Dr. Vassena has an extensive professional and publication record in the field of reproduction. A University of Milan graduate, she has long been interested in issues of oocyte quality and preimplantation developmental competence. She has carried out research both at the Fels Institute for Cancer Research in Philadelphia and at the Center for Regenerative Medicine in Barcelona on issues of pluripotency and chromatin remodelling. She is the General Scientific Director of the Grupo EUGIN, is an Associate Professor at the University of Barcelona, and serves on the Executive Committee of the European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE).
Publications
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A freeze-all strategy does not increase live birth rates in women of advanced reproductive age
Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics (2020)
Efficiency and efficacy of vitrification in 35 654 sibling oocytes from donation cycles
Hum Reprod, Volume 35, Issue 10, Pages 2262–2271
Identification of research priorities in infertility and assisted reproduction: an international, multicentre study
Reprod Biomed Online. 2020 Feb;40(2):238-244. doi: 10.1016/j.rbmo.2019.10.012. Epub 2019 Oct 30
Transcriptomic analysis of the interaction of choriocarcinoma spheroids with receptive vs. non-receptive endometrial epithelium cell lines: an in vitro model for human implantation
J Assist Reprod Genet. 2019 May;36(5):857-873. doi: 10.1007/s10815-019-01442-9. Epub 2019 Apr 10.
Comparison of two different oocyte vitrification methods: a prospective, paired study on the same genetic background and stimulation protocol
Hum Reprod. 2019 Jun 4;34(6):989-997. doi: 10.1093/humrep/dez045.
Is there an association between PAWP/WBP2NL sequence, expression, and distribution in sperm cells and fertilization failures in ICSI cycles?
Mol Reprod Dev. 2018 Feb;85(2):163-170. doi: 10.1002/mrd.22950. Epub 2018 Jan 22.
Evaluating genetic ancestry and selfreported ethnicity in the context of carrier screening
Shraga et al. BMC Genetics (2017) 18:99 DOI 10.1186/s12863-017-0570-y
Is there a relation between the time to ICSI and the reproductive outcomes?
Hum Reprod. 2018 May 1;33(5):797-806. doi: 10.1093/humrep/dey067.
Risk of preeclampsia in pregnancies resulting from double gamete donation and from oocyte donation alone
Pregnancy Hypertens. 2018 Jul;13:133-137. doi: 10.1016/j.preghy.2018.06.010. Epub 2018 Jun 11.
Sperm telomere length in donor samples is not related to ICSI outcome
J Assist Reprod Genet. 2018 Apr;35(4):649-657. doi: 10.1007/s10815-017-1104-2. Epub 2018 Jan 16
Altered cytoplasmic maturation in rescued in vitro matured oocytes.
Hum Reprod. 2019 Jun 4;34(6):1095-1105. doi: 10.1093/humrep/dez052
Mapping research in assisted reproduction worldwide
Reprod Biomed Online. 2019 Oct 30. pii: S1472-6483(19)30789-8. doi: 10.1016/j.rbmo.2019.10.013
A novel transnational fresh oocyte donation (TOD) program based on transport of frozen sperm and embryos
Human Reproduction, Volume 34, Issue 2, 1 February 2019, Pages 285–290
Two decades of embryonic stem cells: a historical overview
Human Reproduction Open, Volume 2019, Issue 1, 1 January 2019, hoy024
High reliability of morphokinetic annotations among embryologists
Human Reproduction Open, Volume 2018, Issue 3, 1 May 2018, hoy009
Oocyte developmental competence is independent of ovarian reserve in women younger than 35 years
RBMO VOLUME 00 ISSUE 0 2018
Revisiting the association between smoking and female fertility using the oocyte donation model
RBMO VOLUME 00 ISSUE 0 2018
Actions to increase knowledge about age-related fertility decline in women
The European Journal of Contraception & Reproductive Health Care (https://doi.org/10.1080/13625187.2018.1526895)
Knowledge of age-related fertility decline in women: A systematic review
European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology 230 (2018) 109–118
Risk of pre-eclampsia after fresh or frozen embryo transfer in patients undergoing oocyte donation
European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology 227 (2018) 27-31
Transcriptomics analysis and human preimplantation development
Journal of Proteomics 162 (2017) 135–140
Lower endometrial receptivity in HIV-infected women receiving oocyte donation: a comorbidity of HIV infection?
