Advances in Parasitology

Cinzia Cantacessi is Professor of Parasite Infection Biology at the Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge (UK). Cinzia completed a Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine degree at the University of Bari (Italy) in 2006, and a PhD in Molecular Parasitology at The University of Melbourne (2011). In 2012, Cinzia received a Peter Doherty Early Career Research Fellowship by the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia to continue her research on the molecular bases of host-parasite interactions at the Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine at James Cook University in Cairns. In 2013, Cinzia relocated to the Cambridge Vet School where she continues her research on mechanisms of host-parasite interactions using cutting-edge molecular tools. Cinzia’s research focus is the study of the molecular interactions occurring at the host-parasite interface, and specifically the ability of helminth parasites to modify the structure and function of the host gut flora to their advantage, with a particular emphasis on gastrointestinal helminths of public health and veterinary significance. To date, Cinzia has authored or co-authored >140 publications in high-ranking, scientific journals in the field of Parasitology and beyond, and delivered several invited talks at national and international meetings worldwide.