Harel Itamar

Dr. Itamar Harel
Experimental Biology of Vertebrate Aging & Age-Related Diseases

Research Interests

To address a major challenge in aging research, the lack of short-lived vertebrate genetic model, I have developed a comprehensive genetic platform for rapid exploration of aging and disease in the shortest-lived vertebrate model, the African turquoise killifish.
This genome-to-phenotype platform includes a sequenced genome, CRISPR/Cas9-based genome editing, and mutant fish for many aging- and disease-relates genes.
Taking advantage of this exciting platform the we explore fundamental questions in biology, such as why is aging such a strong driver for disease? And what is the molecular basis behind the outstanding diversity of vertebrate lifespan (which can reach up to 1000-fold).


Experimental biology of vertebrate aging and age-related diseases using the short-lived African turquoise killifish; The genetic basis behind the outstanding diversity of lifespan between different animals; Genetic engineering and live imaging of age-related traits in multiple complex organs.

Dissertation Topics

  1. The molecular basis of aging, longevity, and age-related diseases.
  2. Identifying novel genes involved in cellular and organismal aging.
  3. Developing the turquoise killifish, the shortest-lived vertebrate, as a genetic model for experimental aging.
  4. Applying cutting-edge molecular and genomic approaches in the killifish and human cells (such as single-cell RNA-seq, CRISPR screens, Mass-spectrometry).
  5. Modeling age-associated diseases (e.g. neurodegeneration, decline in immune function) in the turquoise killifish using CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing.
  6. Live-imaging of aging-related process by generating fluorescent transgenic killifish.
  7. Exploring the effect of early life-history traits, such as age at sexual maturity, on the rate of aging.
Dr. Itamar Harel


Mobile Phone
Silberman -536