Mattia Poletto, PhD, spearheads Oxitec’s strategic initiatives and partnerships across global programs. With over a decade of experience as a molecular biologist, he initially focused on DNA integrity and translational research in academic settings before transitioning to genetic engineering at Oxitec. In his previous role as Global Portfolio Manager at Oxitec, he played a key role in the development and early implementation of self-limiting technology in agricultural pests, including the company’s first non-insect species, the Asian blue tick.

Since joining Oxitec in 2017, Mattia has been instrumental in the development and regulatory approval of multiple self-limiting insect products. He contributed to the regulatory approvals for field trials of Oxitec’s Friendly™ Aedes aegypti (OX5034) and led strain characterization efforts supporting the commercial approval of Oxitec’s self-limiting fall armyworm in Brazil and other regions. More recently, he supported the establishment of Oxitec’s tick-focused team in Roslin, launching the company’s first R&D outpost in Scotland.

Mattia lives in Italy with his family and enjoys trail running in his spare time.