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Lucia Baldi Unser

lucia.baldi@epfl.ch +41 21 693 55 62

Nationalité: Italian and Swiss

AVP-DLE-EDOC
CE 1 625 (Centre Est)
Station 1
1015 Lausanne

Expertise

Communication and events management; Web & communication; Management of academic institution; Gender equality in academia.
Past research activities: Recombinant protein production in mammalian cells by transient gene expression. Bioprocess optimisation and scale-up. Non-viral gene delivery for protein expression in mammalian cells. Stable cell lines development and selection strategies.
05/2022 - present
Project manager at VPA-ReO and EDOC
01/2021 - 04/2022 Deputy to the Associate VP for Research / Deputy to the Associate VP for Centers & Platforms, EPFL
06/2017 - 12/2020 Deputy to the Dean, School of Basic Sciences, EPFL
01/2015 - 11/2017 Lecturer/Communication and outreach manager at the School of Life Sciences, EPFL
04/1998 –- 03/2015: Research and Teaching Associate/Lecturer, Laboratory of Cellular Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences
01/1994 -– 07/1997: Visiting Fellow, Laboratory of Immunoregulation, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
1991 - 1994: Research Fellow, Laboratory of Pediatric Oncology, G. Gaslini Scientific Institute, Genova, Italy
1987 - 1990: Research Fellow, Clinical Immunology and Immunogenetics Dept., Nat. Inst. for Cancer Research, Genova, Italy

Formation

PhD (Board Certification)

| Clinical Immunology and Allergy

1994 – 1994 University of Genova, Italy, and NIAID, NIH, Bethesda MD, USA

MS, Biology

| Microbiology

1986 – 1986 University of Genova, Italy

Publications of the last years at EPFL

2018

Improved process conditions for increasing expression of MHC class II protein from a stable Drosophila S2 cell line

X. Shen; D. Dojcinovic; L. Baldi; D. Hacker; I. Luescher  et al.

BIOTECHNOLOGY LETTERS. 2018. DOI : 10.1007/s10529-017-2440-0.

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2016

A comparison of orbitally-shaken and stirred-tank bioreactors: pH modulation and bioreactor type affect CHO cell growth and protein glycosylation

D. T. Monteil; V. Juvet; J. Paz; M. Moniatte; L. Baldi  et al.

Biotechnology Progress. 2016. DOI : 10.1002/btpr.2328.

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User-Friendly Image-Based Segmentation and Analysis of Chromosomes

V. Uhlmann; R. Delgado-Gonzalo; M. Unser; P. Michel; L. Baldi  et al.

2016. p. 395-398. DOI : 10.1109/ISBI.2016.7493291.

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Comparison of Three Transposons for the Generation of Highly Productive Recombinant CHO Cell Pools and Cell Lines

S. Balasubramanian; Y. Rajendra; L. Baldi; D. L. Hacker; F. M. Wurm

Biotechnology And Bioengineering. 2016. DOI : 10.1002/bit.25888.

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Disposable orbitally shaken TubeSpin bioreactor 600 for Sf9 cell cultivation in suspension

D. T. Monteil; X. Shen; G. Tontodonati; L. Baldi; D. L. Hacker  et al.

Analytical Biochemistry. 2016. DOI : 10.1016/j.ab.2016.04.009.

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2015

Enhanced Plasmid DNA Utilization in Transiently Transfected CHO-DG44 Cells in the Presence of Polar Solvents

Y. Rajendra; S. Balasubramanian; D. Kiseljak; L. Baldi; F. M. Wurm  et al.

Biotechnology Progress. 2015. DOI : 10.1002/btpr.2152.

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A simple plasmid-based transient gene expression method using High Five cells

X. Shen; A. K. Pitol; V. Bachmann; D. L. Hacker; L. Baldi  et al.

Journal Of Biotechnology. 2015. DOI : 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2015.10.007.

