About
In my DMB, IMET and COMB leadership capacities, I have overseen comprehensive multidisciplinary research and development programs that apply the tools of modern biology and biotechnology to study, protect and enhance marine resources. Under my leadership, COMB/IMET/DMB have become internationally known for their work to advance aquaculture and fisheries biotechnology, marine functional genomics, microbial oceanography and extremophile studies, marine environmental biotechnology and bioremediation, and marine natural product discovery. My own basic and applied research focuses on the physiology, endocrinology and molecular biology of reproduction using finfish and other marine animal models, and includes developing technologies for the exogenous manipulation of reproduction and spawning in farmed fish. During the last 15 years I have also led multidisciplinary R&D program focusing on the development of new generations of environmentally responsible aquaculture platforms, that are land-based and fully contained.
Research interests
Fish reproductive biology and endocrinology, molecular physiology and neuro-endocrinology of reproduction, comparative reproductive endocrinology, broodstock management and manipulation of spawning in aquaculture. Recirculating, land-based marine aquaculture systems. Application of Biotechnology in Sustainable Aquaculture.
Teaching interests
Fish and comparative endocrinology and reproductive biology, marine biotechnology. Sustainable aquaculture
Education
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Ph D, Fish Endocrinology/Aquaculture
— University of Paris VI (1982) Hormonal cycles and reproduction in the rainbow trout
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MS, Oceanography/Marine Biology
— Hebrew University of Jerusalem (1976) The gonadal cycle of the protandrous hermaphrodite fish Sparus aurata
- BS, Biology — Hebrew University of Jerusalem (1974)
Publications
- The GNIH (Lpxrfa) system’s regulation of reproduction in the brain-pituitary axis of the zebrafish (Danio rerio). 2017
- Seasonal expression of arginine vasotocin mRNA and its correlations to gonadal steroidogenic enzymes and sexually dimorphic coloration during sex reversal in the gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata). 2017
- Vasoactive intestinal peptide indirectly elicits pituitary LH secretion independent of GnRH in female zebrafish
- Gonadotropin-releasing hormone 2 (Gnrh2) is necessary for reproductive success and oocyte maturation in fasted zebrafish (Danio rerio)
Presentations
- Possible roles for GnRH3 in regulating pituitaryorganization in female zebrafish as revealed by neuronal ablation and snRNA sequencing 2023
- Developing Technologies to Induce Reproductive Sterility in Eastern Oysters without Chromosome Set Manipulation. 2021
- Developing Technologies to Induce Reproductive Sterility in Eastern Oysters without Chromosome Set Manipulation 2019
- Developing Technologies to Induce Reproductive Sterility in Eastern Oysters without Chromosome Set Manipulation Shizuoka city, Shizuoka, Japan. 2019
- Sterilizing fish by gene knockdown techniques. 2019
- Solid waste treatment for saltwater RAS: Microbial anaerobic digestion and biomethane production 2017
Grants and Contracts
- Improving Lumpfish Breeding and Spawning 2022
- Rethinking the Control of Reproduction in the Zebrafish Model: Examination of the Roles of Gnrh Neurons in Reproduction. 2020
- Developing new oyster sterilization technology to avoid triploid summer mortality 2019
- Precocious puberty in Seriola rivoliana: induction of early maturation to accelerate selective breeding outcomes in high-value finfish 2018
- Inducing reproductive sterility in farmed fish and crustaceans. 2017
- In-line conversion of salmon smolt solid waste to biomethane 2017
- Nursery grow-out of European seabass fry and juveniles at IMET's Aquaculture Research Center (ARC) 2016
- Service Agreement with Great American Aquaculture, LLC 2016
- Developing an inducible sterilization technology to bio-contain transgenically engineered tilapia. 2015
- Opportunities for increased aquaculture profitability by converting aquaculture wastes to valuable biomethane and biofertilizer
Research in Progress
- Developing new oyster sterilization technology to avoid triploid summer mortality 2019
Patents and Intellectual Property
- Methods of Agent Delivery into Eggs and Embryos of Egg-producing Aquatic Animals for Drug Screening, Agent Toxicity Assay and Production of Infertile Fish 2020
- Production of infertile fish through the administration of antisense morpholino oligomer against deadend mRNA to disrupt germ cell development 2014
- Production of infertile fish through the disruption of early gonadal development 2014
- Methods of producing infertile fish. 2013