Dr. Ari Meerson

A picture of Dr. Ari Meerson on a visit to a museum in Stockholm
Research Group Leader
PhD
Phone
972-54-6320771
972-4-6955014
Full CV (PDF)
microRNA; RNA; obesity; diabetes; cancer; gene expression; genomics
Research Interests:

The Meerson group studies the molecular and genomic basis of chronic diseases, with a special focus on the function of microRNAs, short RNA molecules that regulate gene expression and are involved in a variety of biological pathways.  Specifically, we are interested in:

1. MicroRNAs as a mechanistic link between metabolic disease, cancer, and other chronic diseases

2. Discovery of microRNA-based biomarkers of disease in body fluids

3. Transcriptomics of reproduction and development in vertebrates

4. Novel applications of Oxford Nanopore sequencing technology

 

CV

Education and Research:

2013-pres    MIGAL Galilee Research Institute, Kiryat Shmona, Israel. Head of Genomics lab.

2015-2022   University of Copenhagen, Denmark. Guest Researcher, BMI.

2009-2013   NIH/NIDDK (Phoenix), AZ, USA. Postdoctoral Fellow. 

2003-2008   Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel.  PhD program, Department of Biological Chemistry. PhD, 2009.

2001-2003   Feinberg Graduate School of the Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel. MSc program, Department of Molecular Cell Biology. MSc, 2004.

1999-2001   Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel. Faculty of Life Sciences. Honors Program. BSc 2002, cum laude, completed in 2 years; Dean’s list and scholarship.

 

Assay development:

2017-2021        Developed a qPCR-based genetic assay for establishing the sex of Russian sturgeon fish, for caviar aquaculture. The method is in commercial use by Caviar Galilee ltd. since 2021.

2017                 Developed a qRTPCR-based molecular assay for assessing maize late wilt disease (published)

 

Teaching and Mentoring:

2017-pres    Mentor to 1 PhD student, 4 MSc students, and 9 undergraduate students)

2017-pres    Tel Hai Academic College, Biotechnology Department. Teaching 6 courses: Developmental Genetics (starting 2017); microRNAs/RNA World (starting 2020); Evolution, and Molecular Genetics B (both starting 2021); Practical Workshop in Genomic Lab Methods, and Big Questions in the Life Sciences (both starting 2023). Approved for promotion to Senior Lecturer.

2018-pres    Tel Hai, Science Faculty. Supervisory committee member for 3 MSc students

2016-pres    Tel Hai, Excellence Center. Mentored 8 high school students

Scientific Publications

Transcriptome variation in banded newt (Ommatotriton vittatus) during its life cycle and habitat transition

Gad Degani , Ari Meerson
Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part D: Genomics and Proteomics
Volume 50, June 2024, 101203. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cbd.2024.101203
2024

Transcriptomic research in atherosclerosis: Unravelling plaque phenotype and overcoming methodological challenges

Miron Sopi ́c, Kanita Karaduzovic-Hadziabdic, Dimitris Kardassis, Lars Maegdefessel, Fabio Martelli, Ari Meerson, Jelena Munjas, Loredan S. Niculescu, Monika Stoll, Paolo Magni, Yvan Devaux, On behalf of CardioRNA COST Action CA17129 and AtheroNET COST Action CA21153
Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology Plus
2023

Inversely Regulated Inflammation-Related Processes Mediate Anxiety–Obesity Links in Zebrafish Larvae and Adults

H Yehuda, N Madrer, D Goldberg, H Soreq, A Meerson

Cells 12 (13), 1794
2023

Editorial: Molecular Links Between Metabolism and Neural Dysfunction

A Meerson, O Shahar, I Mor
Frontiers in Neuroscience 17, 963
2023

Cross-species conservation of a transposase-linked element enables genetic sexing of commercial populations of Russian sturgeon (Acipenser gueldenstaedtii)

Curzon AY, Shirak A, Meerson A, Degani G, Hurvitz A, Ben-Naim N, Domovitz R, Ron M and Seroussi E.
Animal Genetics. 2022;00:1–6
2022

Whole-genome inter-sex variation in Russian sturgeon (Acipenser gueldenstaedtii)

Degani G, Nevo M, Hajouj A, Hurvitz A, Veksler-Lublinsky I, Meerson A.
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(16), 9469
2022

Cross‐species conservation of a transposase‐linked element enables genetic sexing of commercial populations of Russian sturgeon (Acipenser gueldenstaedtii)

Arie Y Curzon, Andrey Shirak, Ari Meerson, Gad Degani, Avshalom Hurvitz, Naama Ben‐Naim, Roee Domovitz, Micha Ron, Eyal Seroussi 2022

Animal Genetics 53 (3), 441-446
2022

Whole-Genome Inter-Sex Variation in Russian Sturgeon (Acipenser gueldenstaedtii)

Gad Degani, Michal Nevo Sarel, Akram Hajouj, Avshalom Hurvitz, Isana Veksler-Lublinsky,
and Ari Meerson
International Journal of Molecular Sciences
2022

Markers of Genetic Variation in Blue Gourami (Trichogaster trichopterus) as a Model for Labyrinth Fish

Degani G, Veksler-Lublinsky I, Meerson A
Biology, 10(3), 228
2021

Flavonoids targeting cancer stem cells for augmenting cancer therapeutics.