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Transient Production of Recombinant Adeno-Associated Virus (AAV) Vectors for Gene Therapy Applications Using Suspension-Adapted HEK 293 Cells in Orbital Shaken Bioreactors

D. R. Blessing; M. Montavon; M. De Jesus; L. Baldi; B. Schneider  et al.

2015. 18th Annual Meeting of the American-Society-of-Gene-and-Cell-Therapy (ASGCT)'. p. S184-S185.

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Rapid recombinant protein production from piggyBac transposon-mediated stable CHO cell pools

S. Balasubramanian; M. Matasci; Z. Kadlecova; L. Baldi; D. L. Hacker  et al.

Journal of Biotechnology. 2015. DOI : 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2015.03.001.

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Transcriptional and post-transcriptional limitations of high-yielding, PEI-mediated transient transfection with CHO and HEK-293E cells

Y. Rajendra; D. Kiseljak; L. Baldi; F. M. Wurm; D. L. Hacker

Biotechnology Progress. 2015. DOI : 10.1002/btpr.2064.

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2014

Cell Compatible Arginine Containing Cationic Polymer: One-Pot Synthesis and Preliminary Biological Assessment

N. Zavradashvili; T. Memanishvili; N. Kupatadze; L. Baldi; X. Shen  et al.

2014. 1st International Conference on Infectious Diseases and Nanomedicine (ICIDN). p. 59-73. DOI : 10.1007/978-81-322-1777-0_5.

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Peptone Supplementation of Culture Medium Has Variable Effects on the Productivity of CHO Cells

F. Davami; L. Baldi; Y. Rajendra; F. M Wurm

International journal of molecular and cellular medicine. 2014.

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Arginine-Based Biodegradable Ether–Ester Polymers with Low Cytotoxicity as Potential Gene Carriers

T. Memanishvili; N. Zavradashvili; N. Kupatadze; D. Tugushi; M. Gverdtsiteli  et al.

Biomacromolecules. 2014. DOI : 10.1021/bm5005977.

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Virus-free transient protein production in Sf9 cells

X. Shen; D. L. Hacker; L. Baldi; F. M. Wurm

Journal Of Biotechnology. 2014. DOI : 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2013.11.018.

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2013

The optimization of a rapid low-cost alternative of large-scale medium sterilization

D. T. Monteil; C. A. Bürki; L. Baldi; D. L. Hacker; M. De Jesus  et al.

2013. 23rd European Society for Animal Cell Technology (ESACT) Meeting: Better Cells for Better Health, Lille, France, 23-26 June 2013. p. P45. DOI : 10.1186/1753-6561-7-S6-P45.

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Study of the improved Sf9 transient gene expression process

X. Shen; D. L. Hacker; L. Baldi; F. M. Wurm

2013. 23rd European Society for Animal Cell Technology (ESACT) Meeting: Better Cells for Better Health, Lille, France, 23-26 June 2013. p. P19. DOI : 10.1186/1753-6561-7-S6-P19.

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Polyethyleneimine-based transient gene expression processes for suspension-adapted HEK-293E and CHO-DG44 cells

D. L. Hacker; D. Kiseljak; Y. Rajendra; S. Thurnheer; L. Baldi  et al.

Protein Expression and Purification. 2013. DOI : 10.1016/j.pep.2013.09.001.

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High expression of the aspartate–glutamate carrier Aralar1 favors lactate consumption in CHO cell culture

F. Zagari; M. Stettler; L. Baldi; H. Broly; F. M. Wurm  et al.

Pharmaceutical Bioprocessing. 2013. DOI : 10.4155/pbp.13.5.

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Disposable 600-mL orbitally shaken bioreactor for mammalian cell cultivation in suspension

D. T. Monteil; G. Tontodonati; S. Ghimire; L. Baldi; D. L. Hacker  et al.

Biochemical Engineering Journal. 2013. DOI : 10.1016/j.bej.2013.04.008.

