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.
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 (37)
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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Recombinant Protein Expression in Mammalian Cells: Techniques and Applications
There are several ways to produce recombinant proteins. In this article, we will have a look at some of them, and will focus on recombinant protein expression in mammalian cells.

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Recombinant antibody expression – the process in detail
The expression of recombinant antibodies has opened entirely new possibilities in life sciences. In this article, we will take a more detailed look at this process.

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Recombinant Antibody Production: Complete Guide
Recombinant antibody production is vital in drug development as well as for therapeutic and research purposes. In this article, we will discuss methods and benefits of recombinant antibody production.

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Garbage In, Garbage Out: Why AI Antibody Discovery Needs Data Integrity
AI antibody discovery models are only as reliable as the data they train on. Learn why standardized CHO-native HTP production is the foundation of valid AI predictions.

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HTP vs. Preclinical-Scale Antibody Production: When Should You Scale Up?
Understand the key differences between HTP and preclinical-scale antibody production, when to transition between stages, and why CHO consistency across both reduces downstream risk.

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How Automation in HTP Antibody Production Reduces Batch Variation in CHO Expression
Batch-to-batch variation corrupts training data and derails lead selection. Learn how automated transient CHO expression eliminates it at every process step.

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High-Throughput Antibody Production: A Guide to Workflows, Platforms, and Decision-Ready Data
Complete guide to High-Throughput Antibody Production: CHO-native workflow, developability screening, and decision-grade material in 4 weeks.

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HEK293 vs. CHO for HTP Antibody Expression: Impact on Glycosylation and Folding
Choosing an expression host defines an antibody’s biological signature. While HEK293 is often used for convenience, it introduces significant risks in glycosylation and folding. By aligning HTP screening with CHO-native standards from the start, discovery teams eliminate host-switch leads are truly ready for clinical…

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Transient vs. Stable Expression in High-Throughput Antibody Screening: When to Switch
The choice between transient and stable expression defines the pace and precision of an antibody program. While transient systems provide the agility for high-throughput screening, stable cell lines offer the consistency required for clinical manufacturing. Understanding the technical triggers for this switch is essential…

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Physical Validation at Scale: How HTP Supports AI-Designed Antibody Discovery
AI accelerates antibody discovery, but physical validation remains essential to bridge the gap between digital design and biological reality. High-Throughput (HTP) platforms enable a ‘lab-in-the-loop’ approach, providing the manufacturing-relevant CHO data needed to refine predictive models and ensure that AI-generated candidates are truly developable…

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Fail Fast, Succeed Faster: The Role of Early Developability Assessment
Shifting developability assessment to the early discovery phase represents a strategic opportunity to eliminate high risk candidates before significant investment. By utilizing CHO based expression from the very first screening you ensure that early data is truly predictive of manufacturing success. This proactive approach…

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Recombinant DNA technology – Steps, Methods & Examples
Recombinant technology is used in very different fields – from agriculture to medical research and disease therapy. Here’s everything you need to know on the technology.


