Nihay Laham Karam
Research Director
University of Eastern Finland
Research line: Gene
Role in project: Molecular virology, gene therapy
My team’s expertise is in developing viral vectors for gene therapy. In particular, targeting vector expression using regulatory elements from the genome. Consequently, we are also actively researching gene regulation and non-coding RNAs of factors important in vessel growth. In this way, we have discovered a new player in endothelial cell vessel formation. Likewise, to identify new regulatory non-coding RNA that would be important in ischemia, we are screening the entire genome for circular forms of RNA that change with oxygen deprivation, as would occur in ischemia. All these lines of research should lead to gain of important knowledge, improved vectors, and better gene therapies.