School of Human Sciences staff profiles content store_hidden Liani Gasparini Devito Our staff

Dr. Liani Devito is a Senior Lecturer in Biosciences at London Metropolitan University, bringing a multidisciplinary background that combines veterinary medicine, molecular and cell biology, and stem cell research. Originally from Brazil, she holds a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree and an MSc in Animal Reproduction from UNESP, where her focus was on animal cloning and assisted reproduction techniques.

With over 13 years of research and teaching experience in the U.K., Liani specialises in human in vitro models, induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) reprogramming, gene editing, and differentiation. She has generated more than 40 human pluripotent stem cell (PSC) lines, both induced and embryonic. Liani is passionate about advancing scientific knowledge through research, mentorship, and inclusive pedagogy. She has authored 28 peer-reviewed publications and actively participates in scientific networks, including CorEuStem.

Liani earned her MSc in Biomedical and Molecular Science Research and a PhD in Gene, Cell, and Tissue Therapy from King’s College London. She holds multiple certifications in clinical research, Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) training, and health and safety management. Additionally, she is a graduate of the Herschel Programme for Women in Technical Leadership.

Dr. Liani teaches at all levels in the Biosciences, particularly Molecular Biology. She is the module instructor for a wide range of modules at the School of Human Sciences.

• Veterinary Medicine & Animal Reproduction (Cloning & Assisted Reproduction)
• Molecular & Cell Biology
• Stem Cell Research (iPSC Reprogramming, Gene Editing, Differentiation)
• Research Design & Implementation
• Student Mentorship & Inclusive Pedagogy
• Scientific Communication & Networking

1. Generation of TWO iPSC lines (CRICKi009-A; CRICKi010-A) from patients with type 1 von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) and histopathologically confirmed renal cell carcinoma (RCC) Stem Cell Research 2024-12 | journal-article DOI: 10.1016/j.scr.2024.103611
2. Generation of TWO G51D SNCA missense mutation iPSC lines (CRICKi011-A, CRICKi012-A) from two individuals at risk of Parkinson’s disease Stem Cell Research 2023-09 | journal-article DOI: 10.1016/j.scr.2023.103134
3. Generation of an MTM1-mutant iPSC line (CRICKi008-A) from an individual with X-linked myotubular myopathy (XLMTM) Stem Cell Research 2023-06 | journal-article DOI: 10.1016/j.scr.2023.103079
4. Generation of FOUR iPSC lines (CRICKi004-A; CRICKi005-A; CRICKi006-A, CRICKi007-A) from Spinal muscle atrophy patients with lower extremity dominant (SMALED) phenotype. Stem cell research 2022-10-28 | journal-article PMID: 36332468DOI: 10.1016/j.scr.2022.102954
5. Generation of an iPSC line (CRICKi001-A) from an individual with a germline SMARCA4 missense mutation and autism spectrum disorder. Stem cell research 2021-03-20 | journal-article PMID: 33799280PMC: PMC8164104DOI: 10.1016/j.scr.2021.102304
6. IGF1-mediated human embryonic stem cell self-renewal recapitulates the embryonic niche. Nature communications 2020-02-07 | journal-article PMID: 32034154PMC: PMC7005693DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-14629-x
7. Effects of thyroid hormone on mitochondria and metabolism of human preimplantation embryos. Stem cells (Dayton, Ohio) 2019-12-26 | journal-article PMID: 31778245PMC: PMC7064942DOI: 10.1002/stem.3129
8. Induced pluripotent stem cell line heterozygous for p.R501X mutation in filaggrin: KCLi003-A. Stem cell research 2019-08-07 | journal-article PMID: 31408836DOI: 10.1016/j.scr.2019.101527
9. Induced pluripotent stem cell line heterozygous for p.R2447X mutation in filaggrin: KCLi002-A. Stem cell research 2019-05-13 | journal-article PMID: 31103941DOI: 10.1016/j.scr.2019.101462
10. Comparison of human isogeneic Wharton's jelly MSCs and iPSC-derived MSCs reveals differentiation-dependent metabolic responses to IFNG stimulation. Cell death & disease 2019-03-20 | journal-article PMID: 30894508PMC: PMC6426992DOI: 10.1038/s41419-019-1498-0
11. Induced pluripotent stem cell line from an atopic dermatitis patient heterozygous for c.2282del4 mutation in filaggrin: KCLi001-A. Stem cell research 2018-07-25 | journal-article PMID: 30075366PMC: PMC7514110DOI: 10.1016/j.scr.2018.07.014
12. Erratum: Pluripotent state transitions coordinate morphogenesis in mouse and human embryos. Nature 2018-02-01 | journal-article PMID: 29493594DOI: 10.1038/nature25995
13. Pluripotent state transitions coordinate morphogenesis in mouse and human embryos. Nature 2017-11-29 | journal-article PMID: 29186120PMC: PMC5768241DOI: 10.1038/nature24675
14. Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Differentiation and Three-Dimensional Tissue Formation Attenuate Clonal Epigenetic Differences in Trichohyalin. Stem cells and development 2016-08-30 | journal-article PMID: 27460132PMC: PMC5035378DOI: 10.1089/scd.2016.0156
15. Self-organization of the human embryo in the absence of maternal tissues. Nature cell biology 2016-05-04 | journal-article PMID: 27144686PMC: PMC5049689DOI: 10.1038/ncb3347
16. Generation of KCL018 research grade human embryonic stem cell line carrying a mutation in the DMPK gene. Stem cell research 2016-01-15 | journal-article PMID: 27346000PMC: PMC4823665DOI: 10.1016/j.scr.2016.01.004
17. Generation of KCL033 clinical grade human embryonic stem cell line. Stem cell research 2016-01-15 | journal-article PMID: 27345988PMC: PMC4823760DOI: 10.1016/j.scr.2015.12.047
18. Generation of KCL034 clinical grade human Stem cell research 2016-01-03 | journal-article PMID: 27345810PMC: PMC4757774DOI: 10.1016/j.scr.2015.12.034
19. Generation of KCL039 clinical grade human embryonic stem cell line. Stem cell research 2016-01-03 | journal-article PMID: 27345806PMC: PMC4757724DOI: 10.1016/j.scr.2015.12.036

Dr Liani Devito
Senior Lecturer Biosciences (Molecular Biology)

l.devito@londonmet.ac.uk