Prof. Karen Avraham

Human Molecular Genetics Biochemistry
Medicine Dean & Assoc. Deans

 

Positions:

Professor, Department of Human Molecular Genetics & Biochemistry, Sackler Faculty of Medicine

Vice Dean for Preclinical Affairs, Sackler Faculty of Medicine

Scientific Board Member, I-CORE for Gene Regulation in Complex Human Disease

President, Federation of the Israel Societies for Experimental Biology (ILANIT)

President, Israel Society of Auditory Research

Associate Editor, European Journal of Human Genetics

 

Research Interests:

Genomic Analysis of Hereditary Hearing Loss

Our primary interest is the genetic basis of hereditary hearing loss or deafness. Our group is working towards the identification, characterization and regulation of genes associated with hereditary hearing loss. For gene discovery, we focus on the Israeli Jewish and Palestinian Arab populations in the Middle East. Our studies have encompassed the prevalence of connexin 26 mutations in these populations, the most common form of deafness, to the identification of mutations in over 30 genes, since this is a genetically heterogeneous disease. We are employing deep sequencing, also known as massively parallel sequencing, to identify mutations using the latest genomic technology.

 

Our work has provided the link between gene discovery and clinical diagnosis in genetic clinics in medical centers throughout Israel. In addition, we have studied the auditory and vestibular systems of a dozen mouse mutants, focusing on mutation identification, morphological and functional analysis of the organ of Corti and its cells, and behavioral analysis of hearing and balance disorders. This has allowed us to define the pathways leading to deafness in mouse models for human deafness. Most recently, we have demonstrated that microRNAs are essential for development and function of inner ear hair cells in vertebrates through microRNA expression, mouse mutants and target identification.

 

Contact:

Phone: +972-3-6407030 or 6406642

Email: karena@tauex.tau.ac.il

Tel Aviv University makes every effort to respect copyright. If you own copyright to the content contained
here and / or the use of such content is in your opinion infringing, Contact us as soon as possible >>