. • Own Analytical Development and QC department budgeting, forecasting, recruiting, mentoring and development of analytical scientists. • Member of the company’s management team, fully integrate with program management to meet company crucial deliverables, as well as to provide strategic guidance towards excellence in analytical strategies for pluripotent stem cell-derived products • Own development and execution of a robust in vitro orthogonal cGMP testing assay pipeline for in process testing, product characterization, QC and release of novel donor fibroblasts, newly-generated and established PSC lines and PSC-derived cell therapies. • Own implementation of comprehensive and orthogonal strategies for characterization of genomic integrity and differentiation potential of PSCs. • Manage relationships with external partners for outsourced testing. • Subject Matter Expert in orthogonal high content and high throughput functional assays for deeper physiological characterization of cell therapy process intermediates, differentiated cells as drug substances and drug products. • Subject Matter Expert in process development efforts for pluripotent stem cell to mesoderm-derived intermediate products and cell therapies. Show less • Established Analytical Development and QC function for the company, setting high standards for crucial cell-based assays, optimizing research-grade assays and partnering closely with Quality Assurance to ensure adequacy to cGMP expectations. • Own Analytical Development and QC department budgeting, forecasting, recruiting, mentoring and development of analytical scientists. • Member of the company’s management team, fully integrate with program management to meet company crucial… Show more • Established Analytical Development and QC function for the company, setting high standards for crucial cell-based assays, optimizing research-grade assays and partnering closely with Quality Assurance to ensure adequacy to cGMP expectations. • Own Analytical Development and QC department budgeting, forecasting, recruiting, mentoring and development of analytical scientists. • Member of the company’s management team, fully integrate with program management to meet company crucial deliverables, as well as to provide strategic guidance towards excellence in analytical strategies for pluripotent stem cell-derived products • Own development and execution of a robust in vitro orthogonal cGMP testing assay pipeline for in process testing, product characterization, QC and release of novel donor fibroblasts, newly-generated and established PSC lines and PSC-derived cell therapies. • Own implementation of comprehensive and orthogonal strategies for characterization of genomic integrity and differentiation potential of PSCs. • Manage relationships with external partners for outsourced testing. • Subject Matter Expert in orthogonal high content and high throughput functional assays for deeper physiological characterization of cell therapy process intermediates, differentiated cells as drug substances and drug products. • Subject Matter Expert in process development efforts for pluripotent stem cell to mesoderm-derived intermediate products and cell therapies. Show less
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Sana Biotechnology, Inc.
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United States
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Biotechnology Research
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200 - 300 Employee
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Director, Head of Analytic Testing for Cardiac Cell Therapy
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May 2020 - Feb 2023
Analytical characterization and QC of PSC lines and PSC-derived cell therapies • Owned the development and execution of in vitro orthogonal assay pipeline for in process testing, drug substance and drug product QC and release, characterization, potency and safety, as well as in vivo rodent engraftment assays of a PSC-derived cardiac cell therapy. • Established additional orthogonal functional assays for deeper physiological characterization of process intermediates, drug substance and… Show more Analytical characterization and QC of PSC lines and PSC-derived cell therapies • Owned the development and execution of in vitro orthogonal assay pipeline for in process testing, drug substance and drug product QC and release, characterization, potency and safety, as well as in vivo rodent engraftment assays of a PSC-derived cardiac cell therapy. • Established additional orthogonal functional assays for deeper physiological characterization of process intermediates, drug substance and drug product. • Lead efforts on characterization of novel donor Pluripotent Stem Cell (PSC) lines, process development and characterization of genomic integrity through upscaled PSC culture, cardiac and pancreatic differentiation and maturation. • Lead technology transfer of PSC-endocrine pancreatic differentiation processes across company sites and teams. Show less Analytical characterization and QC of PSC lines and PSC-derived cell therapies • Owned the development and execution of in vitro orthogonal assay pipeline for in process testing, drug substance and drug product QC and release, characterization, potency and safety, as well as in vivo rodent engraftment assays of a PSC-derived cardiac cell therapy. • Established additional orthogonal functional assays for deeper physiological characterization of process intermediates, drug substance and… Show more Analytical characterization and QC of PSC lines and PSC-derived cell therapies • Owned the development and execution of in vitro orthogonal assay pipeline for in process testing, drug substance and drug product QC and release, characterization, potency and safety, as well as in vivo rodent engraftment assays of a PSC-derived cardiac cell therapy. • Established additional orthogonal functional assays for deeper physiological characterization of process intermediates, drug substance and drug product. • Lead efforts on characterization of novel donor Pluripotent Stem Cell (PSC) lines, process development and characterization of genomic integrity through upscaled PSC culture, cardiac and pancreatic differentiation and maturation. • Lead technology transfer of PSC-endocrine pancreatic differentiation processes across company sites and teams. Show less
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StemoniX
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United States