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Helical-Track Bioreactors for Bacterial, Mammalian and Insect Cell Cultures

S. Tissot; P. Michel; C. Douet; S. Grezet; L. Baldi  et al.

Processes. 2013. DOI : 10.3390/pr1010003.

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DNA delivery with hyperbranched polylysine: A comparative study with linear and dendritic polylysine

Z. Kadlecova; Y. Rajendra; M. Matasci; L. Baldi; D. L. Hacker  et al.

Journal of Controlled Release. 2013. DOI : 10.1016/j.jconrel.2013.01.019.

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2012

Comparative Study on the In Vitro Cytotoxicity of Linear, Dendritic, and Hyperbranched Polylysine Analogues

Z. Kadlecova; L. Baldi; D. Hacker; F. M. Wurm; H.-A. Klok

Biomacromolecules. 2012. DOI : 10.1021/bm300930j.

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A NanoDrop-based method for rapid determination of viability decline in suspension cultures of animal cells

P. O. Michel; C. Degen; M. Hubert; L. Baldi; D. L. Hacker  et al.

Analytical Biochemistry. 2012. DOI : 10.1016/j.ab.2012.08.028.

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Hyperbranched Polylysine: A Versatile, Biodegradable Transfection Agent for the Production of Recombinant Proteins by Transient Gene Expression and the Transfection of Primary Cells

Z. Kadlecova; Y. Rajendra; M. Matasci; D. Hacker; L. Baldi  et al.

Macromolecular Bioscience. 2012. DOI : 10.1002/mabi.201100519.

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Role of non-specific DNA in reducing coding DNA requirement for transient gene expression with CHO and HEK-293E cells

Y. Rajendra; D. Kiseljak; S. Manoli; L. Baldi; D. L. Hacker  et al.

Biotechnology and Bioengineering. 2012. DOI : 10.1002/bit.24494.

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Poly(ethyleneimine)-Mediated Large-Scale Transient Gene Expression: Influence of Molecular Weight, Polydispersity and N-Propionyl Groups

Z. Kadlecova; S. Nallet; D. L. Hacker; L. Baldi; H.-A. Klok  et al.

Macromolecular Bioscience. 2012. DOI : 10.1002/mabi.201100404.

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k(L)a as a predictor for successful probe-independent mammalian cell bioprocesses in orbitally shaken bioreactors

S. Tissot; P. O. Michel; D. L. Hacker; L. Baldi; M. D. Jesus  et al.

New biotechnology. 2012. DOI : 10.1016/j.nbt.2011.10.010.

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Reduced glutamine concentration improves protein production in growth-arrested CHO-DG44 and HEK-293E cells

Y. Rajendra; D. Kiseljak; L. Baldi; D. L. Hacker; F. M. Wurm

Biotechnology letters. 2012. DOI : 10.1007/s10529-011-0809-z.

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2011

Hydrodynamic stress in orbitally shaken bioreactors

S. Tissot; M. Reclari; S. Quinodoz; M. Dreyer; D. T. Monteil  et al.

2011. p. P39. DOI : 10.1186/1753-6561-5-S8-P39.

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Transient gene expression with CHO cells in conditioned medium: a study using TubeSpin® bioreactors

J. Pereira; Y. Rajendra; L. Baldi; D. L. Hacker; F. M. Wurm

2011. p. P38. DOI : 10.1186/1753-6561-5-S8-P38.

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Influence of glutamine on transient and stable recombinant protein production in CHO and HEK-293 cells

Y. Rajendra; D. Kiseljak; L. Baldi; D. L. Hacker; F. M. Wurm

2011. p. P35. DOI : 10.1186/1753-6561-5-S8-P35.

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Rapid recombinant protein production from pools of transposon-generated CHO cells

M. Matasci; V. Bachmann; L. Baldi; D. L. Hacker; M. De Jesus  et al.

2011. p. P34. DOI : 10.1186/1753-6561-5-S8-P34.

