
NIHAY LAHAM KARAM
Research Director
Assistant Professor in Next Generation Gene Therapy (Tenure track)
I am a researcher actively developing viral vectors for improved gene therapies. My focus in recent years has been to address the unmet need for targeted vectors that can regulate gene expression in specific cell lines. We use elements from super-enhancers which are clusters of enhancers in the genome, to regulate the expression of transgenes to endothelial cells. Our interest in endothelial cells goes hand-in-hand with our aim to improve angiogenic gene therapy for the treatment of ischemic diseases. In addition, to the translational projects that I manage, we are also pursuing new therapeutic targets for angiogenesis. For this endeavour, we are studying the non-coding genome. Our aim is to better understand the different regulatory roles of non-coding RNAs (including enhancers, small and circular RNAs) in affecting gene expression. Gained knowledge and new discoveries will open new avenues for therapeutic developments.
Contact info
Organization
Faculty of Health Sciences, A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences
nihay.laham-karam@uef.fi
Phone
+358 40 355 3292
Keywords
Teaching Activities
Research groups - UEF
Links
Publications
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Leikas, Aleksi Johannes; Laham-Karam, Nihay; Agtereek, Eline; Peltonen, Hanna Marjaana; Selander, Tuomas; Korpisalo, Petra; Holappa, Lari; Hartikainen, Juha EK; Heikura, Tommi; Ylä-Herttuala, Seppo. 2021. Efficacy and Safety of Clinical Grade hVEGF-D [delta]N[delta]C Gene Therapy Containing Residual Replication-Competent Adenoviruses Human gene therapy 32 13-14: 761-770. 2021
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Mushimiyimana, I; Niskanen. H; Beter, M; Laakkonen, JP; Kaikkonen, MU; Ylä-Herttuala, S; Laham-Karam, N. 2021. Characterization of a functional endothelial super-enhancer that regulates ADAMTS18 and angiogenesis Nucleic acids research 49 14: 8078-8096. 2021
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Mushimiyimana, Isidore; Tomas Bosch, Vanesa; Niskanen, Henri; Downes, Nicholas; Moreau, Pierre; Hartigan, Kiley; Ylä-Herttuala, Seppo; Laham-Karam, Nihay; Kaikkonen, Minna U.. 2021. Genomic landscapes of non-coding RNAs regulating VEGFA and VEGFC expression in endothelial cells Molecular and cellular biology 41 7: e00594-20. 2021
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Studying non-cell-autonomous neurodegeneration in Parkinson's disease with induced pluripotent stem cells. Sonninen, Tuuli-Maria; Plotnikova, Lidiia; Laham-Karam, Nihay; Goldsteins, Gundars; Koistinaho, Jari; Lehtonen, Šárka / iPSCs for Modeling Central Nervous System Disorders. 2021. 2021
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Suoranta, Tuisku; Laham-Karam, Nihay; Ylä-Herttuala, Seppo. 2021. Optimized Protocol for Accurate Titration of Adeno-Associated Virus Vectors Human gene therapy 32 19-20: 1270-1279. 2021
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Laham-Karam, Nihay; Pinto, Gaspar; Poso, Antti; Kokkonen, Piia. 2020. Transcription and Translation Inhibitors in Cancer Treatment Frontiers in chemistry 8: 276. 2020
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Lähteenvuo, Johanna; Hätinen, Olli-Pekka; Kuivanen, Antti; Huusko, Jenni; Paananen, Jussi; Lähteenvuo, Markku; Nurro, Jussi; Hedman, Marja; Hartikainen, Juha; Laham-Karam, Nihay; Mäkinen, Petri; Räsänen, Markus; Alitalo, Kari; Rosenzweig, Anthony; Ylä-Herttuala, Seppo. 2020. Susceptibility to Cardiac Arrhythmias and Sympathetic Nerve Growth in VEGF-B Overexpressing Myocardium Molecular therapy 28 7: 1-10. 2020
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Sonninen, Tuuli-Maria; Goldsteins, Gundars; Laham-Karam, Nihay; Koistinaho, Jari; Lehtonen, Sarka. 2020. Proteostasis Disturbances and Inflammation in Neurodegenerative Diseases Cells 9 10: 2183. 2020
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Sonninen, Tuuli-Maria; Hämäläinen, Riikka H; Koskuvi, Marja; Oksanen, Minna; Shakirzyanova, Anastasia; Wojciechowski, Sara; Puttonen, Katja; Naumenko, Nikolay; Goldsteins, Gundars; Laham-Karam, Nihay; Lehtonen, Marko; Tavi, Pasi; Koistinaho, Jari; Lehtonen, Šárka. 2020. Metabolic alterations in Parkinson's disease astrocytes Scientific reports 10 1: 14474. 2020
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Hytönen, E; Laurema, A; Kankkonen, H; Miyanohara, A; Kärjä, V; Hujo, M; Laham-Karam, N; Ylä-Herttuala, S. 2019. Bile-duct proliferation as an unexpected side-effect after AAV2-LDLR gene transfer to rabbit liver Scientific reports 9 1: 6934. 2019