Staff Profile

I am a reproductive biologist interested in animal models to study reproductive and developmental biology issues. I joined Newcastle University in May 2015. I am member of the Society for Reproduction and Fertility (SRF) and Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (HEA).

Area of expertise

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology

Previous employment and academic visits

• 2011-2015: Postdoctoral Research Fellow. University of Southampton, UK
• 2005-2006: Part-time teacher. Autonomous University of Campeche (UAC), Mexico
• Jan-April 2002: Visiting research assistant. Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Sweden
• April-Nov 2000: Visiting research assistant. Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Sweden

Academic qualifications

• 2006-2010: PhD. Institute of Farm Animal Genetics- Friedrich Loeffler  Institute (FLI), University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover (TIHO), Germany.
• 2002-2004: MSc. University of Liverpool, UK.
• 1994-1999: Bachelor degree in Veterinary Medicine and Zootechny (MVZ). Autonomous University of Yucatan (UADY), Mexico.

SCOPUS: Click here.
ORCID: Click here.

My main research interest is reproductive biology with focus on environmental factors affecting oocyte developmental competence and preimplantation embryo development in mammalian species. My research also covers aspects of developmental programming (Developmental Origins of Health and Disease [DOHaD] concept. I’m interested in developing models addressing the long-term consequences (i.e. on postnatal life) of different maternal environments during intrauterine development. I work with in vitro and in vivo models and use a combination of physiological and molecular analytical tools. Some of the topics of my research include:

·         Metabolic hormones, growth factors and metabolites.

·         Aging

·         Malnutrition (i.e. undernutrition and overnutrition)

My research also involves a broad range of topics in assisted reproductive technologies (ART). This includes the application of reproductive biotechnologies in livestock species, especially cattle, and the development of tools for ART applications. I’m also interested in exploring the interactions between behaviour and reproductive function.

Google scholar link: https://scholar.google.co.uk/citations?hl=en&user=tSDgdkkAAAAJ&view_op=list_works&sortby=pubdate

NES1003: Animal Health

NES1004: Introduction to Animal Physiology (Module leader)