Human Reproduction Open, Volume 2017, Issue 3, 5 October 2017, hox019
Quality of life, anxiety and depression of German, Italian and French couples undergoing cross-border oocyte donation in Spain
PMID: 28854722
Paternal age and assisted reproductive outcomes in ICSI donor oocytes: is there an effect of older fathers?
Human Reproduction, Vol.0, No.0 pp. 1–9, 2014
PMID: 25073975
The transcriptome of human oocytes is related to age and ovarian reserve
Mol Hum Reprod. 2017 Jun 6. doi: 10.1093/molehr/gax033. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID: 28586423
WBP2NL/PAWP mRNA and protein expression in sperm cells are not related to semen parameters, fertilization rate, or reproductive outcome
J Assist Reprod Genet. 2017 Mar 21. doi: 10.1007/s10815-017-0902-x
PMID: 28444612
Evidence-based medicine in ART
Hum Reprod. 2017 Jan;32(1):256. Epub 2016 Nov 17.
PMID: 27864360
There is no evidence that the time from egg retrieval to embryo transfer affects live birth rates in a freeze-all strategy.
Hum Reprod. 2016 Dec 16. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID: 27986819
Characteristics and clinical outcomes of patients undergoing fertility treatment by double gamete donation
Hum Fertil (Camb). 2016 Sep;19(3):180-5. doi: 10.1080/14647273.2016.1209577. Epub 2016 Aug 2.
PMID: 27485936
Use of donor sperm in addition to oocyte donation after repeated implantation failure in normozoospermic patients does not improve live birth rates
Hum Reprod. 2016 Nov;31(11):2549-2553. Epub 2016 Sep 8.
PMID: 27609983
PLCζ sequence, protein levels, and distribution in human sperm do not correlate with semen characteristics and fertilization rates after ICSI
J Assist Reprod Genet. 2016 May 2. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID: 27138933
The why, the how and the when of PGS 2.0: current practices and expert opinions of fertility specialists, molecular biologists, and embryologists.
Mol Reprod Dev. 2016 Jul;83(7):624-9. doi: 10.1093/molehr/gaw034. Epub 2016 Jun 20.
PMID: 27256483
Oocyte Vitrification Does Not Affect Early Developmental Timings After Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection for Women Younger Than 30 Years Old
Mol Reprod Dev. 2016 Jul;83(7):624-9. doi: 10.1002/mrd.22667. Epub 2016 Jun 20.
PMID: 27283498
Endometrial preparation: effect of estrogen dose and administration route on reproductive outcomes in oocyte donation cycles with fresh embryo transfer
Hum Reprod. 2016 Aug;31(8):1755-64. doi: 10.1093/humrep/dew099. Epub 2016 May 1.
PMID: 27141040
Should we worry about the clock? Relationship between time to ICSI and reproductive outcomes in cycles with fresh and vitrified oocytes.
Hum Reprod. 2016 Jun;31(6):1182-91. doi: 10.1093/humrep/dew070. Epub 2016 Apr 12.
PMID: 27076502
Are we ready to inject? Individualized LC-CUSUM training in ICSI
J Assist Reprod Genet. 2016 Aug;33(8):1009-15. doi: 10.1007/s10815-016-0686-4. Epub 2016 Mar 16.
PMID: 26979744
Is oocyte donation a risk factor for preeclampsia? A systematic review and meta-analysis.
J Assist Reprod Genet. 2016 Jul;33(7):855-63. doi: 10.1007/s10815-016-0701-9. Epub 2016 Mar 23.
PMID: 27007875
Semen residual viral load and reproductive outcomes in HIV-infected men undergoing ICSI after extended semen preparation
Reprod Biomed Online. 2016 Jun;32(6):584-90. doi: 10.1016/j.rbmo.2016.02.014. Epub 2016 Mar 8.
PMID: 26995657
Genome engineering through CRISPR/Cas9 technology in the human germline and pluripotent stem cells.
