Julia Pizzolato PhD
Commercial Scientific Liaison
Career highlights
- Commercial Scientific Liaison, evitria AG (Jan 2026–present): Technical consultation, feasibility checks, and scientific training materials for complex client projects in antibody engineering and recombinant protein expression.
- Senior Scientist in Antibody Engineering, InCephalo (May 2022–Nov 2024): Led protein design, purification, and characterization (ELISA, bioactivity assays, flow cytometry) for immuno-oncology programs and guided strategy decisions with literature/patent synthesis.
- Senior Scientist / Technical Expert Data Management, CSL Behring (Oct 2020–Sep 2021): Built analytics pipelines used daily by scientists; delivered technical training and support for data integration.
- Head of Business Development | Data Scientist, Propulsion Academy Zurich (Jan 2020–Aug 2020): Taught data science (SQL, BigQuery) and delivered large-scale training sessions with strong participant feedback.
- Research Scientist, Heptares Therapeutics Zurich (Dec 2017–Jan 2019): Engineered thermostable GPCR variants while operating effectively within a matrixed organizational environment.
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Publications
Julia has published peer-reviewed research in molecular biology and DNA repair, including articles in Nature Communications and The Journal of Biological Chemistry. This track record underpins her approach to evidence-based writing, with a strong focus on experimental rigor and clear data interpretation. Selected publications are listed below, with additional references available via ResearchGate.
- FAN1 interaction with ubiquitylated PCNA alleviates replication stress and preserves genomic integrity independently of BRCA2 (Oct. 2017)
Interstrand cross-link (ICL) hypersensitivity is a characteristic trait of Fanconi anemia (FA). Although FANCD2-associated nuclease 1 (FAN1) contributes to ICL repair, FAN1 mutations predispose to karyomegalic interstitial nephritis (KIN) and cancer rather than to FA. Thus, the biological role of FAN1 remains unclear. Because fork stalling in FAN1-…view - FANCD2-associated Nuclease 1, but Not Exonuclease 1 or Flap Endonuclease 1, Is Able to Unhook DNA Interstrand Cross-links in Vitro (Jul 2015)
Cisplatin and its derivatives, nitrogen mustards (NMs) and mitomycin C (MMC) are widely used in cancer chemotherapy. Their efficacy is linked primarily to their ability to generate DNA interstrand cross-links (ICLs), which effectively block the progression of transcription and replication machineries. Release of this block, referred to as unhooking…view - Stochastic signalling rewires the interaction map of a multiple feedback network during yeast evolution (Feb. 2012)
During evolution, genetic networks are rewired through strengthening or weakening their interactions to develop new regulatory schemes. In the galactose network, the GAL1/GAL3 paralogues and the GAL2 gene enhance their own expression mediated by the Gal4p transcriptional activator. The wiring strength in these feedback loops is set by the number of…view - Supplementary Information (Feb. 2012)
Supplementary Figures S1-S3 and Supplementary Tables S1-S5 view
Articles written by Julia Pizzolato PhD (46)
Julia writes about recombinant antibody production and CHO transient expression, antibody fundamentals (e.g., IgG), Fc biology and effector functions (e.g., ADCC), and complex modalities such as bispecific and multispecific antibodies. Her articles are designed to support practical R&D decision-making and are grounded in primary literature and evitria’s operational experience. Content is reviewed and updated as technical standards, terminology, or best practices evolve.
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HEK293 cells vs. CHO cells
HEK cells, also known as HEK293, are human embryonic kidney cells which grow in tissue culture and represent a distinct immortalised cell line. Although HEK cells and CHO cells are both used to create antibodies and for therapeutic protein production, they differ in many…
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Antibody production in CHO cells: Advantages & Disadvantages
CHO cells are an essential tool in antibody production. But why should one choose CHO cells instead of other expression systems? Read more to find out!
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CHO cells – 7 facts about the cell line derived from the ovary of the Chinese hamster
Cells derived from animals like Chinese hamster ovary cells have been cultured and manipulated for use in pharmaceutical compounds for decades. They form the vital basis of a vast number of applications and are perfect tools for research and development.
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Therapeutic antibodies: afucosylated antibodies with enhanced antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC)
Therapeutic antibodies are the fastest-growing class of biological drugs. Their ability to interact with specific targets means they can be employed for a range of diseases, including cancer, autoimmune and infectious diseases.
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7 reasons for us to choose Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells for recombinant protein production
In this article, we will discuss 7 reasons why we at evitria use CHO cells in recombinant protein production.
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HEK293 cells for recombinant antibody production
HEK cells are intensely used in applications like recombinant antibody production. Why? Find out in this article!
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Antibody-Dependent Cellular Cytotoxicity (ADCC) – Definition, Mechanism & Application
Antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity is a key process of the immune system’s arsenal to ward off cancerous cells and infections. We show you important definitions and the ADCC mechanism and key facts on ADCC antibodies in this post.
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Monoclonal antibody production: Process, Technologies & Steps
Monoclonal antibodies play a significant role in different fields of life sciences and medicine. But how are they produced in the first place?
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Why Recombinant DNA Construct Design Determines Protein and Antibody Expression Success
A sequence-correct recombinant DNA construct can still fail during protein expression. Learn how cloning strategy, vector architecture, signal peptides and CHO-cell design influence antibody yield, assembly and quality.
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What is the Typical Turnaround Time for HTP Antibody Production?
evitria’s HTP Antibody Production Service delivers purified, analytics-confirmed material within a 4-week cycle from sequence approval. Learn what factors influence turnaround time and how to plan your screening campaign effectively.
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Developability-by-Design: The 5 Readouts to Check Before Picking Winners
Identifying a high-affinity binder is only the first hurdle in antibody discovery. Developability-by-Design integrates five key biophysical readouts into the selection process to ensure only manufacturable candidates advance.
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Why HTP Screening Results Sometimes Fail to Translate to Manufacturing
Top-tier HTP screening leads frequently fail to translate to manufacturing due to host system incompatibilities and production artefacts. This article examines the root causes and how to close the translation gap.