NES2007: Domestic Animal Reproduction and Genetic Improvement

NES3009: Reproduction in Farm and Companion Animals

• Articles

  • Gulliksen SM, Framstad T, Kielland C, Velazquez MA, Terøy MM, Helland EM, Lyngstad RH, Oropeza-Delgado AJ, Oropeza-Moe M. Infrared thermography as a possible technique for the estimation of parturition onset in sows. Porcine Health Management 2023, 9, 3.
  • Parra-Bracamonte GM, Lopez-Villalobos N, Velazquez MA, Parra-Bracamonte FE, Perales-Torres AL, Juarez Rendon KJ. Comparative analysis of risk factors for COVID-19 mortality before, during and after the vaccination programme in Mexico. Public Health 2023, 215, 94-99.
  • Khurana P, Smyth N, Sheth B, Velazquez MA, Eckert JJ, Fleming TP. Advanced maternal age perturbs mouse embryo development and alters the phenotype of derived embryonic stem cells. Journal of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease 2022, 13(3), 395-405.
  • Tinning H, Taylor A, Wang D, Constantinides B, Sutton R, Oikonomou G, Velazquez MA, Thompson P, Treumann A, O'Connell MJ, Forde N. The role of CAPG in molecular communication between the embryo and the uterine endometrium: Is its function conserved in species with different implantation strategies?. FASEB Journal 2020, 34(8), 11015-11029.
  • Aljahdali A, Airina RKRI, Velazquez MA, Sheth B, Wallen K, Osmond C, Watkins AJ, Eckert JJ, Smyth NR, Fleming TP. The duration of embryo culture after mouse IVF differentially affects cardiovascular and metabolic health in male offspring. Human Reproduction 2020, 35(11), 2497–2514.
  • Velazquez MA, Sheth B, Smith SJ, Eckert JJ, Osmond C, Fleming TP. Insulin and branched-chain amino acid depletion during mouse preimplantation embryo culture programmes body weight gain and raised blood pressure during early postnatal life. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Molecular Basis of Disease 2018, 1864(2), 590-600.
  • Vázquez-Armijo JF, Parra-Bracamonte GM, Velazquez MA, Sifuentes-Rincón AM, Tinoco-Jaramillo JS, Ambriz-Morales P, Arellano-Vera W, Moreno-Medina VR. Diversity and effective population size of four horse breeds from microsatellite DNA markers in South-Central Mexico. Archives Animal Breeding 2017, 60(2), 137-143.
  • Velazquez MA, Smith CGC, Smyth NR, Osmond C, Fleming TP. Advanced maternal age causes adverse programming of mouse blastocysts leading to altered growth and impaired cardiometabolic health in post-natal life. Human Reproduction 2016, 31(9), 1970-1980.
  • Sun C, Velazquez MA, Marfy-Smith S, Sheth B, Cox A, Johnston DA, Smyth N, Fleming TP. Mouse early extra-embryonic lineages activate compensatory endocytosis in response to poor maternal nutrition. Development 2014, 141(5), 1140-1150.
  • Oropeza A, Farfán C, Yusta A, Muro J, Velazquez MA, Marquez Y. In vitro embryo production in Carora dairy cattle. Gaceta de Ciencias Veterinarias 2014, 19(1), 23-30.
  • Shevchuk AI, Novak P, Velazquez MA, Fleming TP, Korchev YE. Combined ion conductance and fluorescence confocal microscopy for biological cell membrane transport studies. Journal of Optics 2013, 15(9), 094005.
  • Velazquez MA, Hadeler KG, Herrmann D, Kues WA, Rémy B, Beckers JF, Niemann H. In vivo oocyte IGF-1 priming increases inner cell mass proliferation of in vitro-formed bovine blastocysts. Theriogenology 2012, 78(3), 517-527.
  • Velazquez MA, Hermann D, Kues WA, Niemann H. Increased apoptosis in bovine blastocysts exposed to high levels of IGF1 is not associated with downregulation of the IGF1 receptor. Reproduction 2011, 141(1).
  • Velazquez MA, Hadeler KG, Herrmann D, Kues WA, Ulbrich SE, Meyer HH, Remy B, Beckers JF, Sauerwein H, Niemann H. In vivo oocyte developmental competence is reduced in lean but not in obese superovulated dairy cows after intraovarian administration of IGF1. Reproduction 2011, 142(1), 41-52.
  • Oropeza AJ, Rojas AF, Velazquez MA, Muro JD, Márquez YC, Vilanova LT. Efficiency of two timed artificial insemination protocols in Murrah buffaloes managed under a semi-intensive system in the tropics. Tropical Animal Health and Production 2010, 42(6), 1149-1154.
  • Zaraza J, Oropeza A, Velazquez MA, Korsawe K, Herrmann D, Carnwath JW, Niemann H. Developmental competence and mRNA expression of preimplantation in vitro-produced embryos from prepubertal and postpubertal cattle and their relationship with apoptosis after intraovarian administration of IGF-1. Theriogenology 2010, 74(1), 75-89.
  • Velazquez MA, Ortega-Pacheco A, Erales-Villamil JA, Segura-Correa JC, Torres-Acosta JF. Prediction of birth weight through measurements of heart girth and hoof circumference in dual-purpose calves. Gaceta de Ciencias Veterinarias 2006, 11(2), 83-87.
  • Velazquez MA, Newman M, Christie MF, Cripps PJ, Crowe MA, Smith RF, Dobson H. The usefulness of a single measurement of insulin-like growth factor-1 as a predictor of embryo yield and pregnancy rates in a bovine MOET program. Theriogenology 2005, 64(9), 1977-1994.

