Assoc. Prof. Dr.Afagh Alavi, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Iran,
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Afagh Alavi is a highly accomplished researcher and educator in the field of genetics. Her research contributions in neurodegenerative diseases, muscular dystrophies, and genetic infertility are groundbreaking, with significant potential for improving diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. Her leadership in large-scale, interdisciplinary research projects demonstrates her capability as a principal investigator. Furthermore, her commitment to teaching and mentoring the next generation of scientists ensures the continuity of high-quality research in her field.
Publication Profile
Scopus
Educational :
Dr. Afagh Alavi holds an MSc in Cellular and Molecular Biology from the University of Tehran, Iran, completed between 2005 and 2007. She further pursued a Ph.D. in Cellular and Molecular Biology at the same university, which she completed from 2008 to 2013. Following her doctoral studies, Dr. Alavi worked as a Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Tehran from 2014 to 2015.
Experience:
Dr. Alavi began her academic career as a Teacher of Biology in various high schools across Iran, where she taught for 16 years (1997-2013). She then transitioned to the University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences (USWR), Tehran, where she served as an Assistant Professor from 2015 to 2021. In 2021, she was promoted to Associate Professor, a position she currently holds. Additionally, Dr. Alavi has been teaching courses in Genetics, Cancer Genetics, and Bioinformatics at USWR since 2014
Skills:
Dr. Alavi possesses a wealth of expertise in various genetic techniques, including SNP genotyping, whole exome sequencing (WES), gene editing (CRISPR/Cas9), linkage analysis, RNA sequencing, and bioinformatics. She has experience in research management, serving as both a Principal Investigator (PI) and Co-Principal Investigator (Co-PI) in several genetic research projects. Furthermore, Dr. Alavi is an experienced educator, having taught both undergraduate and postgraduate students in genetics, molecular biology, and bioinformatics. She is fluent in English.
Awards & Fellowships:
Dr. Alavi has made significant contributions to the understanding of neurogenetic disorders and infertility. She has participated as a Co-PI in multiple large-scale research projects focused on ALS, hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP), and other neurodegenerative conditions. As a PI, she has led successful research projects that identified causative genes in disorders such as FSHD and primary ovarian failure (POF). Dr. Alavi has collaborated with prestigious institutions, including the Iranian National Science Foundation (INSF) and the University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, to support her research endeavors.
Research Focus:
Dr. Alavi’s primary research interests lie within Human Genetics and Neurodegenerative Disorders, with a special focus on genetic approaches to understanding rare diseases. She investigates various neurodegenerative conditions, including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP), Neurodegeneration with Brain Iron Accumulation (NBIA), Parkinson’s disease, neuropathies, and muscular dystrophies. Additionally, she explores the genetic causes of infertility, particularly primary ovarian failure (POF), and uses cutting-edge techniques such as SNP genotyping, WES, and RNA sequencing to identify disease-causing genes.
Publication Top Notes:
- Three Iranian patients with rare subtypes of hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP): SPG76, SPG56, and SPG69
- Citation: Sadr, Z., Ghasemi, A., Rohani, M., Mohammadi, Y., Alavi, A.
- Journal: Neurogenetics
- Year: 2025
- Volume: 26(1)
- Page(s): 12
- A new genetic variant, presenting as young onset rapidly progressive dementia and parkinsonism
- Citation: Eissazade, N., Alavi, A., Lang, A.E., Emamikhah, M., Khoeini, T.
- Journal: Parkinsonism and Related Disorders
- Year: 2024
- Volume: 127
- Article ID: 105849
- Atypical presentations in an RTD patient and report of novel SLC52A3 and SLC52A2 mutations
- Citation: Sabeghi, D., InanlooRahatloo, K., Mirzadeh, H.S., Nafissi, S., Elahi, E.
- Journal: Acta Neurologica Belgica
- Year: 2024
- Volume: 124(4)
- Pages: 1363–1370
- JAM2 variants can be more common in primary familial brain calcification (PFBC) cases than those appear; may be due to a founder mutation
- Citation: Khojasteh, M., Soleimani, P., Ghasemi, A., Rohani, M., Alavi, A.
- Journal: Neurological Sciences
- Year: 2024
- Volume: 45(8)
- Pages: 3829–3844
- Corrigendum to “NMNAT1 and hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP): Expanding the phenotypic spectrum of NMNAT1 variants”
- Citation: Sadr, Z., Ghasemi, A., Rohani, M., Alavi, A.
- Journal: Neuromuscular Disorders
- Year: 2024
- Volume: 35
- Page(s): e1
- A novel homozygous variant in the MCOLN1 gene associated with severe oromandibular dystonia and Parkinsonism
- Citation: Ghasemi, A., Eslami Ardakani, M., Togha, M., Rohani, M., Alavi, A.
- Journal: Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences
- Year: 2024
- Status: Article in Press
- Estimation of Ambulation and Survival in Neurodegeneration with Brain Iron Accumulation Disorders
- Citation: Amini, E., Rohani, M., Lang, A.E., Emamikhah, M., Chitsaz, A.
- Journal: Movement Disorders Clinical Practice
- Year: 2024
- Volume: 11(1)
- Pages: 53–62
Conclusions: