Dario Riccardo Valenzano

Genetics

Project: “Identifying genes regulating longevity”

Primary Mentor: Anne Brunet, PhD, Genetics

Secondary Mentor: Russ Fernald, PhD, Biological Science

Dario R. Valenzano received his BSc and PhD in Neuroscience from Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, Italy. During his graduate work, Dr. Valenzano developed a new model system for the study of aging of the shortlived African killifish Nothobranchius furzeri. He showed that this short-lived vertebrate undergoes a progressive pattern of senescence, and that environmental manipulations, such as diet and temperature, significantly affect Nothobranchius furzeri aging and lifespan. Dr. Valenzano’s current research focuses on mapping the genetic determinants of lifespan in vertebrates, using a quantitative trait loci analysis in two different populations of Nothobranchius furzeri that differ in their life span.

Email: [email protected]

Website: http://web.stanford.edu/group/brunet/past%20rotons.html