• Book Chapters

  • Fleming TP, Velazquez MA, Watkins AJ, Eckert JJ. Environmental Effects Impacting Preimplantation Development. In: Michael Skinner, ed. Encyclopedia of Reproduction. Academic Press, Elsevier, 2018, pp.459-464.
  • Velazquez MA, Sun C, Fleming TP. Parental Nutrition and Developmental Origins of Health and Disease. In: Cheryl S. Rosenfeld, ed. The Epigenome and Developmental Origins of Health and Disease. Academic Press, Elsevier, 2016, pp.89-102.
  • Eckert JJ, Velazquez MA, Fleming TP. Maternal obesity and programming of the early embryo. In: Lucy R, Green; Robert L. Hester, ed. Parental Obesity: Intergenerational Programming and Consequences. Springer, 2016, pp.81-103.
  • Sun C, Velazquez MA, Fleming TP. DOHaD and the Periconceptional Period, a Critical Window in Time. In: Cheryl S. Rosenfeld, ed. The Epigenome and Developmental Origins of Health and Disease. Elsevier, 2016, pp.33-47.
  • Eckert JJ, Velazquez MA, Fleming TP. Cell Signalling During Blastocyst Morphogenesis. In: Leese HJ, Brison D, ed. Cell Signalling During Mammalian Early Embryo Development. Springer, 2015, pp.1-21.
  • Velazquez MA, Fleming TP. Transgenerational risks by exposure in utero. In: Trounson A, Gosden R, Eichenlaub-Ritter U, ed. Biology and Pathology of the Oocyte, Role in Fertility, Medicine and Nuclear Reprograming. Cambridge University Press, 2013, pp.353-361.
  • Velazquez MA, Fleming TP. Maternal Diet, Oocyte Nutrition and Metabolism, and Offspring Health. In: Coticchio G, Albertini DF, De Santis L, ed. Oogenesis. Springer, 2013, pp.329-351.
  • Velazquez MA, Kues WA. In Vivo Gene Transfer in the Female Bovine: Potential Applications for Biomedical Research in Reproductive Sciences. In: Komorowska, MA and Olsztynska-Janus, S, ed. Biomedical Engineering, Trends, Research and Technologies. Rijeka, Croatia: INTECH, 2011, pp.217-244.

• Conference Proceedings (inc. Abstracts)

