Insulin resistance
Role of the MO-I gene in skeletal muscle
Profile
Dr. Arar holds a staged scientific training that joins biology, clinical biochemistry, and human medicine. He began with a B.Sc. in Biology from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, then an M.Sc. in Clinical Biochemistry (diabetes mellitus) under Professor El-Azar Shafrir — a leading authority on the biochemistry of diabetes — with a teaching certificate, and later an M.D. in human medicine.
His postdoctoral training was in the Diabetes Division at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, under Professor Ralph DeFronzo. There he mastered a wide range of clinical and molecular methods used to study type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance.
His primary research project examined the role of the MO-I gene in insulin resistance in skeletal muscle and in insulin secretion from pancreatic beta cells. He later worked in the Department of Human Nutrition and Metabolism at Hadassah Medical Center on the molecular mechanism of the hypolipidemic action of the MEDICA compound.
Alongside research he has mentored students, coordinated clinical studies, published, and presented at scientific seminars. Since completing residency in internal medicine at Rabin Medical Center (Beilinson), he has practiced in several medical centers, chiefly in emergency medicine.
Education & training
| Period | Degree / program | Institution | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985–1987 | B.Sc. in Biology | Hebrew University of Jerusalem | — |
| 1985–1988 | B.Ed. and teaching certificate | Hebrew University of Jerusalem | — |
| 1989–1991 | M.Sc. in Clinical Biochemistry (diabetes mellitus) | Hebrew University · Hadassah Hospital | Supervised by Prof. El-Azar Shafrir |
| 1992–1993 | German language | Colon Institute, Germany | — |
| 1997–2003 | M.D. in general medicine | Nicolae Testemițanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Moldova | — |
| 2008–2011 | Postdoctoral fellow — pathogenesis of T2D and insulin resistance | Diabetes Division, UT Health Science Center, San Antonio | Supervised by Prof. Ralph DeFronzo |
| 2011–2013 | Associate researcher, Human Nutrition and Metabolism | Hebrew University · Hadassah Ein Kerem | Prof. Jacob Bar-Tana |
| 2014–2015 | Internship | Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Campus | — |
| 2015–2018 | Residency in internal medicine | Rabin Medical Center | — |
| 2018–present | Clinical practice | Several medical centers | Mostly emergency medicine |
Professional experience
| Period | Role | Institution | Field |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988–1991 | Laboratory worker | Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Hadassah Hospital, Jerusalem | Clinical biochemistry |
| 1998–2000 | Medical training | Al-Makassed Hospital, East Jerusalem | Medical training |
| 2004–2005 | Lecturer in biochemistry and biology | Arab American University | Teaching |
| 2005–2006 | Clinical research coordinator | St. Josef and Hadassah Hospitals | High-risk cardiac factors · Crestor (rosuvastatin) study |
| 2006 | Visiting researcher and international patient-care consultant | Obstetrics & Gynaecology, University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf · Hansemed, Hamburg | International care · research |
| 2007 | Researcher | Rabin Medical Center / Felsenstein Medical Research Center, Petah Tikva | Metabolic, histologic, and endocrine aspects of sleeve gastrectomy in morbid obesity |
Main research themes
Insulin secretion
From pancreatic beta cells
Type 2 diabetes
Pathogenesis and clinical-molecular methods
Hypolipidemic action
Molecular mechanism of the MEDICA compound
Morbid obesity
Metabolic, histologic, and endocrine aspects of sleeve gastrectomy
Skills & experience
Research
Publications and seminars · mentoring students · coordinating clinical studies
Clinical
Emergency medicine · internal medicine · international patient care
Technical
Clinical and molecular methods for insulin resistance and diabetes
Languages
Arabic · Hebrew · English · German
Laboratory & research methods
From the DeFronzo laboratory and his work on diabetes and metabolism:
Metabolic studies
Hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp, tritiated glucose turnover in rodents, and jugular-vein catheterization in mice.
Molecular biology
PCR, RT-PCR, genotyping, Western blotting, immunoprecipitation, gene overexpression and silencing.
Cell biology
Cell culture, glucose uptake assays, confocal and fluorescence microscopy, plasmid construction, and transfection.
Biochemistry & imaging
HPLC, tissue staining and analysis, MRI and echocardiography in animal models.