Meerson A, Khatib S, Mahajna J.
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 22(23), 13044
2021

Markers of Genetic Variation in Blue Gourami (Trichogaster trichopterus) as a Model for Labyrinth Fish

G Degani, I Veksler-Lublinsky, A Meerson

Biology 10 (3), 228
2021

Flavonoids Targeting Cancer Stem Cells for Augmenting Cancer Therapeutics

A Meerson, S Khatib, J Mahajna

International Journal of Molecular Sciences 22 (23), 13044
2021

Leptin-Responsive MiR-4443 Is a Small Regulatory RNA Independent of the Canonic MicroRNA Biogenesis Pathway

Ari Meerson
2020

Sex differences in plasma microRNA biomarkers of early and complicated diabetes mellitus in Israeli Arab and Jewish patients.

Meerson A, Najjar A, Saad E, Sbeit W, Barhoum M, Assy N.
Non-coding RNA 2019 Volume 5 Issue 2 Pages 32
2019

Evaluating Azoxystrobin seed coating against maize late wilt disease using a sensitive qPCR-based method.

Degani O., Movshowitz D., Dor S., Meerson A., Goldblat Y., and Rabinovitz O.
Plant Disease 2019 Volume 103 Issue 2 Pages 238-248
2019

Sex-related gonadal gene expression differences in the Russian sturgeon (Acipenser gueldenstaedtii) grown in stable aquaculture conditions.

Degani G, Hurvitz A, Eliraz Y, Meerson A.
Animal Reproduction Sci. 2019 Volume 200 Pages 75-85
2019

MicroRNA-423 may regulate diabetic vasculopathy.

Blum A, Rohana H, Meerson A, Jabaly H, Nahul N, Celesh D, Romanenko O, Tamir S.
Clin Exp Med 2019 Pages 1-9
2019

Vitellogenesis in Blue Gourami is Accompanied by Brain Transcriptome Changes.

Degani, G., Alon, A. Hajouj, A. and Ari Meerson, A.
Fishes 2019 Volume 4 Issue 4 Pages 54
2019

Obesity impacts the regulation of miR-10b and its targets in primary breast tumors.

Meerson A, Eliraz Y, Yehuda H, Knight B, Crundwell M, Ferguson D, Lee BP, Harries LW.
BMC Cancer 2019 Volume 19 Issue 86
2019

Serum miR-122 levels correlate with diabetic retinopathy and high cardiovascular mortality rate.

Pastukh N, Meerson A, Kalish D, Jabaly H, Blum A.
Clinical and Experimental Medicine 2019 Volume Online ISSN 1591-9528 Pages 1-6
2019

Elevated Levels of miR-122 in Serum May Contribute to Improved Endothelial Function and Lower Oncologic Risk Following Bariatric Surgery

Arnon Blum, Hila Yehuda, Nissim Geron and Ari Meerson
Isr Med Assoc J 2017 Volume 19 Pages 620-624
2017

Assessment of 6 commercial plasma small RNA isolation kits using qRT-PCR and electrophoretic separation: higher recovery of microRNA following ultracentrifugation

Meerson A, Ploug T
Biology Methods & Protocols 2016
2016

Leptin and insulin up-regulate miR-4443 to suppress NCOA1 and TRAF4, and decrease the invasiveness of human colon cancer cells

Meerson A, Yehuda H
BMC Cancer 2016
2016

Human adipose microRNA-221 is up-regulated in obesity and affects fat metabolism downstream of leptin and TNFa

Meerson A, Traurig M, Ossowski V, Fleming JM, Mullins M, Baier LJ.
Diabetologia 2013 Volume 56 Issue 9 Pages 1971-9
2013

Altered aPKC signaling contributes to glioblastoma cell migration

Kusne Y, Meerson A, Rushing EJ, Yang W, Aldape K, McDonough W, Kislin K, Loftus JC, Berens M, Lu Z, and Ghosh S
Neuro-Oncology 2010 Volume 12 Issue 15
2010