Page 15 - חוברת תדמית 2022 - קובץ דיגיטלי

The Genetics
Institute

Genetic diseases are common among the various ethnic
Jewish communities found in the Negev and in the Bedouin
community with increased consanguineous marriages. The
Genetics Institute is tackling these often life threatening
challenges head-on with research and diagnostic work as
well as genetic counseling.

The Genetics Research Lab has deciphered the
molecular basis and mechanisms of more than 50
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.