Assaf Bester, PhD, Associate Professor

The function of 98 percent of the human genome is poorly understood, and it is known as the dark matter of the genome. The unknown genome limits our ability to understand, diagnose, and treat complex genetic diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, and ‎Alzheimer's. Studying the dark matter of the genome allows for better precision ‎medicine and therapeutic approaches based on the unique genetics of the patient, resulting in improved and more effective treatments.

In our lab, we are developing platforms that enable us to study, in parallel, thousands of ‎genomic elements in micro-experiments via functional screening. Our studies focus on the function of the non-coding genome in blood cancer and cardiovascular ‎diseases. Our recent study identified ‎novel genes located in the dark matter of the genome that play a critical role in cancer.

By applying genetic ‎tools such as gene editing (CRISPR) and robotic platforms, we are able to study these new genes with the aim to develop innovative ‎diagnostic and therapeutic tools to treat cancer in a much more effective and specific manner that is currently available.‎