Education

• Postdoctoral Fellow and Visiting Scholar
  National Animal Disease Center (USDA-ARS), Ames, Iowa, USA; Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine, USA (2023-2025)
• Visiting Scientist
  National Animal Disease Center (USDA-ARS), Ames, Iowa, USA (2008-2010)
• Ph.D. in Cellular and Molecular Biology
  University of Nebraska and University of Nebraska Medical Center, USA (1994-1998)
  Dissertation: Regulation of Cellular Growth and Programmed Cell Death by the Mycotoxin Fumonisin B1
• M.S. in Veterinary Molecular Virology
  University of Nebraska-Lincoln, USA (1991-1994)
  Thesis: Persistence of Pseudorabies Virus in Non-Neural Tissues
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM)
  Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil (1983-1987)

Professional Responsibilities and Activities

Teaching

• Part-time Professor and advisor in the Graduate Program in Animal Health at the Federal Institute Catarinense (IFC), teaching virology-related courses and supervising master's and doctoral students.
• Former part-time professor and advisor at the University of the State of Santa Catarina (UDESC), teaching Molecular Cellular Biology and Molecular Virology.
• Invited lecturer at the University of Passo Fundo and advisor/evaluator for graduate programs in Brazil, Argentina, and Colombia.
• Mentored more than 60 undergraduate and graduate students from Brazil and other South American countries.

Research

• Senior Research Scientist at Embrapa Swine and Poultry from 1997 - 2026.
• Conducted research on animal virology, emerging infectious diseases, influenza viruses, zoonoses, diagnostics, vaccines, genomic characterization, disease surveillance and One Health.
• Principal Investigator or collaborator in 42 research projects, including major international initiatives involving USDA, WHO, FAO, WOAH, and global One Health networks.
• Secured more than US$20 million in research funding and directed multidisciplinary scientific teams.

Outreach, Extension, and Service

• General Director of Embrapa Swine and Poultry (2014-2021), leading strategic planning, innovation, technology transfer, and stakeholder engagement.
• Member of the One Health High-Level Expert Panel (OHHLEP), contributing to global health policy and One Health governance.
• Served on advisory committees for Brazil's Ministry of Health, Ministry of Agriculture, PAHO's South America One Health Network (SANO), and Embrapa's One Health Program.
• Led workshops, training programs, webinars, producer education activities, and technology transfer initiatives.
• Coordinated COVID-19 diagnostic efforts responsible for approximately 40,000 SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR tests during the pandemic.

Publications

Dr. Zanella has authored an extensive body of scholarly work, including:

• More than 90 peer-reviewed journal articles.
• Two books and 34 book chapters.
• More than 200 scientific abstracts and conference proceedings.
• H-index: 34.
• i10-index: 53.

Selected Publications

1. Adisasmito, W.B., et al. (2022). One Health: A New Definition for a Sustainable and Healthy Future. PLoS Pathogens.
2. Hayman, D.T.S., Koopmans, M.P.G., and Ciacci Zanella, J.R. (2024). The Panzootic Spread of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1 Sublineage 2.3.4.4b: A Critical Appraisal of One Health Preparedness and Prevention. The Lancet.
3. Behravesh, C.B., et al. (2024). An Integrated Inventory of One Health Tools: Mapping and Analysis of Globally Available Tools to Advance One Health. CABI One Health.
4. Ciacci Zanella, J.R., and Zanella, G.C. (2023). One Health Approach for the Surveillance of Novel Swine Viral Diseases. Ciência Animal Brasileira.
5. Perng, G., Jones, C., Ciacci Zanella, J.R., et al. (2000). Virus-Induced Neuronal Apoptosis Blocked by the Herpes Simplex Virus Latency-Associated Transcript. Science.

Awards and Honors

Dr. Zanella has received more than 30 national and international awards recognizing excellence in research, scientific leadership, and contributions to animal health.

Selected Honors

• Recognized among the 107 Most Influential Brazilian Scientists in Global Policy Decisions.
• ABRAVES Merit Award for Excellence in Swine Health Research (2023).
• Cláudia Magazine Award, Science Category (2017).
• Lauriston von Schmidt Merit Trophy, Brazilian Animal Protein Association (2015).
• Personality in Swine Research Award (2014).
• Best Researcher Award, PorkWorld/AnimalWorld (2010 and 2014).
• National Award for Excellence, Embrapa (2008).
• Young Investigator Award, American Association for Cancer Research, USA (1997).
• Overseas Honorable Researcher Award, Rural Development Administration, South Korea (2009).

Professional Interests

• Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Science education
• Animal health and production systems
• Veterinary diagnostics and vaccine development
• Animal virology and molecular epidemiology
• Influenza virus surveillance and control
• Biosecurity and biosurveillance
• Emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases
• One Health policy and implementation
• Zoonotic disease prevention and preparedness
• Pandemic preparedness
• Disease ecology and zoonotic spillover prevention
• Global health governance
• Precision livestock systems and digital disease surveillance
• Agricultural innovation and sustainability

Professional Society Memberships

• Federal Council of Veterinary Medicine (CRMV-SC)
• Brazilian Association of Swine Veterinarians (ABRAVES)
• International Pig Veterinary Society (IPVS)
• International Symposium on Emerging and Re-emerging Pig Diseases (ISERPD)
• Brazilian Virology Society (SBV)
• American Association of Swine Veterinarians (AASV)

Notable Distinctions

• Internationally recognized One Health expert and member of the One Health High-Level Expert Panel (OHHLEP) convened by WHO, FAO, WOAH, and UNEP.
• Represented Brazil in OFFLU's global expert group on swine influenza from 2011 to 2025.
• Former General Director of Embrapa Swine and Poultry, one of Brazil's leading agricultural research centers.
• Successfully managed multidisciplinary teams of more than 200 employees and secured over US$200 million in institutional funding during her leadership tenure.
• Authored influential One Health publications that have informed international policy, surveillance, and preparedness strategies.
• Developed more than 50 technologies, products, processes, and innovations supporting animal health and agricultural sustainability.
• Published research in leading international journals, including Science, The Lancet, PLoS Pathogens, One Health, and Journal of Virology.
• Widely recognized for contributions to veterinary virology, swine health, infectious disease surveillance, and One Health policy development.