Mirit I. Aladjem

American biologist

Mirit I. Aladjem is an American biologist renowned for her research in the field of DNA replication and genomic stability. Her work has significantly contributed to the understanding of how cells maintain their genetic integrity during cell division.

Early life and education

Mirit I. Aladjem was born and raised in Israel. She pursued her undergraduate studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, where she developed a keen interest in molecular biology. Aladjem continued her education at the Weizmann Institute of Science, earning her Ph.D. in molecular biology. Her doctoral research focused on the mechanisms of DNA replication and repair, laying the foundation for her future work.

Career

After completing her Ph.D., Aladjem moved to the United States to conduct postdoctoral research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). During her postdoctoral fellowship, she worked in the laboratory of Dr. Alan Wolffe, where she investigated the role of chromatin structure in DNA replication.

In 2000, Aladjem joined the National Cancer Institute (NCI) as a principal investigator. At NCI, she established her own research group dedicated to studying the regulation of DNA replication and its implications for cancer biology. Her laboratory has made significant discoveries regarding the coordination of DNA replication with other cellular processes, such as cell cycle progression and DNA damage response.

Research contributions

Aladjem's research has provided critical insights into the mechanisms that ensure accurate DNA replication. Her work has elucidated how replication origins are selected and activated, and how cells respond to replication stress. These findings have important implications for understanding the development of cancer, as genomic instability is a hallmark of cancer cells.

One of her notable contributions is the identification of specific proteins and pathways that regulate the initiation of DNA replication. Her studies have shown how these factors interact with chromatin to ensure that replication occurs precisely once per cell cycle, preventing genomic instability.

Awards and honors

Throughout her career, Aladjem has received numerous awards and honors for her contributions to the field of molecular biology. She has been recognized by her peers for her innovative research and has been invited to speak at numerous international conferences.

Personal life

Mirit I. Aladjem is married and has two children. She is an advocate for women in science and actively mentors young scientists, particularly women, encouraging them to pursue careers in research.

Related pages

• DNA replication
• Genomic stability
• National Cancer Institute
• Cell cycle

Gallery

Mirit I. Aladjem

Mirit I. Aladjem in her laboratory