Prof. Roy Alcalay

The Laboratory of Biomarkers and Genomics of Neurodegeneration (Roy Alcalay, PI) is located on the 10th floor of the Offer Tower at Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center (TASMC). The laboratory includes three domains. A computation genomics laboratory, led by Dr. Orly Goldstein, trained in human genetics and genomics, and experienced in whole-genome- and whole-exome-sequencing, and bioinformatics. She supervises the team including Dr. Nadav Elkoshi who is a bioinformatician, and Master’s and PhD students. The other two domains of the laborary include a wet lab and a biomarker reporsitoy led by the lab manager, Dr. Mali Gana-Weisz. The laboratory includes biorepository collection facility for multiple Parkinson’s related cohorts, including the Michael J Fox Foundation funded PPMI study, as well as additional cohorts of patients with Lewy Body Dementia (LBD), Creutzfeldt Jakob disease (CJD), and cerebellar ataxia. Most cohorts include in addition to affected individuals, their first degree relatives (with and without genetic mutations), and healthy controls. The wet lab focus is on the identification of novel disease-related biomarkers in human samples. Lastly, the lab includes a research team that offers genetic counseling and testing for people with PD.