Olfa Messaoud

 Olfa Messaoud
  • Human Genetics

Areas of Expertise:
Human genetics for rare and ultra-rare diseases; Development of molecular tests for genetic diagnosis; Next generation sequencing for undiagnosed phenotypes

Membership:
since 2018

Contact

University Tunis El Manar, Tunisia

Institut Pasteur de Tunis
Laboratory of Biomedical Genomics and Oncogenetics
13, place Pasteur
1002 Tunis, Belvédère
Tunisia

+216 718 437 55 Ext. 574
olfa.messaoud(at)pasteur.tn

About me

I work as an Assistant Professor at the Pasteur Institute of Tunis, where I am responsible for the Genetic Disease Diagnostic Unit and investigate rare genetic disorders, particularly DNA-repair diseases. My research interests follow two primary strands. First, I aim to identify the genetic basis of undiagnosed photogenodermatoses, and second, I focus on developing new tools for molecular biology applications using advanced materials and nanotechnology. My involvement in many multidisciplinary research projects made me aware of the common challenges that researchers face globally and motivated me to join AGYA.

For me, AGYA represents an open window to the world that promotes research exchange on an interdisciplinary level and strengthens international collaboration.

More specifically, it gives me the chance to link my current field of research with the social sciences and humanities, in order to conduct research on ethical and social issues related to human genetics and genomics. It also pushes me to achieve innovative research via collaborative interaction with other disciplines.


Academic career
2019 - today Member of the ‘DNA Repair Interest Group’ of the Office of Intramural Research (OIR), National Institutes of Health (NIH), USA
2018 - today Member of the Arab-German Young Academy of Sciences and Humanities
2015 - today Member of the Network of Experts in Support of International Research and Innovation Projects (NESRI), Tunisia
2014 - today Assistant Professor in the Biomedical Genomics and Oncogenetics Laboratory, Pasteur Institute of Tunis, Tunisia
2011 - 2014 Postdoctoral Researcher in the Biomedical Genomics and Oncogenetics Laboratory, Pasteur Institute of Tunis, Tunisia
2010 2nd place in the 13th Sanofi-Aventis Award for Medical Research for the work: ‘Epidemiological, clinical and genetic study of Xeroderma pigmentosum in Tunisia: Implications for molecular diagnosis’
2007 - 2010 Ph.D. in ‘Molecular Investigation of Genetic Orphan Diseases’, Research Unit, Pasteur Institute of Tunis, Tunisia
2006 M.Sc. in ‘Molecular Investigation of Genetic Orphan Diseases’, Research Unit, Pasteur Institute of Tunis, Tunisia

 

My Commitment to AGYA
AGYA Co-President (since 2022)
Member in Charge of the Working Group 'Health and Society'
Selection Committee 'New AGYA Members' 2021, 2022
Member of the AGYA Steering Committee 2021-22

On a personal note

Favourite novel:
The Remedy by the Recognition of the Rights of the Chosen One by Qadi Ayyad 

The scientist from my country you should know:
Ibn Khaldoun