Marta Giovanetti

My research is centered on investigating the patterns of gene flow in pathogen populations through the lens of the One Health approach, which integrates human, animal, and environmental health. By focusing on phylogenetics and phylogeography, I aim to understand the determinants of viral outbreaks and translate this information into public policy recommendations that address the complex interdependence between species and their environments. More specifically, my research addresses recent arboviral outbreaks in Latin America (Zika, Chikungunya, Dengue, Yellow Fever, and more recently SARS-CoV-2 in Brazil, Italy, and South Africa), combining genetic, spatial, and ecological data. I am particularly interested in the epidemiology and ecology of viruses within natural populations, and I employ a One Health perspective to develop and apply techniques that integrate viral genetic data with traditional clinical, demographic, and environmental information. After completing my PhD in molecular evolution of RNA viruses at the University of Rome Tor Vergata, I conducted fieldwork in Sierra Leone during the Ebola virus outbreak. This experience reinforced the critical importance of a holistic approach to disease outbreaks that considers zoonotic transmission pathways, the role of wildlife, and environmental factors. Following this, I started a postdoctoral position at the Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), where I focused on the evolution of arthropod-borne viruses. Currently, I am a Visiting Researcher at the Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ) and an Assistant Professor at the Department of Sciences and Technologies for Sustainable Development and One Health at Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Italy. In this role, I am responsible for the Microbiology course while conducting research on microbiome and virome composition. My work actively integrates One Health concepts, particularly in the genomic surveillance of emerging and re-emerging viral pathogens in Latin America, in collaboration with the PanAmerican Health Organization (PAHO/WHO). My research seeks to understand the drivers behind the introduction of these pathogens into new regions, including Italy and Europe, with a focus on the role of climate change, land use, and animal-human interaction in amplifying disease transmission. We have leveraged recent advances in virus nanopore sequencing (e.g., Faria et al., 2017, Nature; Quick et al., 2016, Nature; Faria et al., Science 2018; Giovanetti et al., Cell Report 2020; Giovanetti et al., Nature Microbiology 2022) to generate over 100,000 complete viral genomes from diverse regions in Brazil and Latin America. Furthermore, as part of CLIMADE (https://climade.health/), a global consortium we helped establish, our focus is on developing knowledge, surveillance tools, and interventions to mitigate the impact of climate- amplified diseases and epidemics under the One Health framework. My research combines real-time genome generation using nanopore sequencing with the analysis of large genetic datasets to reveal the origins and transmission dynamics of viral pathogens across humans, animals, and the environment, addressing critical public health challenges and highlighting the interconnectedness of health systems.