Human Reproduction Update, Vol.0, No.0 pp. 1–9, 2016 doi:10.1093/humupd/dmw005
PMID: 26932460
Increasing fertility knowledge and awareness by tailored education: a randomized controlled trial
Reprod Biomed Online. 2016 Jan;32(1):113-20. doi: 10.1016/j.rbmo.2015.10.008. Epub 2015 Oct 30.
PMID: 26611499
Oxidative stress level in fresh ejaculate is not related to semen parameters or to pregnancy rates in cycles with donor oocytes.
J Assist Reprod Genet. 2016 Apr;33(4):529-34. doi: 10.1007/s10815-016-0660-1. Epub 2016 Jan 22.
PMID: 26801917
Stem cells in reproductive medicine: ready for the patient?
Hum Reprod. 2015 Sep;30(9):2014-21. doi: 10.1093/humrep/dev181. Epub 2015 Jul 22.
PMID: 26202914
Detection of DNA damage in cumulus cells using a chromatin dispersion assay
Syst Biol Reprod Med. 2015 5):277-85. doi: 10.3109/19396368.2015.1063739. Epub 2015 Aug 25Oct;61(
PMID: 26305732
Effect of ribonucleic acid (RNA) isolation methods on putative reference genes messenger RNA abundance in human spermatozoa
Andrology. 2015 Jun 20. doi: 10.1111/andr.12053. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID: 26097086
PLCζ disruption with complete fertilization failure in normozoospermia.
J Assist Reprod Genet. 2015 May 19. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID: 25986342
Influence of Donor, Recipient, and Male Partner Body Mass index on Pregnancy Rates in Oocyte Donation Cycles
JBRA Assist Reprod. 2015 May 1;19(2):53-8. doi: 10.5935/1518-0557.20150013.
PMID: 27206088
Fertility knowledge and awareness in oocyte donors in Spain
Patient Educ Couns. 2015 Jan;98(1):96-101. doi: 10.1016/j.pec.2014.10.009. Epub 2014 Oct 23.
PMID: 25457178
Empty follicle syndrome prevalence and management in oocyte donors
Hum Reprod. 2014 Oct 10;29(10):2221-7. doi: 10.1093/humrep/deu203. Epub 2014 Aug 1.
PMID: 25085799
Menstrual cycle length in reproductive age women is an indicator of oocyte quality and a candidate marker of ovarian reserve.
Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2014 Jun;177:130-4. doi: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2014.03.027. Epub 2014 Apr 12.
PMID: 24780105
Individualized embryo transfer training: timing and performance
Human Reproduction, Vol.0, No.0 pp. 1–6, 2014 doi:10.1093/humrep/deu080
PMID: 24781427
Learning curves in 3-dimensional sonographic follicle monitoring during controlled ovarian stimulation
J Ultrasound Med. 2014 Apr;33(4):649-55. doi: 10.7863/ultra.33.4.649.
PMID: 24658944
Training in empathic skills improves the patient physician relationship during the first consultation in a fertility clinic
Fertil Steril. 2013 Apr;99(5):1413-1418.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2012.12.012. Epub 2013 Jan 5.
PMID: 23294674
Generation of feeder-free pig induced pluripotent stem cells without Pou5f1
Cell Transplant. 2012;21(5):815-25. doi: 10.3727/096368911X601019. Epub 2011 Sep 23.
PMID: 21944493
Accumulation of instability in serial differentiation and reprogramming of parthenogenetic human cells.
Hum Mol Genet. 2012 Aug 1;21(15):3366-73. doi: 10.1093/hmg/dds168. Epub 2012 Apr 30.
PMID: 22547223
Poor knowledge of age-related fertility decline and assisted reproduction among healthcare professionals
Hum Reprod. 2017 Feb;32(2):368-374. doi: 10.1016/j.rbmo.2016.09.013. Epub 2016 Dec 16.
PMID: 28341417
Dr. Vassena has an extensive professional and publication record in the field of reproduction. A University of Milan graduate, she has long been interested in issues of oocyte quality and preimplantation developmental competence. She has carried out research both at the Fels Institute for Cancer Research in Philadelphia and at the Center for Regenerative Medicine in Barcelona on issues of pluripotency and chromatin remodelling. She is the General Scientific Director of the Grupo EUGIN, is an Associate Professor at the University of Barcelona, and serves on the Executive Committee of the European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE).