2
November 2010
Curriculum Vitae
1. PERSONAL DETAILS
Full name: Tzipora C. Falik-Zaccai
Identity No.: 053990370
Date and place of birth: June 10, 1956 Israel
Web site: www.technion.ac.il/technion/medicine
E-mail: ;
2. ACADEMIC DEGREES
1974 -1982 / MD cum laude / B. and R. Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion, Institute of Technology, Israel.Advanced Training and Certification
2009 / American Board of MedicalGenetics, recertification. / American Board of Medical Genetics, Bethesda, USA.
2006 / American Board of Medical
Genetics, recertification. / American Board of Medical Genetics, Bethesda, USA.
2002 / Certified, Director- molecular Genetics laboratory. / Israeli Ministry of Health, Jerusalem, Israel.
2002 / Certified, Director Cytogenetic laboratory. / Israeli Ministry of Health, Jerusalem, Israel.
1993 / Board Certification in Medical Genetics, Israel. / Israeli Board of Medical Genetics, Israeli Ministry of Health, Jerusalem, Israel.
1993 / Board Certification in Medical Genetics, USA. / Cedar Sinai Medical Center, UCLA School of Medicine, CA. American Board of Medical Genetics, Bethesda, USA.
1992 / Clinical, Molecular Geneticist and Genetic Counselor Certification. / Israeli Ministry of Health, Jerusalem, Israel.
1992 / Board Certification in Pediatrics, Israel. / Carmel Medical Center, B. and R. Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion, Israel. Israeli Ministry of Health, Jerusalem, Israel.
1991 / Research in molecular genetics. The molecular basis for Down syndrome. / Cedar Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles
School of Medicine (UCLA), CA, USA.
1988 -1991
/ Fellowship in Medical Genetics. / Cedar Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles
School of Medicine (UCLA), CA, USA.
1988 / License to practice Medicine in
California USA. / Medical Board of California, Sacramento, CA, USA.
1987 / ECFMG Certificate to practice Medicine in the USA. / Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), USA.
1983 -1987 / Residency in Pediatrics. / Carmel Medical Center, B. and R. Rappaport
Faculty of Medicine, Technion, Institute of Technology, Israel.
1983 / License to practice Medicine
In Israel. / Israeli Ministry of Health, Jerusalem, Israel.
1982 -1983 / Rotating Internship. / Rabin Medical Center, Petach Tikva, Israel.
Further Training
2005 Course in Ethics and Law in Medical Genetics, Gertner Institute for Bioethics,
Sheba Hospital and Kiryat Uno College, Israel.
2005 Course in Management in the Health System, Haifa University, Israel.
1989 Course in Human and Mammalian Genetics, Bar Harbor, Maine, Johns
Hopkins School of Medicine, USA.
1988 Recombinant DNA workshop, IBI, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
3. ACADEMIC APPOINTMENTS
2003-to date Senior lecturer, Pediatrics and Genetics, B. and R. Rappaport Faculty of Medicine,
Technion, Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel.
1995 - 2001 Clinical instructor, Pediatrics and Genetics, B. and R. Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion, Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel.
1989 - 1991 Clinical instructor, Medical Genetics, University of California Los Angeles School
of Medicine, CA, USA.
4. PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Clinical Positions
2000-to date Head, Institute of Human Genetics, Western Galilee Hospital-Nahariya.
B. and R. Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion, Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel.
2000 - 2005 Consultant, Medical and Molecular Genetics, Department of Pediatrics and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Leniado Medical Center, Natanya, Israel.
1992 - 2005 Consultant, Medical and Molecular Genetics, Department of Pediatrics and
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Carmel Medical Center, Haifa, Israel.
1992 - 2002 Consultant, Medical Genetics, Sherutei Briut Clalit, Haifa and Western Galilee region, Israel.
1992 - 2000 Director, Molecular Genetics, Simon Winter Institute of Human Genetics,
Bnai Zion Medical Center, B. and R. Rappaport Faculty of Medicine,
Technion, Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel.
1992 - 2000 Attending member of staff, Simon Winter Institute of Human Genetics and
Department of Pediatrics, Bnai-Zion Medical Center, Haifa, Israel.
1988 - 1992 Fellow: Medical Genetics, UCLA School of Medicine, Cedar Sinai Medical
Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
1983 -1987 Resident, Department of Pediatrics, Carmel Medical Center, B. and R. Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion, Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel.
1982 -1983 Rotating Internship, Beilinson (Rabin) Medical Center, Petah Tikva, Israel.
5. RESEARCH INTERESTS
● Molecular and cellular bases of DNA nucleotide excision repair (NER) disorders.
· Re-programming of pleuripotent stem cells derived from fibroblasts of patients presenting rare inherited diseases.
· Clinical characterization and identification of genes responsible for rare genetic diseases.
· Developing methods of genetic counseling tailored to Arab extended families (chamulas) at high risk for genetic disorders.
6. TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Courses:
2010 - Course Chair: Genetic counseling issues in prenatal ultrasonography common abnormalities. 1st year genetic counseling students. B. and R. Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion, Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel.
2010 - Major Themes in Medical Genetics. Seminars. 1st year genetic counseling
students. B. and R. Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion, Israel Institute
of Technology, Haifa, Israel.
2006 The pregnant woman and the neonate in health and disease state. Western Galilee Hospital-Nahariya post-graduate education for nurses.
2003-to date Human and Molecular Genetics, 2nd year medical students, B. and R. Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion, Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel.
2001 - 2004 Advanced studies in Ob/Gyn and Pediatrics. Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Israel.
1996-to date Molecular Genetics as a diagnostic tool in medicine, 5th year medical
students, B. and R. Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion, Israel Institute
of Technology, Haifa, Israel.
1996 - 2004 Biochemical Genetics, graduate and post-graduate students, B. and R.
Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion, Israel Institute of Technology,
Haifa, Israel.
1994 - 2003 Continuing Medical Education for residents and board certified physicians,
B. and R. Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion, Israel Institute of
Technology, Haifa and the Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University,
Israel.
1994 Human Molecular Genetics as a diagnostic tool in Medicine. "To touch the
genes", special course in Human Genetics. Faculty of Biology, Technion,
Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel.
1992 - 2000 Human Genetics, 2nd and 3rd year students, nursing school, Bnai Zion Medical Center, Haifa, Israel.
1992 - 1996 Course in Human Genetics, 2nd and 3rd year students, nursing school, Carmel Medical Center, Haifa, Israel.
1992 - 1993 Molecular Genetics in Medicine. Post-graduate education for pediatricians, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Israel.
1992 Human Genetics, graduate students, Faculty of Biology, Technion, Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel.
Clerkships:
2004- to date Medical Genetics and Prenatal Diagnosis, 5th and 6th year medical students, Department of Ob/Gyn, Western Galilee Hospital-Nahariya. B. and R. Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion, Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel.
2000- to date Biochemical and Molecular Genetics, 5th and 6th year medical students, Department of Pediatrics, Western Galilee Hospital-Nahariya. B. and R. Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion, Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel.
1992 - 2004 Biochemical and Molecular Genetics, 5th and 6th year medical students,
Department of Pediatrics, Carmel Medical Center. B. and R. Rappaport
Faculty of Medicine, Technion, Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel.
1992 - 2000 Biochemical and Molecular Genetics, 5th and 6th year medical students. Department of Pediatrics, Bnai-Zion Medical Center. B. and R. Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion, Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel.
1983 – 1987 Instructing medical students, Pediatrics, Carmel Medical Center, B. and R.
Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion, Israel Institute of Technology,
Haifa, Israel.
7. TECHNION ACTIVITIES
2009-to date Co-Founder and Co-Director: Master of Science program-Genetic
Counseling.
2007-to date Member of academic committee responsible for evaluating new candidates
applying to the Rappaport Faculty of Medicine (MESER).
8. PUBLIC PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
2004-to date Board Certification Committee, the Israeli Union for Medical Geneticists.
2004-to date Consultant for second opinion, Sherutei Briut Clalit, Maccabi Health Management Services, Leumit, Meuchedet.
2004-to date Ethics Committee, Western Galilee Hospital-Nahariya, Israel.
2004-to date Establishment and supervision of "Pirchei-Refuah" medical studies in Tzviah high school, recognized by the Israeli Ministry of Education.
2001-to date Supreme Committee for Late Termination of Pregnancies. Appointed by the Israeli Ministry of Health. Western Galilee Hospital-Nahariya, Israel.
2001-to date Institutional Committee for Research and Development, Western Galilee Hospital-Nahariya, Israel.
Reviewing duties:
2010 Referee for the Journal Clinical Genetics.
2010 Referee for the European Journal of Neurology.
2009 - to date Referee for Joint Fund Proposals of the Hebrew University faculty of
Medicine, Jerusalem, Israel.
1995 - 2000 Referee, grant applications, United States/Israel Bi-National Science
Foundation.
1994 - to date Referee for MD theses, MSc and PhD theses, B. and R. Rappaport Faculty
of Medicine, Technion, Haifa, Israel.
1992 - 1997 Referee, grant applications, Chief Scientist, Israel Ministry of Health.
Haifa, Israel.
9. MEMBERSHIP IN PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES
Israel Society of Medical Genetics
Israel Society of Human Genetics
Israel Society of Clinical Pediatrics
Israel Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology-North branch
Israel Society for Medicine and Law
Israel Society of Metabolic Diseases
American Society of Human Genetics
American College of Medical Genetics
European Society of Human Genetics
10. HONORS AND AWARDS
2009 Visiting Professorship Award; the Feldman Family Foundation.
Visiting Professors Program, Department of Biology Stanford
University, CA, U.S.A.
2009 Outstanding Achievement Award; Annual honor for excellence, Western
Galilee Hospital-Nahariya, Israel.
2000 Significant achievements in the field of Medical Genetics and
contribution to public health and education award. Haifa Municipality, Haifa,
Israel.
1998 Outstanding Teacher Award. B. and R. Rappaport Faculty of Medicine,
Technion, Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel.
1997 Hochfeld Award for excellence in medical research, Bnai Zion Medical
Center, Haifa, Israel.
1989 Presentation of original data at international conference award. March of
Dimes, Harvard School of Medicine, Boston, MA. USA.
1982 Roue Academic Award - Infectious Diseases. B. and R. Rappaport Faculty
of Medicine, Technion, Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel.
1974-1982 MD cum laude. B. and R. Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion, Institute of
Technology, Haifa, Israel.
1973 Original work in organic chemistry award, Weizmann Institute, Rehovot,
Israel.
11. STUDENTS AND INSTRUCTION
M.Sc. / D.Sc. / Ph.D. - Completed Theses
2006 Meital Lasker, M.Sc.Thesis. Biochemical and genetic characterization of the
Cockayne syndrome gene in a Druze family from the Western Galilee. (Co-
Supervision, Prof. Slor, Tel-Aviv University). Thesis submitted to Tel Aviv
University, Israel.
2009 Mira Genzer, Ph.D. Thesis. Mapping a novel phenotype; Aplasia of distal
phalanges with juvenile breast hypertrophy.
2010 Yifat Zivony, Ph.D. thesis. Hereditary spastic paraplegia, mapping of two new
Genes.
2010 Reut Erel - Segal, M.Sc. thesis. Biochemical and molecular pathobiology of
the DNA repair system-NER in patients with Cockayne syndrome and
Xeroderma pigmentosum in Israel.
MD Theses:
2007 Muhammad Nafaa - the Imerslaund-Grasbeck syndrome: From clinical
manifestations to genetic diagnosis, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel.
