Homira Behbahani

Homira Behbahani

Affiliated to Research | Docent
Visiting address: Blickagången 16, 14152 Huddinge
Postal address: H1 Neurobiologi, vårdvetenskap och samhälle, H1 Klinisk geriatrik Eriksdotter, 171 77 Stockholm
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About me

  • I am supervisor for a research group, which right now consists of one PhD student, and three master students. My research is focused on understanding the molecular mechanism behind Alzheimer Disease with focused on Omi/HtrA2 protease and amyloid beta uptake, and focus on vascular smooth muscle cell degeneration and proliferation in CADASIL as well as small vessel diseases. In addition to supervising, I am as a researcher involved in teaching at both the masters, advanced and doctoral level. Furthermore, I am organizer for “PhD/PostDoc” and “Center for Alzheimer Research” seminar series at NVS. This role gives me a lot of input and reflections to my own leadership style and also I learn to know PhD students at KI, which is a benefit for my research career. I am representative for “Equal treatment” (Ombud for Lika Villkor) at NVS since 2011. Therefore, I am a member of department council and work environment council at NVS. This role also gives me the opportunity to be involved in many issues related to employees and PhD/PostDoc student’s welfare and activities. Virology price 2002 Recipient of scholarship and Chosen by Sven Gard Stiftelse for the best thesis in Virology area. Scholarships 2001 and 2006: Recipient of scholarships of Keystone Symposia and being invited speaker. 2008 Recipient of one year postdoctoral fellowship from Loo and Hans Ostermans stiftelse. 1987 Bsc in Graphic Design, Tehran University Tehran, Iran. 1997 BSc in Biomedicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. 2002 Ph.D in Experimental Medicine at Inst. of Medicine, Div. of Centre for infectious Medicine (CIM), at Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. Thesis title: Immune Dysregulation in HIV-1 Infected Lymphoid Tissue, Supervisors: Professor Anna-Lena Spetz (PhD, MD) and Professor Jan Andersson (MD, PhD) 2011, April 26, Associates Professor in Neurobiology, NVS, KI 2013 Project Leadership for Research Group Leader (PFL), invited by NVS institution 2014 Leadership, higher Education for supervisor course at LIME, KI

Research

  • My research is focused on studying the degeneration and proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells in CADASIL as well as small vessel diseases or stroke. We are also studying the toxicity of extracellular NOTCH3 and the role of autophagy or lysososmal function on intracellular aggregated NOTCH3. In my group we look specifically for finding biomarkers for CADASIL and will compared it to Alzheimer disease, stroke and vascular dementia diseases. Our aim is to provide a better understanding of the pathogenesis of CADASIL which would improve the prognosis of CADASIL and patients with other cerebral small vessel diseases. Furthermore, I am investigating the role of Omi/HtrA2 protease, a multifunctional serine protease, in Alzheimer disease and the mechanisms behind amyloid beta uptake in human primary neurons.

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Employments

  • Affiliated to Research, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, 2022-2025

Degrees and Education

  • Docent, Karolinska institutet, 2011
  • Doctor Of Philosophy, Department of Medicine, Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, 2002

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