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The use of filler DNA for improved transfection and reduced DNA needs in transient gene expression with CHO and HEK cells

D. Kiseljak; Y. Rajendra; S. S. Manoli; L. Baldi; D. L. Hacker  et al.

2011. p. P33. DOI : 10.1186/1753-6561-5-S8-P33.

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Transposon mediated co-integration and co-expression of transgenes in CHO-DG44 cells

S. Balasubramanian; M. Matasci; L. Baldi; D. L. Hacker; F. M. Wurm

2011. p. P32. DOI : 10.1186/1753-6561-5-S8-P32.

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CHO cell lines generated by PiggyBac transposition

M. Matasci; V. Bachmann; L. Baldi; D. L. Hacker; M. De Jesus  et al.

2011. p. P31. DOI : 10.1186/1753-6561-5-S8-P31.

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Large-Scale Transfection of Mammalian Cells

L. Baldi; D. L. Hacker; C. Meerschman; F. M. Wurm

Protein Expression in Mammalian Cells; Humana Press, 2011. p. 13-26.

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The PiggyBac transposon enhances the frequency of CHO stable cell line generation and yields recombinant lines with superior productivity and stability

M. Matasci; L. Baldi; D. L. Hacker; F. M. Wurm

Biotechnology and Bioengineering. 2011. DOI : 10.1002/bit.23167.

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A simple high-yielding process for transient gene expression in CHO cells

Y. Rajendra; D. Kiseljak; L. Baldi; D. L. Hacker; F. M. Wurm

Journal of Biotechnology. 2011. DOI : 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2011.03.001.

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Efficient and reproducible mammalian cell bioprocesses without probes and controllers?

S. Tissot; A. Oberbek; M. Reclari; M. Dreyer; D. L. Hacker  et al.

New biotechnology. 2011. DOI : 10.1016/j.nbt.2011.02.004.

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TubeSpin bioreactor 50 for the high-density cultivation of Sf-9 insect cells in suspension

Q. Xie; P. O. Michel; L. Baldi; D. L. Hacker; X. Zhang  et al.

Biotechnology Letters. 2011. DOI : 10.1007/s10529-011-0527-6.

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2010

Innovative, Non-stirred Bioreactors in Scales from Milliliters up to 1000 Liters for Suspension Cultures of Cells using Disposable Bags and Containers – A Swiss Contribution

S. Werner; R. Eibl; C. Lettenbauer; M. Röll; D. Eibl  et al.

CHIMIA International Journal for Chemistry. 2010. DOI : 10.2533/chimia.2010.819.

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Valproic acid enhances recombinant mRNA and protein levels in transiently transfected Chinese hamster ovary cells

S. Wulhfard; L. Baldi; D. L. Hacker; F. Wurm

Journal of biotechnology. 2010. DOI : 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2010.05.003.

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Hyperosmolarity enhances transient recombinant protein yield in Chinese hamster ovary cells

X. Zhang; I. F. Garcia; L. Baldi; D. L. Hacker; F. M. Wurm

Biotechnology Letters. 2010. DOI : 10.1007/s10529-010-0331-8.

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2009

Transient Gene Expression in Mammalian Cells: Promises and Challenges for Medical Biotechnology

D. L. Hacker; L. Baldi; M. Adam; F. M. Wurm

Encyclopedia of Industrial Biotechnology: Bioprocess, Bioseparation, and Cell Technology; Hoboken, N.J: Wiley, 2009.

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Respiratory syncytial virus subunit vaccine based on a recombinant fusion protein expressed transiently in mammalian cells

S. Nallet; M. Amacker; N. Westerfeld; L. Baldi; I. König  et al.

Vaccine. 2009. DOI : 10.1016/j.vaccine.2009.06.019.

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2008

Recombinant therapeutic protein production in cultivated mammalian cells: current status and future prospects

M. Matasci; D. L. Hacker; L. Baldi; F. M. Wurm

Drug Discovery Today: Technologies. 2008. DOI : 10.1016/j.ddtec.2008.12.003.