2000 Heldmann-Orr Keren - Carrier screening for Gauscher disease in Israel. B.
and R. Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion, Israel Institute of
Technology, Haifa, Israel.
1997 Yalon-Hacohen Michal - Fragile X syndrome among Tunisian Jews. B. and R.
Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion, Israel Institute of Technology,
Haifa, Israel.
1995 Laufer Hanna - Fetal hyperechogenic bowel. B. and R. Rappaport Faculty of
Medicine, Technion, Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel.
Mentor to residents in Basic Science Projects:
2009 Audrey Azran - Possible genetic basis for vulvudinia.
2006 Tuma Ruba - Mesenchymal stem cells: differentiation to cartilage and bone.
2005 Suriu Chelia - Congenital insensitivity to pain amongst Moroccan Jews.
2004 Ilya Bleckman - The genetic basis for Hereditary Cutaneous Cavernous
Hemangioma.
2002 Gandor Suheir - Adult type polycystic kidney disease in northern Israel, clinical
and molecular characterization, joint supervision with Dr. Wiessmann.
2001 Kaufman Yelena - The clinical significance and genetic aspects of Familial
heart block, joint supervision with Dr. Yahalom.
1999 Porat Michal - Male infertility and microdeletion on chromosme Y.
1998 Ben Dov-Berger Michal - Cystic Fibrosis among Israeli Arabs.
12. COMPETITIVE RESEARCH GRANTS
2009 Israeli Ministry of Justice, Keren Izvonot, PI. The significance of
comparative genome hybridization testing in the genetic evaluation of mental
retardation.
2009 The B. and R. Rappaport research institute, PI. Hereditary Spastic
paraparesis in Northern Israel. Two new genes in one village.
2009 Israeli Ministry of Justice, Keren Izvonot, , PI. Mapping genes for
rare diseases in the Northern Galilee.
2007 National Vulvodynia Association, CPI. Search for a possible genetic
predisposition for Localized Provoked Vulvodynia.
2007 Microsoft Incorp. Mapping genes for complexed (multifactorial)
diseases.
2005 Research Fund Western Galilee Hospital-Nahariya, PI.
Identification of the causative gene and mutation for Cockayne syndrome
among Druze in the Northern Galilee.
2005 Research Fund Western Galilee Hospital-Nahariya, PI. Mapping
the causative gene of Hereditary Spastic Paraparesis.
2005 Joint grant for collaboration between basic researchers and clinical researchers
from peripheral hospitals, CPI. Genetic diseases of the retina.
2004 - 2007 Israeli Ministry of Science, CPI. Software development for
mapping genetic diseases.
2004 - 2005 The Israeli Cancer Association, PI. Prevention of malignant
diseases among high-risk populations.
2004 Research Fund, Western Galilee Hospital-Nahariya, PI.
Hereditary Spastic Paraparesis.
2004 Chief Scientist, Israel Ministry of Justice, PI. Mapping the
causative gene of gray platelets syndrome.
2004 Israeli Ministry of Justice, PI, Juvenile hypertrophy of breast with
unonychia: genetic mapping of a new syndrome.
2003 Chief Scientist, Israeli Ministry of Health, PI. Mapping the gene
for Gray Platelets Syndrome.
2001 Western Galilee Hospital-Nahariya, CPI. The Clinical
Significance and Genetic Aspects of Familial Heart Block.
2001 Research Fund Western Galilee Hospital-Nahariya, PI.
Mapping the causative gene of gray platelets syndrome.
2001 Research Fund Western Galilee Hospital-Nahariya, PI.
Linkage analysis in an inbred Chamulas: Juvenile hypertrophy of breasts.
1997 The joint grant, Ministry of health and Bnai Zion Medical Center,
CPI.
1996 The joint grant, Ministry of health and Bnai Zion Medical Center,
CPI.
1995 Chief Scientist, Israel Ministry of Health, PI. The Fragile
syndrome among Tunisian Jews.