Telomerase is required to maintain telomeres, the protective cap at the end of chromosomes, in all eukaryotic cells. In mammals, including humans, some somatic cells in adults lack telomerase, and as a consequence, telomeres gradually short during cell division and as a function of age. Stem cells are required to replenish dead or damaged cells throughout life, and therefore telomerase is thought to play an important role in stem cell survival. While telomerase is indeed detectable in many types of human stem cells (unlike mature somatic cells), in some cases, such as in the blood, there isn't sufficient telomerase to maintain telomere length as these cells divide, and as a consequence, telomeres shorten in all blood cells during aging. On the other hand, male germ cells do have sufficient telomerase to thwart telomere loss during aging. one of the primary goals in my lab is to get a better understanding as to how telomerase activity levels are regulated in different types of stem cells. Recently, we have performed a screen for transcriptional regulators in embryonic stem cells and found that the transcription factor Hypoxia Inducible Factor 1 alpha (Hif1alpha) is essential for maintenance of functional levels of telomerase in these cells. One of the future goals of our work is get a better understanding as to the role of Hif1alpha in regulating telomerase in other types of stem cells. My lab is also interested in evaluating the therapeutic potential of using stem cells, particularly stem cells derived from the bone marrow, which is a practical source of stem cells in adults, to treat cardiac infarcts using a marine model system.

Roya Karimi, and I hold a Ph.D. degree. I was born in 1983 and currently reside in Tehran, Iran. I am happily married to a clinical psychologist, and we do not have any children. I have two sisters—one is a specialist in emergency medicine, and the other is an engineer specialized in computer hardware. My father retired and my mother is housekeeper. Education & Experience I pursued my academic journey at esteemed institutions. I completed my Ph.D. in Tissue Engineering at Tehran University of Medical Sciences, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, focusing on the Department of Tissue Engineering from 2015 to 2020. Before that, I obtained a Master's degree in Developmental Biology from Islamic Azad University and the University of Tehran from 2008 to 2010. My undergraduate studies were in Plant Protection at the University of Tehran from 2002 to 2006. Currently, I work as a research associate at the Colorectal Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, since 2022. Prior to this, I worked as a researcher at Iran University of Medical Sciences and Tehran University of Medical Sciences, participating in various research projects. Publications I have actively contributed to several scientific publications, demonstrating my expertise in diverse fields. Some of my notable works include research on cancer immunotherapy, stem cell applications, tissue engineering, and nanotechnology in medicine. My research has been featured in reputable journals, including Immunotherapy Journal, Biomarkers in Medicine, Burns, BioImpacts, Materials Chemistry and Physics, and others. Workshops and Teaching Experience In addition to my research contributions, I have been involved in teaching and conducting workshops. I have served as an instructor and lecturer in various workshops and training programs related to immunohistochemistry, 2D and 3D cell culture, stem cell isolation, cytotoxicity assays, and more. I have also provided theoretical and practical training in cell culture methods, stem cell isolation, and various cytotoxicity assays to graduate and Ph.D. students at Tehran University of Medical Sciences. Skills and Techniques I possess a diverse skill set in the field of cell culture studies and molecular biology. My expertise includes working with various cell lines and primary cells, stem cell isolation, and in vitro differentiation. I am also proficient in molecular techniques such as DNA and RNA extraction, PCR, RT-PCR, cloning, and transfection. Additionally, I have experience in histological techniques, immunocytochemistry, flow cytometry, and working with different types of microscopes. Furthermore, I am knowledgeable in using software such as CLC-Sequenc Viewer for construct design, Spss, and Microsoft Office.

My research work mainly focuses on the construction and function of DNA nanomachines, which are cutting-edge and challenging topics. I designed and constructed unique DNA motifs using a short circular DNA nanotechnology technique and functionalized these probes with fluorophores, gold nanoparticles, small molecular drugs, and peptide ligands. To achieve plasmon resonance effects, I achieved nano-specific precision in organizing plasmonic nanoparticles on the nano DNA frameworks. My work on the DNA nanomachines provided an efficient fluorescence resonance energy transfer mechanism that realizes the bio-imaging, detection of biological events, and functions of the biomolecules. I have also been working on multilayered hybrid magnetic nanoparticles for applications in nanomedicine for the last three years.