The Lautenberg center for immunology and cancer research
Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada (IMRIC), Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem
POB 12272, Jerusalem 91120, Israel
Tel: 972-2-6757725
Fax: 972-2-6430834
What drove me to choose this lab?
The publications and objectives of Supervisor’s research
My research
Role of WWOX in Brain Development and Neurodegenerative diseases
My first publication is in Brain Journal and the other one in revision.
A first impression I got when I arrived or a thing I remember from my beginnings in the lab
Everything here is more developed and advanced compared to what I was used to, I was nervous but everyone helped along.
A memorable event we had as a lab
Our lab own the prize in the departmental tomato contest. All the lab members had a dinner with that prize.
In five years I will be…
I would like to be a good neuroscientist and make my impact on better treatment for the neurological disorders
What drove me to choose this lab?
The research field of Aqeilan lab is very attractive. Investigating the molecular mechanism of cancer development is a great interest for me. In addition to the good reputation of Aqeilan lab having a great supervisor and a cooperative team
My research project is:
Dissecting the Early Molecular Events of Osteosarcomagenesis
A funny thing in our lab
Each one of our lab members has his/her special place in creating a happy and fruitful environment, especially with lab members from different cultures.
A first impression I had when I arrived
A positive and initiative environment with a cooperative team, believing that the success of each one of us is a success of all the Aqeilan lab family.
A memorable event we had as a lab
Celebrating the success of our lab members publications is an incentive event prompting for more and more achievements.
In five years I will be…
A Researcher continuing our research journey, and go more steps further in the early diagnosis of cancer and help saving the lives of cancer patients.
What drove me to choose this lab?
I was actually a happy accident – I was on my first year of medical school and I was just studying immunology, so I looked for a lab in the immunology department. The first lab on the list was Rami, and his research topics sounded so interesting, I forgot all about the original reason.
My research project is
I study developmental and epileptic encephalopathies using patient-derived human brain organoids, with an emphasis on diseases related to the WWOX gene. This basically means I use cells from children with these diseases to create a miniturized version of their brain to study their developed and the diseases.
My first paper is being published these days in EMBO Molecular Medicine. The journal is open access, so feel free to check it out! https://www.embopress.org/doi/10.15252/emmm.202013610
A first impression I got when I arrived
The first thing I remember was feeling overwhelmed – I couldn’t imagine how all these students do such complex experiments and how do they even understand them. Now I see that little by little – everyone that wants can do it.
A memorable event we had as a lab
At our last departmental retreat we all went kayaking, and our lab was split between two boates. To keep a long story short – it’s funny to have a water fight with graduate students, but it is even funnier getting splashed by your professor.
A funny thing in our lab is that although our lab is in the immunology and cancer research department, my field of research is neurological diseases in children. And this is not just me – our research topics are so diverse… let’s just say that the confused looks on the department members faces every time we present are work are priceless.
In five years I will be...As I am in the academic reserve, the future is “non negotiable” :)
What drove me to choose this lab?
I found Rami’s lab during the second year in my bachelor’s degree, when I was searching for a lab in the cancer research field to hire me per hour. Once I was involved enough to start working on my own project and integrating into the lab’s environment, the choice to stay was easy.
My research project is:
We are utilizing BLISS, a sequencing method for mapping sites of DNA double strand breaks across the genome, to learn about changes in the DSB pattern across normal breast, pre-malignant and breast cancer samples. Identifying these changes might allow us to uncover potential biomarkers for earlier detection and prediction of prognosis in breast cancer, which is relevant for more specific therapy and prevention strategies.
A funny thing in our lab is
whenever there’s a birthday or celebration in the lab, we always buy the exact same cake from Roladin. It’s become a standing joke that the person going to the store doesn’t have to ask what everyone wants to buy, the answer is obvious…..
A first impression I had when I arrived
I remember how welcome everyone made me feel. Despite the fact that I was much younger than everyone and still in my bachelor’s, people made an effort to include me in conversations about life and about science.
A memorable event we had as a lab
Winning the tomato competition, of course! A few years ago, the department held a tomato growing competition among the labs and with combined efforts from the team, our lab came in 1st! We used the prize money on a lab outing to a fancy restaurant which doubled as a sendoff dinner for one of finishing PhD students.
In five years I will be…
The door is currently open to many possibilities. I hope that whatever my role is, it will be making an impact on the scientific and medical field.
What drove me to choose this lab?
In my Bachelor’s degree I was looking for a lab in the cancer research field. I liked Rami’s way of thinking in the cancer course I took with him that year, he was looking for students, and I got lucky to start in his lab. The great team work and the support of our lab members and our PI got me to stay for PhD
My research project is:
The role of WWOX in antagonizing skin squamous cell carcinoma
A funny thing in our lab
Me 🙂
Always trying to keep up a funny and joyful vibe in our lab even in very serious lab meetings.
A first impression I had when I arrived
In our previous lab at the pharmacy school, we had a small space for so many lab members, barely enough space to put our bags.
But everyone got along anyway, we had a nice and supportive environment, and It might even got us closer together.
A memorable event we had as a lab
We traveled around a spring in the area, and on the way to the spring we had running competitions and climbed trees, releasing our inner child behaviour around the beautiful forest landscape of Ein Karem
In five years I will be…
Nobel prize winner:)
But really- I haven’t decided yet if to continue in academic or industrial career, but I wish to stay in cancer research, trying to help find a cure.
What drove me to choose this lab?
It was an unforgettable accident. I was working as a teacher and I decided to continue my higher education. I was interviewed by another researcher the same day……and I got accepted. However, while leaving the pharmacy department I passed to say hi to Rami as I knew him from the Palestinian Forum For Medical Research. We started talking and he asked me why not to join his lab……..I felt very amused by the kind of science he is doing and I decided to join Rami’s lab at the end. I will never regret it !!!!!!
My research project is
currently, I am working on DNA Damage Response under replication stress. Simply, the DNA or genetic material inside our cells is subjected to a lot of stressful events that could lead to genomic instability. This instability or damage is usually corrected by the DNA Damage Response machinery.
My research focuses on studying common fragile regions within the DNA that are more prone to such events and that are usually corrected very late, even during or after cell division.
Interestingly, we found that most of those genetically unstable regions, that are frequently bypassed by the DNA Damage Response machinery reside in genes related to neurological functions.
Our major aim is to try to understand the correlation between the fragility of those regions and human Neurodevelopment.
A first impression I got when I arrived to the lab
When I started, I felt very amazed by the hard techniques students are doing. I felt like they are catching stars. Moreover, they used to spend long working hours to complete a single experiment. I felt this is impossible. Now I am one of those…….you can imagine the rest!!!
A memorable event we had as a lab
This year…I attended the departmental retreat where all students gather to present their own research projects. It was my first retreat and I was pleased to get to know closely all those people who are working constantly around me.
A funny thing in our lab is
Jokes…..People at our lab are very good at telling jokes and entertaining.
In five years I will be…
I hope I will be a Doctor……(PhD) degree holder……:D
What drove me to choose this lab?
The love of the Immunology and Cancer research feild
I am currently working on understanding the role of our beloved gene WWOX in one of the neurological disorders which is Multiple Sclerosis
The first time I met my lab mates, I came to attend a lab meeting where one of the students was presenting her project, when I met them all for the first time I felt a relief because they were so kind and helpful and this is one of the reasons why I have decided to continue.
A memorable event we had as a lab
The kayak trip in the department retreat
I think that we are the funny thing in the lab, the energy and the atmosphere we create in the lab changes our moods and drive us forward to work hard
In five years I believe I will be in my last semester of PhD studies or maybe I will be working in one of the companies or in a research lab doing some science
What drove me to choose this lab?
The subjects our lab is working on were very interesting to me.
My research project is
investigating transcription-associated DSBs in breast cancer cells, how and why they are formed, and how they are resolved.
A funny thing in our lab
Randa 😜, also everyone in the department has a very nice sense of tumor….. I mean humor.
A first impression I had when I arrived
People were very loving and willing to help when I needed. I also really liked the landscape around the campus, especially in spring.
A memorable event we had as a lab
The retreat was a very fun and educating event, especially after a hard corona year.
In five years I will be…
in five years I hope I will be finishing my PhD degree, having publications in high-impact journals to continue to add to our knowledge, and to make a difference in the world.
What drove me to choose this lab?
In my Bachelors, I worked in the Aqeilan Lab for a summer scholarship. This experience helped me to understand how working in the lab looks like. I had the opportunity to hear from the students about their projects and results during the lab meetings, then I made my decision to be one of this amazing team.
My research project is:
Modelling childhood early onset epilepsy caused by WWOX deficiency, known as WOREE syndrome.
A funny thing in our lab
Although we work hard during the day, we have time for fun. Each one has his characters, and the mix makes a happy environment.
A first impression I had when I arrived
The students here were very kind and helpful, they care about each other as a family.
A memorable event we had as a lab
As a team, we celebrate everything together so there is a lot to remember. One of the most memorable events was when we went to Sataf earlier this year and had our breakfast with a beautiful view.
In five years I will be…
I would like to keep improving myself, building up my experience and knowledge.
What drove me to choose this lab?
I know cancer on a personal level, I have learned a bit about it during the journey of a close friend. I’m convinced that the treatments and the detection could be improved, which is what led me to choose cancer research.
My research project is
I take part in two projects. In the main one, we aim to understand the molecular mechanism of ITCH functions in skin carcinogenesis, while in the other project, we investigate the functional interplay between tumor suppressors WWOX and BRCA1 in breast cancer development.
A funny thing in our lab
Aside from the hard work and dedication, we enjoy having fun during and after work hours. This helps us be more productive and tightens the bond between us.
A first impression I had when I arrived
I couldn’t have achieved success without my colleagues’ support and help. They have an influence on my work, and are helping me become a better and more skilled researcher. I couldn’t miss that first impression during my first days in the lab.
In five years I will be…
In five years, I want to see myself applying my knowledge and skills productively to promote science. I would like to be in a position that inspires others to achieve their own educational goals, I’m sure that this will allow me to learn and grow.
A first impression I got when I arrived
The first thing I remember was feeling overwhelmed – I couldn’t imagine how all these students do such complex experiments and how do they even understand them. Now I see that little by little – everyone that wants can do it.
A memorable event we had as a lab
At our last departmental retreat we all went kayaking, and our lab was split between two boates. To keep a long story short – it’s funny to have a water fight with graduate students, but it is even funnier getting splashed by your professor.
A first impression I had when I arrived
It was a big lab and very kind students.
A memorable event we had as a lab
The retreat was very informative and helped me to know more about others projects.
In five years I will be…
I hope that I will be finishing my PHD