  • Faulkner A, Velazquez MA, Benham A, Okello E. Does low-level mycotoxin exposure affect bovine spermatozoa quality?. In: Fertility 2023 Joint conference of the Association of Reproductive & Clinical Scientists, the British Fertility Society, and the Society for Reproduction and Fertility. 2023, Belfast: Taylor and Francis.
  • Idriss A, Okello E, Sturmey R, Velazquez MA. Impact of exposure to high non-esterified fatty acids during in vitro fertilization on trimethylation of histone H3 at lysine 27 in bovine embryos. In: 19th International Congress on Animal Reproduction (ICAR). 2022, Bologna, Italy: International Congress on Animal Reproduction.
  • Idriss A, Bulmer D, Okello E, Sturmey R, Velazquez M. Exposure to high concentrations of non-esterified fatty acids impairs bovine sperm quality. In: 38th Hybrid Annual Meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE 2022). 2022, Milan, Italy: Oxford University Press.
  • Idriss A, Okello E, Roger S, Velazquez M. Effects of high non-esterified fatty acids exclusively during bovine in vitro fertilization on cell lineage allocation of blastocysts. In: 37th Virtual Annual Meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE). 2021, Online: Oxford University Press.
  • Tinning H, Wang D, Taylor A, Pullinger A, Sutton R, Oikonomou G, Velazquez M, Thompson P, Treuman A, O'Connell M, Forde N. Evolutionary conserved conceptus-derived proteins CAPG and P4HB elicit a transcriptionalresponse in human & bovine endometrial cells that may facilitate implantation. In: FERTILITY, joint conference of the Association of Reproductive & Clinical Scientists (ARCS), the British Fertility Society (BFS), and the Society for Reproduction and Fertility (SRF). Edinburgh, UK. 2020, Human Fertility, 23[1]:48, Taylor and Francis.
  • Idriss A, Edward O, Roger S, Velazquez M. Effects of high non-esterified fatty acids exclusively during in vitro fertilisation on levels of reactive oxygen species in bovine zygotes. In: FERTILITY, joint conference of the Association of Reproductive & Clinical Scientists (ARCS), the British Fertility Society (BFS), and the Society for Reproduction and Fertility (SRF). Edinburgh, UK. 2020, Human Fertility, 23[1]:72, Taylor and Francis.
  • Tinning H, Pullinger A, Sutton R, Oikonomou G, Velazquez M, Treuman A, Forde N. Conceptus-derived proteins, CAPG & P4HB, alter the transcriptome of bovine endometrial cells cultured in vitro to enhance the pregnancy recognition process. In: 52nd Society for the Study of Reproduction (SSR) Annual Meeting, San Jose, California, USA. 2019, P479, Abstract book.
  • Keefe O, Guy J, Butler G, Stewart G, Smith R, Velazquez M. Can infrared ocular thermography monitor growth in dairy calves?. In: XIII International Symposium on Ruminant Physiology. 2019, Leipzig, Germany: Advances in Animal Biosciences, 10[3]: 432. Cambridge University Press.
  • Dodd-Moore W, Butler G, Velazquez M. Can high immune response sires reduce disease in a small UK dairy herd?. In: XIII International Symposium on Ruminant Physiology. 2019, Leipzig, Germany: Advances in Animal Biosciences, 10[3]: 433. Cambridge University Press.
  • Velazquez M, Smith S, Eckert J, Fleming TP. Effect of branched-chain amino acid depletion on cell allocation of mouse blastocysts: a CDX2 expression approach. In: FERTILITY, joint conference of the Association of Reproductive & Clinical Scientists (ARCS), the British Fertility Society (BFS), and the Society for Reproduction and Fertility (SRF). Liverpool, UK. 2018, Human Fertility, 21[1]:64, Taylor and Francis.
  • Tinning H, Mayo L, Taylor A, Lucy MM, Oikonomu G, Velazquez MA, Treuman A, O'Connel MJ, Forde N. Conceptus-Derived Proteins with Conserved Sequences in Different Mammalian Species, Alter Expression of Candidate Mrnas in the Endometrium in Vitro, in a Species-Specific Manner. In: 51st Society for the Study of Reproduction (SSR) Annual Meeting, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. 2018, p 226, Abstract book.
  • Velazquez MA. Blastocysts from advanced maternal age mice and post-natal consequences. In: International Federation of Placenta Associations (IFPA) Meeting, Manchester, UK. 2017, Placenta 57:241-242, Elsevier.
  • Velazquez M, Hadeler KG, Ulbrich S, Sauerwein H, Heiner N. Leptin and insulin-like growth factor-1 concentrations are correlated in the uterine luminal fluid of superovulated dairy cows. In: 18th International Congress on Animal Reproduction (ICAR), Tours, France. 2016, Workshop: Embryo metabolism (W145), Abstract book.
  • Aljahdali A, Khalif I, Velazquez M, Sheth B, Smyth N, Fleming TP. Effect of In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) and Embryo Culture Duration on Mouse Development and Postnatal Health. In: 49th Society for the Study of Reproduction (SSR) Annual Meeting, San Diego, California, USA. 2016, p 112 Abstract book.
  • Aljahdali A, Khalif RAR, Velazquez MA, Sheth B, Smyth N, Fleming TP. The effect of IVF and embryo culture on mouse development and adult health. In: Society for Reproduction and Fertility (SRF) Annual Conference, Oxford, UK. 2015, Reproduction Abstracts 2:O008, Bioscientifica.
  • Khalif RIAR, Smyth N, Fleming TP, Velazquez MA, Sheth B, Smith S. The effect of vitrification on subsequent mouse embryo development and postnatal health. In: World Congress of Reproductive Biology (WCRB), Edinburgh, UK. 2014, Reproduction Abstracts 1: P095, Bioscientifica.
  • Velazquez MA, Sheth B, Marfy-Smith S, Eckert J, Fleming T. Insulin and branched-chain amino acid depletion during mouse in vitro preimplantation development alters postnatal growth and cardiovascular physiology. In: World Congress of Reproductive Biology (WCRB), Edinburgh, UK. 2014, Reproduction Abstracts 1: P096, Bioscientifica.

• Report

  • Velazquez M. Udder Health and Milk Composition, with Special Reference to Beef Cows: A Literature Review. Skara, Sweden: Department of Animal Environment and Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 2000. Specialarbete 11.

