Biography

Born on August 03, 1961.
1982-1988 Degree cum laude in Agricultural Sciences - Animal Science (Faculty of Agrucultural Science, Cattolic University of Piacenza, Italy).
1995-2002 Permanent Assistant Professor (Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy).
2002-2017 Associate Professor in Environmental Physiology and Ruminat Nutrition (Department of Agriculture, Forests, Nature and Energy (DAFNE), University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy).
2017-present Full Professor in Environmental Physiology and Ruminat Nutrition (Department of Agriculture, Forests, Nature and Energy (DAFNE), University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy).
Visiting professor at University of Wisconsin-Madison (USA), Department of Dairy Science.

Research activities
a) Lipid metabolism, metabolic diseases and oxidative status in dairy ruminats with particular attention to peripartum period and heat stress conditions;
b) Effects of heat stress on physiology, health and performance of dairy cows.
c) Feeding, nutrition and management of transition and heat-stressed dairy cows.
d) Effects of nutrition and environmental factors (namely heat stress) on milk yield and composition.
e) Adipose tissue metabolism and adipokines in heat-stressed animals.
g) Nutraceutic value of dairy products.

Teaching activities
Undergraduate, Master and Ph.D courses in Animal Nutrition, Animal Biotecnology, Feed Industry
Supervisor of Master and PhD students.

Others
President of Master course in Agro-Biotecnology at the University of Tuscia, Department of Agriculture, Forests, Nature and Energy (DAFNE).

National and international projects
PRIN 2000: BIOMARKERS OF ANIMAL WELFARE: STUDY OF RELATION BETWEEN METABOLISM, NUTRITION AND IMMUNITY IN ANIMAL PRODUCTION. Research Unit coordinator (RUC).
PRIN 2003: Variation and modulation of hepatic lipid metabolism in dairy cow. RUC
PRIN 2005: Nutritive value of destoned olive cake and evaluation of enzymatic and microbiological treatments to improve digestibility of destoned olive cake in ruminants. RUC
PRIN 2007: Role of adipose tissue in the modulation of glucose and lipid metabolism under heat stress conditions. PI
CNRi/CNRST 2006: Italy-Morocco project: Effets du stress de la chaleur sur le statut oxydatif et sur la réponse immunitaire chez le dromadaire et la vache. PI
MiPAAF 2007: Ricerca ed innovazione nelle attività di miglioramento genetico animale mediante tecniche di genetica molecolare per la competitività del sistema zootecnico nazionale - Riproduzione, resistenza a malattie e stress -SELMOL - D.M. 11/7303/2007. RUC
Leptin/Adiponenctin project 2010: Supervisor of Dr. Hosoda (Giappone), Visiting Scientist (12 months). PI.
Vistatin project 2011: Supervisor of Dr. Kumar (India), Visitig Scientist (3 mesi months). PI.
MiPAAF 2011: Valorizzazione della produzione del Grana Padano per il controllo di filiera e l'ottimizzazione dei processi produttivi - FILIGRANA - (D.M.2574/7303/11 del 01/12/2011). RUC
MiPAAF 2011: Ricerca e INNOvazione nelle attività di miglioramento GENetico animale mediante tecniche di genetica molecolare per la competitività del sistema zootecnico nazionale - Latte Bovino - INNOVAGEN - D.M. 10750/7303/2011. Componente Unità.
MiPAAF 2012: Sistemi di controllo predittivo multizonale delle condizioni microclimatiche degli allevamenti per il benessere dei bovini da latte - MICROCLILAT - D.M. 6738 del 22/03/2012. Coordinatore Progetto
MiPAAF 2012: Simulazione con modelli matematici dell'agricoltura Europea con modelli matematici per la sicurezza alimentare in relazione al cambiamento climatico - FACCE MACSUR - D.M. 2660 del 20.06.2012. Componente Unità
EU 2012: Monitoring of animals for feed-related risks in the long term -MARLON - project n. 31203. Investigator
EU 2012: Modelling European Agriculture with Climate Change for Food Security MACSUR. Investigator
EU 2013: GI-Neu- Impact of colostrum based neutraceuticals on functional gastrointestinal disorders (n. 324476). FP7-PEOPLE-2012-IAPP. Responsabile Unità.
MiPAAF 2013 - Sviluppo e applicazione di nuovi test biologici e visivi per la valutazione dello stato di benessere nei vitelloni da carne alimentati con esteri del glicerolo (GRAS) - BENBEEF - D.M. del 31/07/2013 n. 15526/7818/2013. Responsabile Unità.
Convenzione BASF-SE 2013: Role of CLA isomers in preventing oxidative stress in mammary gland. BASF SE, Carl-Bosch-Straße 38, 67056 Ludwigshafen/Rhein, Germany. Responsabile progetto.
Convenzione Sophia s.r.l. 2013: Studio del sistema zootecnico per la produzione di latte in Oman. SOPHIA s.r.l. P.I./C.F. n. 12324491005. Responsabile progetto.

Societies

Member of the Italian Association of Animal Production, European Association of Animal Science, American Society of Animal Science and American Dairy Science Association.

Member of the 'International Scientific Committee of ACCAF Meta-programme' (INRA, France).