معرفی
Dr. Marco Conti is the Fred Gellert Endowed Professor at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) School of Medicine, where he serves in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences. He previously directed the Center for Reproductive Sciences at UCSF, a leading institution in reproductive biology research.
Dr. Conti received his M.D. from the University of Rome School of Medicine in 1974, followed by postdoctoral training in Reproductive Biology at the same institution (1974-75) and Endocrinology at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, MD (1975-77). His research career spans over four decades with significant contributions to understanding oocyte development and reproductive biology.
Dr. Conti's research program focuses on signal transduction pathways required for germ cell development, particularly those controlling oocyte meiotic maturation and developmental competence. His lab has identified critical signals arising in somatic cells during ovulation that establish oocyte developmental competence. The research examines how disruption of these pathways affects maternal mRNA translation patterns into proteins critical for nuclear reprogramming and early embryo development. This work has significant implications for stem cell research, understanding mechanisms controlling cell replication during preimplantation development, and developing embryonic stem cells into artificial gametes. Additional research interests include fertility preservation for cancer patients.
Analysis of Dr. Conti's publication record reveals a consistent focus on reproductive biology with particular emphasis on cAMP signaling pathways, phosphodiesterases, mRNA translation regulation, and oocyte maturation. His work shows progression from foundational studies on cAMP-specific phosphodiesterases in the 1990s to more recent sophisticated analyses of maternal mRNA translation programs using single-cell approaches and multi-omics techniques. The research demonstrates increasing complexity in methodology while maintaining focus on fundamental questions of oocyte developmental competence.
- International Fogarty Fellow (1975-77)
- Phi Beta Kappa Teaching Excellence Award (2000)
- Sandler Foundation Senior Investigator Award (2001)
- Society for the Study of Reproduction Research Award (2003)
- Board of Directors Society for the Study of Reproduction (2006)
Dr. Conti has mentored numerous researchers in reproductive biology and has been instrumental in establishing genetic models to study oocyte developmental competence. His laboratory work has significant translational potential for improving assisted reproductive technologies and understanding age-related declines in fertility. The Center for Reproductive Sciences at UCSF, which he previously directed, serves as a hub for interdisciplinary research connecting basic science discoveries with clinical applications in reproductive medicine.