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Biotechnology Research
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1 - 100 Employee
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Senior Director, Head of Research and Development
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Feb 2020 - May 2020
Development of advanced hiPSC-based models for drug discovery • Owned portfolio execution on Research and Development of PSC-based platforms in drug discovery including cardiac, neural and pancreatic lineages. • Managed a team of 16, including principal scientists, senior scientists, scientists, research associates and a lab manager. • Served as Site Head for California operations, including Research and Development and local client-sponsored research services. • Led technology… Show more Development of advanced hiPSC-based models for drug discovery • Owned portfolio execution on Research and Development of PSC-based platforms in drug discovery including cardiac, neural and pancreatic lineages. • Managed a team of 16, including principal scientists, senior scientists, scientists, research associates and a lab manager. • Served as Site Head for California operations, including Research and Development and local client-sponsored research services. • Led technology transfer of PSC-based platforms to manufacturing and external-facing service teams in the company. • Supported business development and sales teams in new alliances and partnerships.
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Head of Cell Biology
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Jun 2015 - May 2020
Generation and differentiation of hiPSC-derived cardiomyocyte platforms for drug discovery. -Owned process development for hiPSC generation and validation, and directed differentiation towards cardiac lineage. -Owned development of micro-patterned substrate for cardiomyocyte alignment. -Trained and mentored reserach associates and interns in generation, maintenance and cardiac differentiation of hiPSCs.
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Site Head, California Operations
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Jun 2015 - May 2020
-First employee of StemoniX (Now Vyant Bio) I established the first lab spaces and operations for the company in JLabs San Diego, CA. -As the company grew in size and operations, I oversaw the procurement and transition to larger physical lab footprints, required tenant improvements, equipment procurement, installation and qualification.
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Director, Head of Research and Development
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Jun 2015 - Feb 2020
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Post-Doctoral Research Fellow
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Jan 2010 - Oct 2015
Disease Modeling of Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy with hiPSCs • Generated, characterized and validated a panel of independent control and Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy (ARVC) patient-specific human induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (hiPSCs) using distinct reprograming techniques. • Optimized cardiac differentiation protocols to generate qualified functional hiPSC-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) from generated hiPSC lines. • Characterized phenotypes… Show more Disease Modeling of Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy with hiPSCs • Generated, characterized and validated a panel of independent control and Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy (ARVC) patient-specific human induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (hiPSCs) using distinct reprograming techniques. • Optimized cardiac differentiation protocols to generate qualified functional hiPSC-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) from generated hiPSC lines. • Characterized phenotypes of ARVC hiPSC CMs, revealing faithful recapitulation of disease features observed in donor patient hearts, enabling the identification of CX43 gene therapy as potential therapeutic strategy for ARVC. Show less Disease Modeling of Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy with hiPSCs • Generated, characterized and validated a panel of independent control and Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy (ARVC) patient-specific human induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (hiPSCs) using distinct reprograming techniques. • Optimized cardiac differentiation protocols to generate qualified functional hiPSC-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) from generated hiPSC lines. • Characterized phenotypes… Show more Disease Modeling of Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy with hiPSCs • Generated, characterized and validated a panel of independent control and Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy (ARVC) patient-specific human induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (hiPSCs) using distinct reprograming techniques. • Optimized cardiac differentiation protocols to generate qualified functional hiPSC-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) from generated hiPSC lines. • Characterized phenotypes of ARVC hiPSC CMs, revealing faithful recapitulation of disease features observed in donor patient hearts, enabling the identification of CX43 gene therapy as potential therapeutic strategy for ARVC. Show less
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Post-Doctoral Researcher
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Aug 2009 - Jan 2010
Validation gene expression signatures predictive of tumor response to hypoxia-modifying agents combined with radiotherapy. -Collaborated with bioinformaticians to refine a gene expression signature predictive of tumor response to co-administration of hypoxia-modifying agents with radiotherapy, in a series of bladder tumors. -Further validated gene expression changes of a panel of selected hypoxia-responsive genes using Taqman Low Density Array (TLDA) in qPCR in a GLP environment. Validation gene expression signatures predictive of tumor response to hypoxia-modifying agents combined with radiotherapy. -Collaborated with bioinformaticians to refine a gene expression signature predictive of tumor response to co-administration of hypoxia-modifying agents with radiotherapy, in a series of bladder tumors. -Further validated gene expression changes of a panel of selected hypoxia-responsive genes using Taqman Low Density Array (TLDA) in qPCR in a GLP environment.
