Institute Director: Prof. Ohad Birk
Genetic diseases are common among the various ethnic Jewish communities found in the Negev and in the Bedouin community with increased consanguineous marriages. The Genetics Institute is tackling these often life threatening challenges head-on with research and diagnostic work as well as genetic counseling.
The Genetics Research Lab has deciphered the molecular basis and mechanisms of more than 50 human diseases, including some of the most prevalent and serious hereditary diseases of Arabs and Jews.
Our team also implements their scientific findings in widescale, far-reaching carrier testing programs that have led to a 30% reduction in the infant mortality rate in the Bedouin community and the near-eradication of two of the hereditary diseases most common among Jews of Moroccan and Iraqi origin.
With the advent of new technologies that enable more rapid and less costly genome sequencing, once unique new genes are identified, they can immediately be used in pre-pregnancy screening in target populations. This means that diseases that place a tremendous burden on patients and their families are being eliminated by our scientists and clinicians on a regular basis.
