Ruth Ashery-Padan

Ruth Ashery-Padan is an esteemed researcher and Assistant Professor in the Department of Human Genetics and Molecular Medicine at the Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University. She is renowned for her significant contributions to the understanding of ocular development and genetics.

Life and Education

Ruth Ashery-Padan was born in Israel. She began her academic journey by earning her Bachelor's in Biology and Psychology in 1988 and a Master's degree in Genetics from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in 1990. In 1996, she then graduated with her Ph.D. in Genetics from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, where she became interested in the molecular mechanisms governing eye development. In 2001, Ashery-Padan was a postdoctoral research fellow at the laboratory of Professor Gruss in the Department of Molecular Cell Biology.

In addition to her academic pursuits, Dr. Ashery-Padan has assumed leadership roles within the scientific community. She served as the Head of the Yoran Institute for Human Genome Research, further solidifying her commitment to advancing genomic research. She is also on the organizing board of the Israel Society of Developmental Biology and a member of Tel Aviv University's School of Neuroscience.

Career and Research

Dr. Ruth Ashery-Padan's research interests and contributions are focused on various aspects of ocular development and biology, including lenses, transcription factors, retinal pigmented epithelium, neurogenesis, morphogenesis, stem cells, and cell fate decisions during early retinal development. Dr. Ashery-Padan has collaborated extensively with researchers from various institutions across the United States and internationally, contributing to a rich exchange of knowledge and expertise. She has authored or co-authored 139 publications, which have garnered 7,055 citations.

Dr. Ashery-Padan joined the faculty of Tel Aviv University to establish her laboratory which focuses on solving the complexities of ocular development. Her research, spanning over decades, has significantly advanced our understanding of the roles of transcription factors, particularly Pax6, in eye formation. Dr. Ashery-Padan employs state-of-the-art functional studies in vivo combined with gene arrays, biochemical, and cell culture studies to investigate transcription factor activity on target genes. Her research team has revealed the roles of Pax6 in progenitor cells of the retina, lens, iris, and ciliary body. According to the E. Matilda Ziegler Foundation for the Blind, genetic dissection of Pax6 dosage requirements in the developing eye has shown that Pax6 dosage in the lens and cornea affects the development of the eye's drainage structures and leads to ganglion cell loss. This emphasizes the importance of understanding Pax6 dosage requirements for proper ocular development and function.

Dr. Ashery-Padan also studied Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD). As published in PLOS Biology, she had the main goal of finding the genetic intricacies underlying Age-Related Macular Degeneration by sharpening in on the retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE), a tissue particularly impacted in the early stages of the disease. Within this context, two pivotal proteins, LHX2 and OTX2, emerged as key transcriptional activators governing the expression of numerous genes exclusive to RPE tissue. By employing the cutting-edge ChIP-seq method, the scientists were able to precisely map the genomic regions where these proteins bind, revealing their critical function in regulating gene expression. Changes in DNA sequences in these genomic regions were shown to affect the expression of nearby genes, one of which encodes an ion channel essential for proper operation of the eyes, increasing the risk of AMD. This investigation not only advances our comprehension of the functionalities and regulatory mechanisms of genomic sequences situated outside genes but also sheds light on their implication in intricate genetic disorders like AMD. In addition, the unique methodology employed in this study has potential applications in identifying and defining other genetic processes related to AMD and other genetic diseases of a similar complexity.

Recognition

Dr. Ashery-Padan received several prestigious awards throughout her notable career, recognizing her outstanding contributions to developmental biology and genetics. These honors include:

• Dan David Prize for Young Investigators (2002): Dr.Ashery-Padan was awarded this prize in recognition of her groundbreaking research on the roles of transcription factors, particularly Pax6, in eye development. This prestigious prize highlights her significant impact on advancing scientific knowledge in the field.
• Teva Prize: Dr. Ashery-Padan's exceptional research in ocular development and genetics has been recognized with the Teva Prize, underscoring her dedication to scientific excellence and innovation.
• E. Matilda Ziegler Foundation for the Blind Award: Her contributions to understanding the genetic mechanisms underlying vision-related disorders, such as aniridia and Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD), have earned her the esteemed E. Matilda Ziegler Foundation for the Blind Award. This recognition reflects her commitment to improving the lives of individuals affected by visual impairments.
• Alon Fellowship (VATAT): Dr. Ashery-Padan's exemplary scholarship and leadership have been acknowledged with the Alon Fellowship.

Publications

• Ashery-Padan, Ruth, et al. "Editorial: With the eyes on non-coding RNAS." Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology, vol. 9, 29 July 2021, https://doi.org/10.3389/fcell.2021.737703.
• Ashery-Padan, Ruth, et al. "The LHX2-otx2 transcriptional regulatory module controls retinal pigmented epithelium differentiation and underlies genetic risk for age-related macular degeneration." PLOS Biology, vol. 21, no. 1, 17 Jan. 2023, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3001924.
• Ashery-Padan, Ruth, et al. "Cell fate decisions, transcription factors and signaling during early retinal development." Progress in Retinal and Eye Research, vol. 91, Nov. 2022, p. 101093, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.preteyeres.2022.101093.
• Ashery-Padan, Ruth, et al. "Retinal pigmented epithelium development from the perspective of transcription factors and cis‐regulatory elements." Acta Ophthalmologica, vol. 100, no. S275, Dec. 2022, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1755-3768.2022.15476.
• Ashery-Padan, Ruth, et al. "Pathophysiology of aniridia-associated keratopathy: Developmental Aspects and Unanswered Questions." The Ocular Surface, vol. 22, Oct. 2021, pp. 245–266, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtos.2021.09.001.
• Ashery-Padan, Ruth, et al. "Zeb2 regulates the balance between retinal interneurons and Müller glia by inhibition of BMP–smad signaling." Developmental Biology, vol. 468, no. 1–2, Dec. 2020, pp. 80–92, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ydbio.2020.09.006.
• Ashery-Padan, Ruth, et al. "SWI/SNF complexes are required for retinal pigmented epithelium differentiation and for the inhibition of cell proliferation and neural differentiation programs." Development, vol. 150, no. 16, 15 Aug. 2023, https://doi.org/10.1242/dev.201488.
• Ashery-Padan, Ruth, et al. "Notch signaling controls ciliary body morphogenesis and secretion by directly regulating nectin protein expression." Cell Reports, vol. 34, no. 2, Jan. 2021, p. 108603, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2020.108603.
• Ashery-Padan, Ruth, et al. "Recycled melanoma-secreted melanosomes regulate tumor-associated macrophage diversification." The EMBO Journal, 8 May 2024, https://doi.org/10.1038/s44318-024-00103-7.