Page 17 - Soroka brochure digital ALL

The Genetics

Institute

Genetic diseases are common among the various

ethnic Jewish communities found in the Negev and
in the Bedouin community. The Genetics Institute
is tackling these often life-threatening challenges
head-on with research and diagnostic work as well as
genetic counseling at our Dayan Family Counseling
Wing. The Genetics Research Lab has deciphered

the molecular bases and mechanisms of more than
40 human diseases, including some of the most
prevalent and serious hereditary diseases of Arabs
and Jews.

Our team also implements their scientific findings
in wide-scale, far-reaching carrier testing programs

that have led to a 30% reduction in the infant
mortality rate in the Bedouin community and the
near-eradication of two of the hereditary diseases
most common among Jews of Moroccan and Iraqi
origin.

With the advent of new technologies that enable
more rapid and less costly genome sequencing,
once unique new genes are identified, they can

immediately be used in pre-pregnancy screening in
target populations. This means that diseases that
place a tremendous burden on patients and their
families are being eliminated by our scientists and
clinicians on a regular basis.