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Sustained activation and tumor targeting of NKT cells using a CD1d-anti-HER2-scFv fusion protein induce antitumor effects in mice

K. Stirnemann; J. F. Romero; L. Baldi; B. Robert; V. Cesson  et al.

Journal of Clinical Investigation. 2008. DOI : 10.1172/JCI33249.

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2007

High-titer, serum-free production of adeno-associated virus vectors by polyethyleneimine-mediated plasmid transfection in mammalian suspension cells

M. Hildinger; L. Baldi; M. Stettler; F. M. Wurm

Biotechnology Letters. 2007. DOI : 10.1007/s10529-007-9441-3.

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Recombinant protein production by large-scale transient gene expression in mammalian cells : state of the art and future perspectives

L. Baldi; D. Hacker; M. Adam; F. Wurm

Biotechnology Letters. 2007. DOI : 10.1007/s10529-006-9297-y.

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Glass reflow on 3-dimensional micro-apertures for electrophysiological measurements on-chip

T. Lehnert; D. M. T. Nguyen; L. Baldi Unser; M. A. M. Gijs

Microfluidics and Nanofluidics. 2007. DOI : 10.1007/s10404-006-0111-x.

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2005

Transient gene expression in suspension HEK-293 cells: application to large-scale protein production

L. Baldi; N. Muller; S. Picasso; R. Jacquet; P. Girard  et al.

Biotechnology progress. 2005. DOI : 10.1021/bp049830x.

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2004

Natural anti-FcepsilonRIalpha autoantibodies may interfere with diagnostic tests for autoimmune urticaria

J. M. Pachlopnik; M. P. Horn; M. Fux; M. Dahinden; M. Mandallaz  et al.

J Autoimmun. 2004. DOI : 10.1016/j.jaut.2003.09.007.

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Specific recognition of the viral protein UL18 by CD85j/LIR-1/ILT2 on CD8+ T cells mediates the non-MHC-restricted lysis of human cytomegalovirus-infected cells

D. Saverino; F. Ghiotto; A. Merlo; S. Bruno; L. Battini  et al.

Journal of Immunology. 2004. DOI : 10.4049/jimmunol.172.9.5629.

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Reduction of adenovirus E1A mRNA by RNAi results in enhanced recombinant protein expression in transiently transfected HEK293 cells

D. L. Hacker; M. Bertschinger; L. Baldi; F. M. Wurm

Gene. 2004. DOI : 10.1016/j.gene.2004.06.054.

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2003

Transient gene expression in suspension HEK-293 cells: application to large-scale protein production

L. Baldi; R. Jacquet; S. Picasso; P. Tromba; E. Derow  et al.

2003. p. 365-367. DOI : 10.1007/1-4020-3103-3_71.

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2002

Transient gene expression: A novel mammalian cell-based technology for recombinant protein production. A historical and technical perspective

F. Wurm; L. Baldi; P. Girard; J. Lindell; F. Grosjean  et al.

2002. p. 83-88. DOI : 10.1007/978-94-017-0726-8_15.

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2001

Na+ is responsible for intra-run variations of specific productivity of CHO cell lines producing human anti RhD-IgG in bioreactors

M. De Jesus; L. Hunt; M. Bourgeois; L. Baldi; M. Jordan  et al.

2001. p. 193-196. DOI : 10.1007/978-94-010-0369-8_42.

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1999

The SPP biotech module 1: proteins for medical applications: a multidisciplinary effort for the development of a recombinant anti-RhD antibody preparation for the prevention of hemolytic disease of the newborn

H. Amstutz; S. Miescher; R. Moudry; S. Dejardin; M. Imboden  et al.

1999. 16th ESACT Meeting, Lugano, Switzerland, Apr. 25-29, 1999. p. 455-458. DOI : 10.1007/0-306-46875-1_96.

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