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CNIO
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Spain
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Research Services
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300 - 400 Employee
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PhD Student
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Apr 2005 - Apr 2009
Development of cell-based screening platforms for discovery of new targets in the PI3K/Akt/FOXO pathway in cancer • Generated, characterized and validated independent reporter cell lines for high throughput (gene-reporter luciferase assays) and high content (image-based nuclear translocation assays) screening systems to identify novel therapeutic targets relevant for cancer in the PI3K/Akt/FOXO3a pathway. • Utilized the developed cell-based systems to screen large RNAi and chemical… Show more Development of cell-based screening platforms for discovery of new targets in the PI3K/Akt/FOXO pathway in cancer • Generated, characterized and validated independent reporter cell lines for high throughput (gene-reporter luciferase assays) and high content (image-based nuclear translocation assays) screening systems to identify novel therapeutic targets relevant for cancer in the PI3K/Akt/FOXO3a pathway. • Utilized the developed cell-based systems to screen large RNAi and chemical libraries. • Validated screening hits in independent cell models, and using independent assays. Validated selected hits in vivo utilizing mouse xenograft models. Show less Development of cell-based screening platforms for discovery of new targets in the PI3K/Akt/FOXO pathway in cancer • Generated, characterized and validated independent reporter cell lines for high throughput (gene-reporter luciferase assays) and high content (image-based nuclear translocation assays) screening systems to identify novel therapeutic targets relevant for cancer in the PI3K/Akt/FOXO3a pathway. • Utilized the developed cell-based systems to screen large RNAi and chemical… Show more Development of cell-based screening platforms for discovery of new targets in the PI3K/Akt/FOXO pathway in cancer • Generated, characterized and validated independent reporter cell lines for high throughput (gene-reporter luciferase assays) and high content (image-based nuclear translocation assays) screening systems to identify novel therapeutic targets relevant for cancer in the PI3K/Akt/FOXO3a pathway. • Utilized the developed cell-based systems to screen large RNAi and chemical libraries. • Validated screening hits in independent cell models, and using independent assays. Validated selected hits in vivo utilizing mouse xenograft models. Show less
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IPATIMUP
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Portugal
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Research Services
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1 - 100 Employee
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Undergraduate Research Intern
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2003 - 2004
Characterization of DNA ploidy and marker phenotypes of tumors and biopsies by flow cytometry. -Learned and applied basic concepts of flow cytometry in cancer research. -Owned execution of flow cytometry analysis of samples in the pathology services lab. -Owned execution of flow cytometry assays to support research groups in the institute. Characterization of DNA ploidy and marker phenotypes of tumors and biopsies by flow cytometry. -Learned and applied basic concepts of flow cytometry in cancer research. -Owned execution of flow cytometry analysis of samples in the pathology services lab. -Owned execution of flow cytometry assays to support research groups in the institute.
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Education
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LinkedIn Learning
Certificate, Project Management Simplified -
2005 - 2009
Universidad Autónoma de Madrid
PhD, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry and Biomedicine -
1999 - 2004
Universidade do Porto
BSc, Biology
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