On the occasion of the win, we asked Amir to provide us with some interesting details about the study, the path that led to the research, and a bit about him.
- Hi, could you introduce yourself in a few words?
I’m Amir, a father to Kerem and married to Anna. I completed my PhD a little over a year ago in the lab of Yael Mandel-Gutfreund.
- Could you explain what Prof. Mandel-Gutfreund Laboratory is all about?
Our lab explores various aspects of gene expression regulation using both computational and experimental approaches. We study the involvement of RNA-binding proteins on one hand and lncRNAs on the other in the regulation of gene expression, primarily during embryonic development. Members of the lab come from diverse academic backgrounds—biology, computer science, and engineering. The boundaries are blurred, as most of us are involved in both computational and experimental work.
- Could you tell us about your current article/research what was the main purpose of the research and what did you discover?
This research is a continuation of a paper we published in 2021, where we identified an interaction between STAT3, a transcription factor we discovered to binds RNA, and NORAD, a long non-coding RNA (lncRNA).
In this study, we sought to characterize this interaction and its role, which we initially thought related to embryonic development. However, we quickly realized that the project focuses not on development but on the response to viral infection.
We found that NORAD enables STAT3 to enter the nucleus in human cells, where STAT3 binds DNA in regulatory regions of genes associated with viral infection, suppressing their expression. Upon viral infection, NORAD is cleaved, STAT3 exits the nucleus, and the suppression is removed. This allows antiviral genes to be expressed, fight the virus to prevent its replication, and recruit the immune system.
Moreover, while NORAD and STAT3 are conserved in evolution, the interaction between them and the mechanism for triggering a viral response are absent in mice and evolved only in primates.
- Can you elaborate on the importance of the discovery? How will it serve you and what directions does it take? What is the application of the discovery (domains, solutions)?
The mechanism we discovered links two pathways involved in viral defense—pathways previously thought to be unrelated. This discovery addresses several open questions in virology, particularly regarding differences in how humans and mice respond to viral infections.
In basic science, it’s often unclear what the eventual applications of the discovery might be. When we started, we didn’t even know we were studying a response to viral infection. While it’s hard to predict the future utility of this research, we believe it lays the groundwork for a better understanding of species-specific responses to viral infections, especially in humans.
Speculatively, NORAD could serve as a clinical marker for viral infections in the future. A decrease in NORAD levels might indicate the initiation of a primary antiviral response, offering insights into the timing and progression of infections.
- Name 3 prominent tools that you received in the laboratory during your work and studies.
I learned R and some Python, and after nearly eight years in a semi-computational lab, I’m proud to say I can use computational tools to ask and answer biological questions.
For this research, I brought new experimental methods to the lab and developed them further. This experience taught me how to fine-tune, troubleshoot, and optimize experimental systems. It also gave me the confidence to explore and adapt the best methods for addressing my research questions, without being limited to existing techniques.
During my PhD, I mentored several undergraduate students in their research projects. Three of them—Dor, Galia, and Noa—are co-authors of this paper due to their significant contributions. Through this process, I learned how to guide students in the lab and in research, which also helped me develop a more organized and methodical approach. Working with them was a privilege, and their involvement taught me valuable skills that I hope to use in the future when I run my own lab.
- When you are not “doing” science, what do you do?
I dedicate time to being a father and spending as much time as possible with my 10-month-old daughter, Kerem. Watching her grow and develop is an incredible experience. Additionally, I’m a specialty-coffee enthusiast and enjoy baking sourdough bread at home.
- what are your plans for the future of your career?
In two weeks, we’re moving to London, where I’ll start a postdoc at King’s College. I truly enjoy research and discovery, and I aspire to pursue a career in academia, leading my own research lab in the future.
➡ A link to the full article: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-55822-0
➡ A link to the prof. Mandel-Gutfreund lab site: https://biology.technion.ac.il/en/member/mandel-gutfreund/
➡ To Prof. Mandel-Gutfreund page: https://yaellab.wixsite.com/-yael-mandel-gutfreu