Dr. Ari Meerson

MicroRNAs and the Mechanisms of Diseases

Research Group Leader

PhD

Phone

972-54-6320771

972-4-6955022

972-4-6944980

arim@migal.org.il

microRNA; RNA; obesity; diabetes; cancer; gene expression

Research Interests:

We study the molecular basis of chronic diseases, focusing on the function of microRNAs, short RNA molecules that regulate gene expression and are involved in a variety of biological pathways. MicroRNAs may act as a functional link between different chronic diseases, and hold promise as potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Specifically, we are interested in:

1. MicroRNAs as a mechanistic link between metabolic disease and cancer

2. Discovery of microRNA-based biomarkers in body fluids

We study the molecular basis of chronic diseases, focusing on the function of microRNAs.

Education

Ph.D. 2009, Department of Biological Chemistry Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel.
M.Sc. 2004, Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Feinberg Graduate School of the Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel.

Academic and research positions

2013-present, Head of Molecular Biology of Chronic Diseases laboratory, Migal
2017-present, Tel Chai Academic College, Kiryat Shmona. Developmental Genetics course (plan)
2015-present, University of Copenhagen, Denmark. Visiting Researcher
2009-2013, Postdoctoral Fellow at NIH/NIDDK (Phoenix), Arizona, USA

Honors and awards

2015-2017, Type 2 diabetes research grant, D-Cure/CSO-MOH
2013-2015, Gesher Award, Israel Cancer Research Fund/MOST
2015, Visiting Professorship, Danish Diabetes Academy (Novo Nordisk Foundation)
2014, Travel Award, The Daniel Turnberg UK/Middle East Travel Fellowship Scheme
2013, Travel Award, Copenhagen Bioscience Conferences (Novo Nordisk Foundation)
2011, NIDDK Nancy Nossal Fellowship Award (intramural grant competition)

Scientific Publications

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

Ari Meerson

Scientific Publications

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

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

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

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

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

MicroRNA-423 may regulate diabetic vasculopathy.

Vitellogenesis in Blue Gourami is Accompanied by Brain Transcriptome Changes.

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

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

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

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

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

Changes in brain MicroRNAs contribute to cholinergic stress reactions

Altered aPKC signaling contributes to glioblastoma cell migration

MicroRNA-132 Potentiates Cholinergic Anti-Inflammatory Signaling by Targeting Acetylcholinesterase

MicroRNA-132 regulates brain to body anti-inflammatory signaling

Regulation of Alternative Splicing by Psychological Stress

MicroRNA modulation of megakaryoblast fate involves cholinergic signaling

Modulation of N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor activity upon amino acid deprivation

p53 mediates density-dependent growth arrest

Prolonged Culture of Telomerase-Immortalized Human Fibroblasts Leads to a Premalignant Phenotype