Haitham Amal: Nitric oxide is a shared molecular mechanism of multiple neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders

Haitham Amal is an internationally recognized expert in cell signaling and brain disorders who heads the Laboratory of Neuromics, Cell Signaling, and Translational Medicine at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. His research program integrates proteomics with systems biology, combining biochemical, pharmacological, and behavioral approaches. Currently a Visiting Professor at Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Dr. Amal previously conducted his postdoctoral studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he served as a Senior Postdoctoral Associate in the Biological Engineering Department and was affiliated with the Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard. His innovative research has been supported by numerous competitive grants, including awards from the German DFG, Israel Science Foundation, and the US Department of Defense, with his contributions recognized through the Krill Prize from the Wolf Foundation and the Eagles Autism Foundation Research Grant as its first international recipient. His research established essential connections between nitric oxide and autism spectrum disorder (ASD), while also revealing significant pathological overlaps between ASD and Alzheimer's disease. Building on these discoveries, Dr. Amal has co-founded Point6 Bio Ltd, developing biological diagnostic tools for ASD, and NeuroNOS Ltd., focused on nitric oxide synthase inhibitors for treating neurological disorders. In this Genomic Press interview, Dr. Amal shares his insights on the path to these discoveries and his vision for advancing our understanding of neurological disorders.