Moein Kanaan, PhD

2008-2009 BCRF Project:
Co-Investigators: Samir Khatib, PhD, Bethlehem University, Palestinian Authority; Mary-Claire King, PhD, University of Washington, Seattle, WA and Ephrat Levy-Lahad, MD, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel

The goal of this project is to provide genetic analysis of BRCA1 and BRCA2 and cancer genetic counseling services for inherited breast cancer predisposition among Palestinian and Arab-Israeli women in the Middle East. In the Middle East, genetic analysis and medical follow-up services for breast and ovarian cancer risk are among the best in the world for Jewish women. However, neither genetic analysis nor follow-up services have yet been extended to women of other ancestries in the region. The researchers are addressing this challenge.

Over the past year they have created an infrastructure for Cancer Genetics counseling and testing for Arab women in the Palestinian Authority and Israel. Following a training course at Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem, Palestinian genetic counselors now provide counselng at Augusta Victoria Hospital (AVH) in East Jerusalem, the major referral hospital for Palestinian cancer patients, ArabCare Hospital in Ramallah and Bethlehem University. Laboratory infrastructure for sequencing has been established at the Hereditary Research Lab in Bethlehem University.

In the Palestinian Authority and Israel combined, the researchers have ascertained 91 Arab women with breast cancer. In 24 of these, family history is suggestive of an inherited predisposition to breast cancer, and genetic analysis is underway. These analyses will allow identification of the spectrum of mutations characteristic of the Arab population, which will increase our understanding of the causes of breast cancer and enable early detection and prevention in this underserved population.

Bio:
Dr. Moein Kanaan is a leading Palestinian geneticist. Over the last 15 years Dr. Kanaan has been investigating the genetically isolated Palestinian population and its high consanguinity rate in identifying genetically based disease gene. This includes hearing loss, skin abnormalities, and congenital heart diseases. Utilizing large consanguineous Palestinian kindreds Dr. Kanaan collaborative work has been able to profile novel and variant alleles undermining hearing loss and Epidermolysis Bullosa in Palestinian population and just recently mapped and identified new hearing loss causing genes.

Currently Dr. Kanaan is the dean of science and the director of the hereditary research lab at Bethlehem University. Dr. Kanaan has been a member of Research task force in Palestine and has participated in many international research effort and scientific networks. Dr. Kanaan is a recipient of many research and scientific awards and is a pioneer in initiating the "Palestinian central of disease control".