Prof. Ruth Ashery Padan
Research work
We study the gene networks that transform the embryonic cells into a complex, differentiated organ. We focus on exploring this question by studying the process of eye development as a model for organogenesis. We apply cutting-edge technologies including mouse genetic tools (Cre/loxP), molecular biology, and microarray analysis to identify and functionally characterize genes that regulate the development of the eye in mammals. Understanding the normal developmental regulation of the different eye structures is essential for understanding visual disorders and designing treatments for ocular phenotypes including retinal degeneration, glaucoma and cataracts, all of which are leading causes of blindnes
Areas of interest & scientific knowledge
Brain Disorders Research
Cellular & Molecular Neuroscience
Neurodevelopment and Neurogenetic Research
Selected Publications
- Cohen-Tayar, Y., Cohen, H., Mitiagin, Y., Abarbanel, Z., Levy, C., Idelson, M., Reubinoff, B., Itzkovitz, S., Raviv, S., Kaestner, K., Blinder, P., Elkon, R. & Ashery-Padan, R. Pax6 regulation of Sox9 in the retinal pigmented epithelium controls its timely differentiation and choroid vasculature development. Development, doi:10.1242/dev.163691 (2018)
- Swisa, A., Avrahami, D., Eden, N., Zhang, J., Feleke, E., Dahan, T., Cohen-Tayar, Y., Stolovich-Rain, M., Kaestner, K. H., Glaser, B., Ashery-Padan, R. & Dor, Y. PAX6 maintains beta cell identity by repressing genes of alternative islet cell types. J Clin Invest 127, 230-243, doi:10.1172/JCI88015 (2017).
- Remez, L. A., Onishi, A., Menuchin-Lasowski, Y., Biran, A., Blackshaw, S., Wahlin, K. J., Zack, D. J. & Ashery-Padan, R. Pax6 is essential for the generation of late-born retinal neurons and for inhibition of photoreceptor-fate during late stages of retinogenesis. Dev Biol, doi:10.1016/j.ydbio.2017.09.030 (2017).
- Menuchin-Lasowski, Y., Oren-Giladi, P., Xie, Q., Ezra-Elia, R., Ofri, R., Peled-Hajaj, S., Farhy, C., Higashi, Y., Van de Putte, T., Kondoh, H., Huylebroeck, D., Cvekl, A. & Ashery-Padan, R. Sip1 regulates the generation of the inner nuclear layer retinal cell lineages in mammals. Development 143, 2829-2841, doi:10.1242/dev.136101 (2016).
- Gueta, K., David, A., Cohen, T., Menuchin-Lasowski, Y., Nobel, H., Narkis, G., Li, L., Love, P., de Melo, J., Blackshaw, S., Westphal, H. & Ashery-Padan, R. The stage-dependent roles of Ldb1 and functional redundancy with Ldb2 in mammalian retinogenesis. Development, doi:10.1242/dev.129734 (2016).