• Reviews

  • Gomez-Guzman JA, Parra-Bracamonte GM, Velazquez MA. Impact of Heat Stress on Oocyte Developmental Competence and Pre-Implantation Embryo Viability in Cattle. Animals 2024, 14(15), 2280.
  • Velazquez MA, Idriss A, Chavatte-Palmer P, Fleming TP. The mammalian preimplantation embryo: Its role in the environmental programming of postnatal health and performance. Animal Reproduction Science 2023, 256, 107321.
  • Velazquez MA. Nutritional Strategies to Promote Bovine Oocyte Quality for In Vitro Embryo Production: Do They Really Work?. Veterinary Sciences 2023, 10(10), 604.
  • Velazquez MA, Fleming TP, Watkins AJ. Periconceptional environment and the developmental origins of disease. Journal of Endocrinology 2019, 242(1), T33-T49.
  • Chavatte-Palmer P, Velazquez MA, Jammes H, Duranthon V. Review: Epigenetics, developmental programming and nutrition in herbivores. Animal 2018, 12(s2), s363-s371.
  • Fleming TP, Watkins AJ, Velazquez MA, Mathers JC, Prentice AM, Stephenson J, Barker M, Saffery R, Yajnik CS, Eckert JJ, Hanson MA, Forrester T, Gluckman PD, Godfrey KM. Origins of lifetime health around the time of conception: causes and consequences. The Lancet 2018, 391(10132), 1842-1852.
  • Velázquez MA. Impact of maternal overnutrition on the periconceptional period. Endocrinologia y Nutricion 2015, 62(5), 246-253.
  • Velazquez MA. Impact of maternal malnutrition during the periconceptional period on mammalian preimplantation embryo development. Domestic Animal Endocrinology 2015, 51, 27-45.
  • Fleming TP, Velazquez MA, Eckert JJ. Embryos, DOHaD and David Barker. Journal of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease 2015, 6(05), 377-383.
  • Fleming TP, Watkins AJ, Sun C, Velazquez MA, Smyth NR, Eckert JJ. Do little embryos make big decisions? How maternal dietary protein restriction can permanently change an embryo's potential, affecting adult health. Reproduction, Fertility and Development 2015, 27(4), 684-692.
  • Velazquez MA, Kues WA, Niemann H. Biomedical applications of ovarian transvaginal ultrasonography in cattle. Animal Biotechnology 2014, 25(4), 266-293.
  • Fleming TP, Velazquez MA, Eckert JJ, Lucas ES, Watkins AJ. Nutrition of females during the peri-conceptional period and effects on foetal programming and health of offspring. Animal Reproduction Science 2012, 130(3-4), 193-197.
  • Velazquez MA. The role of nutritional supplementation on the outcome of superovulation in cattle. Animal Reproduction Science 2011, 126(1-2).
  • Velazquez MA, Parrilla I, VanSoom A, Verberckmoes S, Kues W, Niemann H. Sampling techniques for oviductal and uterine luminal fluid in cattle. Theriogenology 2010, 73(6), 758-767.
  • Velazquez MA, Zaraza J, Oropeza A, Webb R, Niemann H. The role of IGF1 in the in vivo production of bovine embryos from superovulated donors. Reproduction 2009, 137(2), 161-180.
  • Velazquez MA, Spicer LJ, Wathes DC. The role of endocrine insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) in female bovine reproduction. Domestic Animal Endocrinology 2008, 35(4), 325-342.
  • Velazquez MA. Assisted reproductive technologies in cattle: Applications in livestock production, biomedical research and conservation biology. Annual Review of Biomedical Sciences 2008, 10, 36-62.
  • Velazquez MA, Oropeza A. Endocrine insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) as an indirect selection criterion in bovine progeny testing schemes. Gaceta de Ciencias Veterinarias 2007, 13(1), 4-10.
  • Velazquez MA, Nuñez H. Fracaso de la preñez y pérdidas neonatales en el gato doméstico (Felis catus) (Pregnancy failure and neonatal losses in the domestic cat (Felis catus)). Revista Veterinaria 2006, 17(2), 113-121.