The Harel Lab
Experimental biology of vertebrate aging and age-related diseases
Itamar Harel
The team
Why study aging?
We are all aging!
Aging is the primary risk factor for many human pathologies, including cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, and diabetes. Yet, understanding how organisms age remains one of the biggest challenges in biology.
Our Approach
How can we do it?
In the past 25 years, experiments in short-lived model systems (yeast, worms, and flies) have revolutionized the way we perceive aging – revealing that the aging rate itself can be manipulated by genetic and environmental interventions. However, the lack of short-lived vertebrate models for genetic studies has significantly limited our understanding of vertebrate aging, including the role of vertebrate-specific genes (e.g. IL8 and APOE), organs (e.g. bones and blood), and physiological processes (e.g. adaptive immunity).
To this end, we have developed a comprehensive genetic platform for rapid exploration of aging and disease in the shortest-lived vertebrate model, the African turquoise killifish, including a sequenced genome, CRISPR/Cas9-based genome editing, and mutant fish for many aging- and disease-relates genes.
(Check out our gallery of the killifish's natural habitat)
What are we interested in?
Taking advantage of this exciting platform, we are trying to answer fundamental questions in biology, such as 1) what is the molecular basis behind the outstanding diversity of lifespan between different animals (which can reach 500-fold difference among vertebrates); and 2) what separates disease from healthy aging? To explore these questions, we are developing a variety of disease models, as well as using cutting edge approaches (including single-cell technology, mass spectrometry, and genome-editing).
Ultimately, our research holds great promise for tackling one of the most fascinating questions in biology – how and why do we age?
Selected publications
Genetic perturbation of AMP biosynthesis extends lifespan and restores metabolic health in a naturally short-lived vertebrate,
Gwendoline Astre, Tehila Atlan, et al, Developmental Cell (2023)
The turquoise killifish
Itamar Harel, Nature Methods (2022)
A platform for rapid exploration of aging and diseases in a naturally short-lived vertebrate.
Itamar Harel et al, Cell (2015)
Where to find us
We are located at the Department of Genetics at the Institute of Life Sciences, surrounded by the beautiful Givat Ram campus at the the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (Israel)
Meet the Team
We are looking for highly motivated master/graduate students and postdocs.
PI
Dr. Itamar Harel
itamarh[at]mail.huji.ac.il
Itamar Harel, PhD
Research interests: Aging, disease, and development; quantitative genetics; molecular mechanisms driving homeostasis; Vertebrate-specific traits.
Education: BSc, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev; PhD, Weizmann Institute of Science; Postdoctoral, Stanford
Hometown: Beit Elazari, Israel
Favorite saying: "its just the universe, resisting, the closer you get to revealing its secrets"
Favorite activities outside the lab: Hiking, Running, Painting, and Cooking
Dream baymate: David Attenborough
Birthday: October 6th
Lab Manager
Dr. Adi Gottesman
adi.oron[at]mail.huji.ac.il
Adi Gottesman, PhD
Research interests: microbiology; disease; Aging; molecular Genetics.
Education: BSc, Hebrew University, Jerusalem; MSc and PhD: Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics
Hometown: Jerusalem, Israel
Favorite saying: "Be happy. It’s one way of being wise."
Favorite activities outside the lab: travelling, Reading, baking and going to the cinema
Dream baymate: Barbara McClintock
Birthday: June 22
Killifish Facility Manager
Reem Barakat
reem.barakat[at]mail.huji.ac.il
Reem Barakat
Research interests: Chemistry, Biochemistry
Education: BSc, Birziet University
Hometown: Jerusalem, Israel
Favorite saying: "Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less".
Favorite activities outside the lab: Writing, Reading, Painting and Hiking & walking in nature
Dream baymate: Marie Curie
Birthday: August 24th
PhD Student
Marva Bergman
bmarva[at]gmail.com
Marva Bergman, MD
Research interests: Fertility and Reprosuctive system
Education: Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School
Hometown: Jerusalem
Favorite saying: The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall
Favorite activities outside the lab: Running, sleeping and eating.
Dream baymate: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Birthday: April 30th
PhD Student,
Israel Ministry of Science and Technology fellow
Eitan Moses
eitan.moses[at]mail.huji.ac.il
Eitan Moses
Research interests: Aging, neural & physiological regulation and the relationship between them, and neurobiology.
Education: BSc, Hebrew University, Jerusalem
Hometown: Alon Shevut, Israel
Favorite saying: “Anything my dad says”
Favorite activities outside the lab: History podcasts, speculative fiction reading and writing, playing with the kids, Trivia.
Dream baymate: The greek goddess Hesychia
Birthday: July 12th (Tammuz 11th)
PostDoc
Walter-Benjamin DFG fellow
Mathias Diehl
Mathias.Diehl[at]outlook.de
Mathias Diehl, PhD
Research interests: Cell biology, ageing and aging-related diseases, cellular senescence, parasites.
Education: BSc and MSc Philipps-University Marburg, Dr. rer. nat. at Ruprecht-Karls-University Heidelberg
Hometown: Mörfelden (close to Frankfurt, Germany)
Favorite saying: “The room was filled with scientists* and twice as many opinions. (Adapted from Sir Terry Pratchett) *What applies to wizards also holds true for scientists.
Favorite activities outside the lab: Guitar, archery, gaming, virtual reality, reading
Dream baymate: Rick Sanchez
Birthday: September 24th
PostDoc
Czech Science Foundation fellow
Roman Franěk, PhD
Research interests:Reproductive biology and germ stem cells
Education:University of South Bohemia, Faculty of Fisheries and Protection of Water
Hometown: Vcelna (near Budweis), Czech Republic
Favorite saying: “If the problem can be solved why worry? If the problem cannot be solved, worrying will do you no good.”
Favorite activities outside the lab: Enjoying time with our dogs, travelling
Dream baymate: I already have my dream baymates 🙂
Birthday: July 11th
MSc Student
Renana Shapira
renana.shvimmer[at]mail.huji.ac.il
Renana Shapira
Research interests: Aging, metabolism and endocrinology
Education: BSc, Hebrew University, Rehovot
Hometown: Jerusalem, Israel
Favorite saying: "And the things will be simple and alive, and it is permitted to touch them, and permitted to love "(Leah Goldbeg) "
Favorite activities outside the lab: baking, hiking, Zumba
Dream baymate: Naomi Shemer
Birthday: Tishrei 27th (Oct 16th)
PhD Student
Tehila Atlan
tehila.atlan[at]mail.huji.ac.il
Tehila Atlan
Research interests: Aging, Brain, Cellular senescence, Microbiome, Genetics.
Education: BSc, Jerusalem College of Technology
Hometown: Beit El, Israel
Favorite saying: A comfort zone is a beautiful place, but nothing ever grows there
Favorite activities outside the lab: swinging, running, reading and diving
Dream baymate: David Eagleman
Birthday: September 19th
MSc Student
Omer Ben Dor
Research interests: Aging, Molecular biology, Genetics, Mitochondrial biology, Metabolism
Education: Current - BSc, Hebrew University, Jerusalem
Hometown: Ramat HaSharon, Israel
Favorite saying: “By trying there is a chance to succeed. without it the chance is lower…”.
Favorite activities outside the lab: Hiking and tracking, Boulder climbing, Board games.
Dream baymate: Aristotle
Birthday: April 28th
Animal model
