Laboratory of Human Genomics
Arsen Arakelyan
Head of the laboratory, DSc
E-mail: aarakelyan@sci.am
Laboratory members
Karine Mayilyan, DSc
Senior researcher
Gohar Mkrtchyan, PhD
Senior researcher
Roksana Zakharyan, PhD
Senior researcher
Ani Stepanyan, PhD
Senior researcher
Yelena Kalita, PhD
Researcher
Sofi Adjemyan, PhD
Researcher
Varduhi Hayrapetyan, PhD
Researcher
Hovsep Ghazaryan, PhD
Researcher
Andranik Chavushyan, PhD
Researcher
Gevorg Martirosyan, PhD
Researcher
Ani Melkonyan
Junior researcher
Lilit Ghukasyan
PhD student
Arpine Minasyan
Senior laboratory assistant
Tamara Sirunyan
Senior laboratory assistant
Gisane Khachatryan
Senior laboratory assistant
Lana Karapetyan
Senior laboratory assistant
Shushanik Antonyan
Senior laboratory assistant
General information
HGL studies the genetic risk factors and molecular mechanisms behind complex diseases, including mental and autoimmune/autoinflammatory disorders, cancer, and more. During the Covid-19 pandemic, HGL utilized whole- genome nanopore sequencing to characterize circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants in Armenia. In 2020, the lab supplied 100,000 COVID-19 PCR tests to the Armenian Ministry of Health to address test shortages. HGL is also developing affordable nanopore sequencing-based diagnostics.
Current Research Projects
- «Molecular characterization of cancers with full-length RNA sequencing – building new multidisciplinary competence for life sciences in Armenia», SC RA / 21AG-1F021
- «Effect of long-term human exposure to environmental heavy metals on the population near mining area in Kapan», SC RA / 21T-1F233
Selected publications
1. Avetyan D, Hakobyan S, Nikoghosyan M, Ghukasyan L, Khachatryan G, Sirunyan T, Muradyan N, Zakharyan R, Chavushyan A, Hayrapetyan V, Hovhannisyan A, Mohamed Bakhash SA, Jerome KR, Roychoudhury P, Greninger AL, Niazyan L, Davidyants M, Melik-Andreasyan G, Sargsyan S, Nersisyan L, Arakelyan A. Molecular Analysis of SARS-CoV-2 Lineages in Armenia. Viruses. 2022 May 17;14(5):1074. doi: 10.3390/v14051074
2. Avetyan D, Chavushyan A, Ghazaryan H, Melkonyan A, Stepanyan A, Zakharyan R, Hayrapetyan V, Atshemyan S, Khachatryan G, Sirunyan T, Davitavyan S, Martirosyan G, Melik Andreasyan G, Sargsyan S, Ghazazyan A, Aleksanyan N, Yin X, Arakelyan A. SARS-CoV-2 detection by extraction-free qRT-PCR for massive and rapid COVID-19 diagnosis during a pandemic in Armenia. J Virol Methods. 2021 Sep;295:114199. doi: 10.1016/j.jviromet.2021.114199
3. Atshemyan S, Chavushyan A, Berberian N, Sahakyan A, Zakharyan R, Arakelyan A. Characterization of BRCA1/2 mutations in patients with family history of breast cancer in Armenia. F1000Res. 2017 Jan 10;6:29. doi: 10.12688/f1000research.10434.1
4. Avetyan D, Zakharyan R, Petrek M, Arakelyan A. Telomere shortening in blood leukocytes of patients with posttraumatic stress disorder. J Psychiatr Res. 2019 Apr;111:83-88. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2019.01.018
5. Arakelyan A, Petrkova J, Hermanova Z, Boyajyan A, Lukl J, Petrek M. Serum levels of the MCP-1 chemokine in patients with ischemic stroke and myocardial infarction. Mediators Inflamm. 2005 Aug 14;2005(3):175-9. doi:10.1155/MI.2005.175