Prof. Hava Golan Profile

Prof. Hava Golan

Associate Professor

Department :	Physiology and Cell Biology
Room :	440 בנין מעבדות מחקר רפואה ע"ש דייכמן - פלאם
Phone :	972-8-6479961 972-8-6479974
Email :	havag@bgu.ac.il
Office Hours :

brain development, autism, neurogenesis, mthfr, hypoxia, brain

Education

1989-1994 Ph.D.
Unit of Physiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva. Advisor: Prof. Yoram Grossman Thesis title: Modifications in Transmitter Synthesis and Packaging Affect Synaptic Functions.
1986-1988 M.Sc. (with distinction)
Unit of Physiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva. Advisor: Prof. Yoram Grossman Thesis title: Effect of Hyperbaric Pressure on Synaptic Transmission at the Neuromuscular Junction of the prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii.
1984-1986 B.Sc. (with distinction).
Dept. of Biology; Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva.

Research Interests

Our group is studying the interactions between epigenetic and environmental factor in the context of fetal brain development. The developing embryo in-utero is exposed to the maternal environment. Disturbance in the developmental plan during this critical period increase the risk for long lasting impairment in cognitive and emotional function later in life. Our interest focus in two potential factors: prenatal hypoxia and prenatal neuroleptic drug exposure.
The effect of hypomethylation due to genetic deficiency on the genetic susceptibility to neuroleptic drugs in-utero is examined. In particular we are studying changes in the GABA pathway leading to impaired behavior typical to Schizophrenia and Autism.
A rodent model of prenatal hypoxia was developed for the characterization of the molecular elements responsible for altered neuronal migration patters due to hypoxic injury. Given the known role that perturbation of developmental neuronal migration patterns have on behavioral function in the adult, we are looking for genes involved in vulnerability to the hypoxic injury.

Research Topics