Daniela Zanetti Email & Phone Number

Spain

Palo Alto, Ca, Us

Cagliari, Sardinia, Italy

Spain

Palo Alto, California, United States

Palo Alto

During my postdoctoral training, I am continuing to build on my training in genetics, epidemiology and data analysis, with a special focus on Mendelian randomization.For my first postdoctoral project, I analyzed the causal association of low birth weight with hypertension, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. I detected that lower birth weight is causally and directly related with increased susceptibility to coronary artery disease and type 2 diabetes in adulthood. The causal… Show more During my postdoctoral training, I am continuing to build on my training in genetics, epidemiology and data analysis, with a special focus on Mendelian randomization.For my first postdoctoral project, I analyzed the causal association of low birth weight with hypertension, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. I detected that lower birth weight is causally and directly related with increased susceptibility to coronary artery disease and type 2 diabetes in adulthood. The causal relationship is not mediated by adult obesity or hypertension (Zanetti D. at al., 2018). For my second project at Stanford, I performed genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of urinary biomarkers (albumin, sodium, and potassium) using UK Biobank data to establish common genetic variation associated with respective biomarker. I identified 22 novel genome-wide significant associations with urinary biomarkers and confirmed several previously established associations, including between the CUBN locus and microalbuminuria. I detected high pairwise genetic correlation across the urinary biomarkers, and between their levels and several physiological measurements. In addition, this study highlights GIPR, a potential diabetes drug target, as possibly implicated in the genetic control of urinary potassium excretion, and NRBP1, a locus associated with gout, as plausibly involved in sodium and albumin excretion. Show less

Departament De Biologia Animal-Antropologia. Facultat De Biologia

My early publications were focused on population genetics.In my first publication, I studied the genetic diversity inside Jordan in the context of the Mediterranean and Middle East area. I detected a significant genetic differences between Jordanians and Bedouins. Jordanians appeared genetically more similar to other Middle East populations, whereas Bedouins showed a close genetic proximity to North Africans (Zanetti D. et al., 2014).In my second project, I examined whether the… Show more My early publications were focused on population genetics.In my first publication, I studied the genetic diversity inside Jordan in the context of the Mediterranean and Middle East area. I detected a significant genetic differences between Jordanians and Bedouins. Jordanians appeared genetically more similar to other Middle East populations, whereas Bedouins showed a close genetic proximity to North Africans (Zanetti D. et al., 2014).In my second project, I examined whether the genetic variability among populations in cardiovascular risk regions is better explained by demography or by natural selection. I identified significant differences in the linkage disequilibrium patterns among populations of different ancestry that probably explained the population disparities found in markers of susceptibility to cardiovascular disease (Zanetti D. at al, 2015). In my third paper, I carried out an epidemiological study of cardiovascular disease. I observed a congruence among cardiovascular risk loci between North Africans and Europeans, but a disparity in specific risk markers between the two populations that may be related to population differences in the chromosomal architecture of these risk regions (Zanetti D. at al., 2016). Show less

London, United Kingdom

During my PhD, I performed a simulation study that enhanced my bioinformatics skills. In this study, I simulated genome-wide case-control data to estimate trans-ethnic differences in association studies and to identify the potential sources of heterogeneity in replicating genome-wide association results across diverse populations. I found that a combination of Euro-centric single nucleotide polymorphisms selection and between population differences in linkage disequilibrium, was sufficient… Show more During my PhD, I performed a simulation study that enhanced my bioinformatics skills. In this study, I simulated genome-wide case-control data to estimate trans-ethnic differences in association studies and to identify the potential sources of heterogeneity in replicating genome-wide association results across diverse populations. I found that a combination of Euro-centric single nucleotide polymorphisms selection and between population differences in linkage disequilibrium, was sufficient to explain the rate of trans-ethnic differences previously reported, without the need to assume between population differences in true causal SNP effect size (Zanetti D. and Weale ME., 2018). Show less

Phd, Population Genetics

Master'S Degree, Experimental And Applied Biology

B.Sc. In Experimental Biology